Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 22:4
And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.
4. he went his way ] We infer -from the combined accounts that he met the priests on two occasions, on one of which the bargain was proposed, and on the other concluded.
communed ] Spoke with.
captains ] Literally, “generals” The Levitic captains of the Temple who kept order during the Feasts. There was strictly only one who bore the title of “the general of the Temple” “man of the mountain of the House” (see Neh 2:8; Neh 7:2; Jer 20:1; 2M a 3:4); but he had guards under him (Jos. B. J. vi. 5, 3), and the name might be applied to the whole body. One of the bitter complaints against the High Priests of the day was that they made their own sons “generals of the Temple.” St Luke was aware that the special title applied only to one person, as appears from Act 4:1.
how he might betray him ] Rather, give Him up. The word used is not prodo, but the milder parado.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Chief priests and captains – See the notes at Mat 26:14. See the account of the bargain which Judas made with them explained in the Mat 26:14-16 notes, and Mar 14:10-11 notes.
Absence of the multitude – The multitude, the people, were then favorable to Jesus. He had preached in the temple, and many of them believed that he was the Messiah. It was a hazardous thing, therefore, to take him by force, and in their presence, as they might rise and rescue him. Hence, they sought to take him when he was away from the multitude; and as Judas knew of a place where he could be found alone, they were glad of the opportunity of so easily securing him.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 4. And captains] Among the priests who were in waiting at the temple, some were appointed , for a guard to the temple; and over these were commanding officers: both sorts are mentioned by Josephus, War, b. vi. c. 5. s. 3. Bp. PEARCE, See another sense of captains, in Clarke’s note on “Mt 27:65“. Dr. Lightfoot supposes these to have been the captains over the watches; for in three places the priests kept watch and ward in the temple, viz. in Beth Abtenes, in Beth Nitsots, and in Beth Mokad. The Levites also in twenty-one places more, Middoth, chap. i. Though these watches consisted of several persons in each, there was one set over them, as the captain or head of that watch. He thinks that Matthew, Mt 27:65, refers to one of these: Ye have a watch of your own; let some of them be sent to guard the sepulchre. The captain of the temple, he supposes to have been the chief or head of all these watches; and thus he was captain of the captains. In the same Talmudical tract it is said, The ruler of the mountain of the temple (i.e. captain of the temple) takes his walks through every watch with torches lighted before him: if he found any upon the watch, that was not standing on his feet, he said, Peace be with thee: but if he found him sleeping, he struck him with a stick, and he might also burn his clothes. And when it was said by others, What noise is that in the court? the answer was, It is the noise of a Levite under correction, whose garments they are burning, because he slept upon his watch. This custom casts light on Re 16:15: Behold, I come as a thief: blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. It is easy to distinguish this captain of the mountain of the temple from the ruler of the temple, or sagan: the former presided over the guards; the latter over the whole service of the temple. We have them both distinguished, Ac 4:1: there is the captain of the temple; and Annas, who was the sagan. See Lightfoot.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And he went his way,…. From Christ, and the rest of the apostles, out of Bethany; and when it was night, about two miles from Jerusalem, whither he went directly:
and communed with the chief priests and captains; that is, of the temple, as in Lu 22:52 and so the Persic version reads, “the militia of the temple”; and the Syriac version renders it, “the captains of the militia of the temple”; instead of captains, the Ethiopic version, reads “Scribes”, and so does the Arabic, and which, adds, “and the soldiers”; but these captains were not Roman officers, or soldiers, but ecclesiastical persons, who presided in the temple, and were heads and governors, over bodies of men employed there, of which sort were the following i:
“there were fifteen, , presidents, or governors in the sanctuary, and so they were appointed for ever over each of these fifteen things, one governor; and they are these: one was over the times, or solemn seasons; the second, over the shutting of the gates: the third, over those that kept watch; the fourth, over the singers; the fifth, over the cymbal, with the rest of the singing instruments; the sixth, over the lots; the seventh over the nests (of doves); the eighth, over the seals, or tickets; the ninth, over the drink offerings; the tenth, over the sick (priests); the eleventh, over the waters; the twelfth, over the business of the shewbread; the thirteenth, over the business of the incense; the fourteenth, over the business of the vail; and the fifteenth, over the business of the priests’ garments; and every one of these governors had under him “abundance of men”, that so they might prepare the business they presided over.”
These seem rather to be meant, than the watch in the temple; which, though kept in several places, there was but one single person that presided over it; as appears from the above account, and from what follows; and who was called the man of the mountain of the house, or the governor of the temple k:
“in three places the priests kept watch in the sanctuary, in the house of Abtines, and in the house of Nitzotz, and in the house of Moked, and the Levites in twenty and one places–the man of the mountain of the house, went round every ward with torches burning before him, and every one that was not standing, he said unto him, peace be on thee; and if he found he was asleep, he struck him with his staff, and had power to burn his garments.”
Whence it does not appear to me, that there were heads or captains over every ward, as Dr. Lightfoot suggests, but one over them all; perhaps these captains may be the same with the governors of the temple, as in 1 Esdras:
And Helkias, Zacharias, and Syelus, the governors of the temple, gave to the priests for the passover two thousand and six hundred sheep, and three hundred calves. (1 Esdras 1:8)
Did very carefully oversee the holy works, assisting the ancients of the Jews and governors of the temple. (1 Esdras 7:2)
But be these who they will, Judas it seems was informed where, and upon what they were met together, and he went to them, and conversed with them:
how he might betray him unto them; in the most secret manner, and with, the least noise and disturbance.
i Maimon. Hilch. Cele Hamikdash, c. 7. sect. 1, 2. Misu. Shekalim, c. 5. sect. 1, 2. k Misn. Middot, c. 1. sect. 1, 2.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Went away (). Second aorist active participle of . He went off under the impulse of Satan and after the indignation over the rebuke of Jesus at the feast in Simon’s house (Joh 12:4-6).
Captains (). Leaders of the temple guards (Ac 4:1), the full title, “captains of the temple,” occurs in verse 52.
How he might deliver him unto them ( ). The same construction as in verse 2, the article with the indirect question and deliberative subjunctive second aorist active ().
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Captains [] . The leaders of the temple – guards. Compare Act 4:1.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And went away and communed with,” (kai’ apelthon sunelalesen) “And they went away and entered collusion with,” conferred with, Mat 26:15. Judas negotiated a betrayal deal with the following clan of conspirators:
2) “The chief priests and captains,” (tois archiereusin kai straegois) “The chief (or administrative) priests and the captains,” of the temple, Luk 22:52-53, law enforcement agents, the temple police Mat 26:3; Mar 14:1; Mar 14:10. These were Jewish guards of the temple, of the Levitical order, as set forth, Lev 8:24-25; Act 4:1-2.
3) “How he might betray him unto them.” (to pos autois parado auton) “Just how (by what method) he might betray him to them,” or entrap Jesus for seizure by the administrative priests and law enforcement persons, the police, Mat 26:15.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(4) Chief priests and captains.The latter term is used by St. Luke, and by him only in the New Testament, of the officers who presided over the Levite guardians of the Temple. Here and in Luk. 22:52 it is used in the plural. In Act. 4:1; Act. 5:24, we read of the captain of the Temple, presumably the chief officer in command. Such was in earlier times Pashur, the governor of the house of the Lord (Jer. 20:1). As watchmen the Levite sentinels carried clubs, and would use them freely against any sacrilegious intruder. The attempt to seize our Lord, recorded in Joh. 7:32, shows why Judas applied to these officers as well as to the priests.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘And he went away, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might deliver him to them, and they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.’
No doubt responding to promises and assurances from those who had contacted him, Judas sought out the chief priests and captains of the Temple guard. And there, in return for the offer of money, he discussed with them how he might assist them in handing Jesus over to them at a time when He was not surrounded by crowds. His own familiar friend in whom He trusted, the same was lifting up his heel against Him (Psa 41:9). They were, of course, delighted. It presented them with an undreamed of opportunity. And they promised to pay him blood money once the matter was resolved.
‘Captains (strategois).’ In this case the leaders of the Temple guard. They would mainly be Levites. Compare Act 4:1; Act 5:24 for their leader (strategos).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Luk 22:4. And captains The captains with whom Judas communed, are here and elsewhere called captains of the temple, (see Luk 22:52.) and are joined with the priests as their companions; a circumstance, which proves that they were Jews, and not heathens. See Act 4:1. From David’s time the priests and Levites kept watch, first in the tabernacle, and then in the temple, night and day, as appears from 2Ch 8:14. The guards of priests were stationed at three places; but those of the Levites at one-and-twenty. The Levites, while they performed this office according to their courses, under the first temple, were called porters, 2Ch 8:14 and each of the watches had a chief or captain, ; and over then all was one called, by way of eminence, , the chief leader or captain. That these names of military men should have been given to the priests and Levites, who were no soldiers, neither had soldiers under them, will not seem strange, when it is remembered, that the attendance of the Levites is called the warfare of the service; (see Num 8:24-25 in the original;) and that they performed all the offices of soldiers in garrisons. They kept guard at the gates of the temple, preserved the peace within its precincts, and brought such as were disorderly before the high-priests and council. But besides the Levite porters, there was another guard belonging to the temple, namely, the Roman garrison, in the tower or castle of Antonia, which was built very near the temple. Of this castle or garrison there is mention made, Act 21:31-34. St. Matthew calls a detachment from it, appointed to guard our Lord’s sepulchre, by the word , which was the proper name of such a body of Roman soldiers. But was not with the captains of the garrison of Antonia that Judas bargained to deliver up his Master; neither were they the persons to whom Jesus spake, when he addressed them who came to apprehend him, Luk 22:52. In both passages these captains are called by the name ; whereas the captains of garrisons are termed by Josephus , and by St. Luke, Acts 21, 22. . Besides, no heathens were ever admitted into the supreme ecclesiastical court of the Jews; not to mention that the latter shunned the company of the former as much as possible. It is plain therefore that the persons with whom Judas communed, and who are called the captains, and captains of the temple, were the priests who commanded the temple guard, and who were at the devotion of the high-priest and council, to execute whatever orders they thought fit to give them.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
4 And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.
Ver. 4. And communed with the chief priests ] Suopte ingenio, ut reprobi angeli, saith an interpreter.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
4. ] is peculiar to Luke: the others have merely the chief priests .
On ., see Act 4:1 . The Levitical guard of the temple would be consulted, because it had been of late especially in the temple that our Lord had become obnoxious to them (see Luk 22:53 and ch. Luk 21:37-38 ).
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Luk 22:4 . : a military term which might suggest the captains of Roman soldiers, but doubtless pointing to the heads of the temple watches (Levites) who kept order during the feast. They would be necessary to the carrying out of Judas’ plan. The Levites had to perform garrison duty for the temple ( vide Num 8:24-25 ). In Act 4:2 we read of one . ., who was doubtless the head of the whole body of temple police. : a second reference to the perplexing how .
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
went his way . . . and = having gone away.
captains = officers of the Levitical Temple guards. Compare Jer 20:1. Act 4:1.
betray Him = deliver Him up.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
4.] is peculiar to Luke: the others have merely the chief priests.
On ., see Act 4:1. The Levitical guard of the temple would be consulted, because it had been of late especially in the temple that our Lord had become obnoxious to them (see Luk 22:53 and ch. Luk 21:37-38).
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Luk 22:4. , with the chief priests and captains) Different classes of men conspired together; were the leaders or officers of the Jews, in command of the soldiers who were on watch at the temple. See Luk 22:52. See Act 4:1, with which comp. 1Ma 4:60-61.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
went: Mat 26:14, Mar 14:10, Mar 14:11
Reciprocal: Gen 9:21 – and was Pro 2:14 – and Luk 22:52 – captains Act 4:1 – the captain Act 5:24 – the captain
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
4
Judas began his wicked plan by contacting the chief priests and captain, making a proposition to betray Jesus into their hands.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.
[And captains.] They are called, Luk 22:52, captains of the Temple; and in the singular number, the captain of the Temple; Act 4:1; but who should this or these be?
I. All know that there was a Roman garrison in the castle of Antonia, whose charge especially was to suppress all tumults and seditions in the Temple: but was the tribune, or the centurions of that garrison called by the name of the captains of the Temple? Surely rather the captains of the castle of Antonia. And indeed it appears not that the Roman captains had conspired against the life of Christ, that Judas should betake himself to them to make a bargain for the betraying of him.
II. The conjecture might be more probable of those rulers in the Temple, concerning whom we have this mention: “These are the rulers that were in the Temple: Jochanan Ben Phineas, governor of the seals; Ahijah, set over the drink-offerings: Matthiah Ben Samuel, that presided over the lots,” etc. But to me it seems beyond all doubt that the captains of the Temple were the captains of the several watches. “In three places the priests kept watch and ward in the Temple, viz. in Beth Abtines, Beth Nitsots, and Beth Mokad. The Levites also in one-and-twenty places more.” Whereas, therefore, these watches or guards consisted every one of several persons, there was one single person set over each of them as their captain, or the head of that watch. And this way looks that of Pilate, Mat 27:65; ye have a watch of your own; let some of them be sent to guard the sepulchre.
III. The captain of the Temple; therefore, distinctively and by way of eminence so termed, I would suppose him, whom they called the ruler of the mountain of the house; who was the chief of all the heads of those wards. “The ruler of the mountain of the Temple takes his walks through every watch with torches lighted before him: and if he found any upon the watch that might not be standing on his feet, he said, ‘Peace be with thee!’ But if he found him sleeping, he struck him with a stick; and it was warrantable for him to burn the garments of such a one. And when it was said by others, ‘What is that noise in the court?’ the answer was made, ‘It is the noise of a Levite under correction, and whose garments are burning, for that he slept upon the watch.’ R. Eliezer Ben Jacob said, ‘They once found my mother’s son asleep, and they burnt his clothes.’ ” Compare this passage with Rev 16:15; “Behold I come as a thief; blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.”
It is easy distinguishing this captain of the mountain of the Temple from the ruler of the Temple or the sagan. The former presided only over the guards; the latter over the whole service of the Temple. And so we have them distinguished, Act 4:1; there is the captain of the Temple; and Annas, who was the sagan.
Fuente: Lightfoot Commentary Gospels
Verse 4
Captains; that is, officers of the temple, (Luke 22:52.)–Communed with, consulted with them privately.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
22:4 And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and {a} captains, how he might betray him unto them.
(a) Those that had the charge of keeping the temple, who were not from among the priests and bishops, as is shown below in Lu 22:52 .