Luke 2:32

2:32 a light, ¹ 

for revelation to the Gentiles,

and for glory ²  to your people Israel.”

Luke 7:5

7:5 because he loves our nation, ³  and even ⁴  built our synagogue.” ⁵ 

Luke 18:32

18:32 For he will be handed over ⁶  to the Gentiles; he will be mocked, ⁷  mistreated, ⁸  and spat on. ⁹ 

[2:32]  ¹ tn The syntax of this verse is disputed. Most read “light” and “glory” in parallelism, so Jesus is a light for revelation to the Gentiles and is glory to the people for Israel. Others see “light” (1:78-79) as a summary, while “revelation” and “glory” are parallel, so Jesus is light for all, but is revelation for the Gentiles and glory for Israel. Both readings make good sense and either could be correct, but Luke 1:78-79 and Acts 26:22-23 slightly favor this second option.

[2:32]  ² sn In other words, Jesus is a special cause for praise and honor (“glory”) for the nation.

[7:5]  ³ tn Or “people.” The use of ἔθνος (eqnos, “nation”) here instead of “God” probably meant the man was not a full proselyte, but that he had simply been supportive of the Jews and their culture. He could have been a God-fearer. The Romans saw a stable religious community as politically helpful and often supported it (Josephus, Ant. 16.6.2 [16.162-165], 19.6.3 [19.300-311]).

[7:5]  ⁴ tn In the Greek text, the pronoun αὐτός (autos) is included, making this emphatic. Naturally the force of this statement is causative, meaning the centurion either had the synagogue built or donated the cost of its construction.

[7:5]  ⁵ sn See the note on synagogues in 4:15.

[18:32]  ⁵ sn The passive voice verb be handed over does not indicate by whom, but other passages note the Jewish leadership and betrayal (9:22, 44).

[18:32]  ⁶ sn See Luke 22:63; 23:11, 36.

[18:32]  ⁷ tn Or “and insulted.” L&N 33.390 and 88.130 note ὑβρίζω (Jubrizw) can mean either “insult” or “mistreat with insolence.”

[18:32]  ⁸ sn And spat on. Later Luke does not note this detail in the passion narrative in chaps. 22-23, but see Mark 14:65; 15:19; Matt 26:67; 27:30 where Jesus’ prediction is fulfilled.