Luke 19:35-40
Context19:35 Then 1 they brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks 2 on the colt, 3 and had Jesus get on 4 it. 19:36 As 5 he rode along, they 6 spread their cloaks on the road. 19:37 As he approached the road leading down from 7 the Mount of Olives, 8 the whole crowd of his 9 disciples began to rejoice 10 and praise 11 God with a loud voice for all the mighty works 12 they had seen: 13 19:38 “Blessed is the king 14 who comes in the name of the Lord! 15 Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 19:39 But 16 some of the Pharisees 17 in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 18 19:40 He answered, 19 “I tell you, if they 20 keep silent, the very stones 21 will cry out!”
[19:35] 1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
[19:35] 2 tn Grk “garments”; but this refers in context to their outer cloaks. The action is like 2 Kgs 9:13.
[19:35] 4 tn Although ἐπεβίβασαν (epebibasan) is frequently translated “set [Jesus] on it” or “put [Jesus] on it,” when used of a riding animal the verb can mean “to cause to mount” (L&N 15.98); thus here “had Jesus get on it.” The degree of assistance is not specified.
[19:36] 5 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
[19:36] 6 tn The disciples initiated this action (since in 19:35 and 37 they are the subject) but the other gospels indicate the crowds also became involved. Thus it is difficult to specify the referent here as “the disciples” or “people.”
[19:37] 7 tn Grk “the descent of”; this could refer to either the slope of the hillside itself or the path leading down from it (the second option has been adopted for the translation, see L&N 15.109).
[19:37] 8 sn See the note on the name Mount of Olives in v. 29.
[19:37] 9 tn Grk “the”; the Greek article has been translated here as a possessive pronoun (ExSyn 215).
[19:37] 10 tn Here the participle χαίροντες (caironte") has been translated as a finite verb in English; it could also be translated adverbially as a participle of manner: “began to praise God joyfully.”
[19:37] 11 sn See 2:13, 20; Acts 2:47; 3:8-9.
[19:37] 12 tn Or “works of power,” “miracles.” Jesus’ ministry of miracles is what has drawn attention. See Luke 7:22.
[19:37] 13 tn Grk “they had seen, saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
[19:38] 14 sn Luke adds the title king to the citation from Ps 118:26 to make clear who was meant (see Luke 18:38). The psalm was used in looking for the deliverance of the end, thus leading to the Pharisees’ reaction.
[19:38] 15 sn A quotation from Ps 118:26.
[19:39] 16 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context. Not all present are willing to join in the acclamation.
[19:39] 17 sn See the note on Pharisees in 5:17.
[19:39] 18 sn Teacher, rebuke your disciples. The Pharisees were complaining that the claims were too great.
[19:40] 19 tn Grk “and answering, he said.” This has been simplified in the translation to “He answered.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
[19:40] 21 sn This statement amounts to a rebuke. The idiom of creation speaking means that even creation knows what is taking place, yet the Pharisees miss it. On this idiom, see Gen 4:10 and Hab 2:11.