Luke 19:28–40

The Triumphal Entry

19:28 After Jesus78 had said this, he continued on ahead,79 going up to Jerusalem.80 19:29 Now81 when he approached Bethphage82 and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives,83 he sent two of the disciples, 19:30 telling them,84 “Go to the village ahead of you.85 When86 you enter it, you will find a colt tied there that has never been ridden.87 Untie it and bring it here. 19:31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs88 it.’ ” 19:32 So those who were sent ahead found89 it exactly90 as he had told them. 19:33 As91 they were untying the colt, its owners asked them,92 “Why are you untying that colt?” 19:34 They replied, “The Lord needs it.” 19:35 Then93 they brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks94 on the colt,95 and had Jesus get on96 it. 19:36 As97 he rode along, they98 spread their cloaks on the road. 19:37 As he approached the road leading down from99 the Mount of Olives,100 the whole crowd of his101 disciples began to rejoice102 and praise103 God with a loud voice for all the mighty works104 they had seen:105 19:38 “Blessed is the king106 who comes in the name of the Lord!107 Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 19:39 But108 some of the Pharisees109 in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”110 19:40 He answered,111 “I tell you, if they112 keep silent, the very stones113 will cry out!”

Read more Share

78	tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
79	tn This could mean “before [his disciples],” but that is slightly more awkward, requiring an elided element (the disciples) to be supplied.
80	sn This is yet another travel note on the journey to Jerusalem. See also Luke 18:31; 19:11. Jesus does not actually enter Jerusalem until 19:45. map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
81	tn Grk “And it happened that when.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated. Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.
82	sn The exact location of the village of Bethphage is not known. Most locate it on the southeast side of the Mount of Olives and northwest of Bethany, about 1.5 miles (3 km) east of Jerusalem.
83	tn Grk “at the mountain called ‘of Olives.’ ” This form of reference is awkward in contemporary English, so the more familiar “Mount of Olives” has been used in the translation. sn “Mountain” in English generally denotes a higher elevation than it often does in reference to places in Palestine. The Mount of Olives is really a ridge running north to south about 1.8 mi (3 km) long, east of Jerusalem across the Kidron Valley. Its central elevation is about 100 ft (30 m) higher than Jerusalem. It was named for the large number of olive trees which grew on it.
84	tn Grk “saying.”
85	tn Grk “the village lying before [you]” (BDAG 530 s.v. κατέναντι 2.a).
86	tn Grk “in which entering.” This is a continuation of the previous sentence in Greek, but because of the length and complexity of the construction a new sentence was started here in the translation.
87	tn Grk “a colt tied there on which no one of men has ever sat.”
88	sn The custom called angaria allowed the impressment of animals for service to a significant figure.
89	tn Grk “sent ahead and went and found.”
90	sn Exactly as he had told them. Nothing in Luke 19–23 catches Jesus by surprise. Often he directs the action.
91	tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
92	tn Grk “said to them.”
93	tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
94	tn Grk “garments”; but this refers in context to their outer cloaks. The action is like 2 Kgs 9:13.
95	* Zec 9:9
96	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.
97	tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
98	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.”
99	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).
100	sn See the note on the name Mount of Olives in v. 29.
101	tn Grk “the”; the Greek article has been translated here as a possessive pronoun (ExSyn 215).
102	tn Here the participle χαίροντες (chairontes) 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.”
103	* Lk 2:13 Lk 2:20 Ac 2:47 Ac 3:8–9
104	tn Or “works of power,” “miracles.” Jesus’ ministry of miracles is what has drawn attention. See Luke 7:22.
105	tn Grk “they had seen, saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
106	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.
107	sn A quotation from Ps 118:26.
108	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.
109	sn See the note on Pharisees in 5:17.
110	sn Teacher, rebuke your disciples. The Pharisees were complaining that the claims were too great.
111	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.
112	tn Grk “these.”
113	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.

A service of Logos Bible Software