Tool Beta
The Ancient World Behind the Text
Pick a passage anywhere in the New Testament. See the customs and ideas a first reader knew without being told.
Luke 22:24-38, Benefactors, thrones, sifting and two swords
At the last supper the disciples argue over who is greatest. Jesus contrasts kings who are called benefactors with himself as one who serves, promises them thrones, warns Peter that Satan has asked to sift them, and speaks of swords.
Luke 22:24-38, in every translation this tool compares.
At the last supper the disciples argue about who ranks highest, and Jesus contrasts foreign rulers, who dominate their subjects and take the title of benefactor, with his own way of greatness through service. He promises the Twelve a place at his table and a share in judging Israel's tribes. He warns Simon that Satan wants to test them all but that he has prayed for him, predicts his threefold denial, and tells them to arm themselves because Scripture says he will be classed with criminals; shown two swords, he cuts the conversation short.
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- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-ideas\/slavery\/","n":"Slavery and slave managers","s":"Slaves were everywhere in the Roman world, from field hands to stewards who ran whole estates and handled their master's money. A master away and slaves left in charge was a familiar story.","r":""}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-ideas\/the-twelve\/","n":"The Twelve","s":"Jesus chose twelve men to be with him and to be sent out. The number matched Israel's twelve tribes.","r":""}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-ideas\/the-satan\/","n":"The satan, the tempter","s":"The accuser, tempter and deceiver of Jewish belief, seen as the power behind human and political evil. In the Gospels he tests Jesus and is the strong man Jesus binds, and John calls him the ruler of this world.","r":""}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-ideas\/rebels-and-would-be-messiahs\/","n":"Rebels and would-be messiahs","s":"In the decades around Jesus, men rose up claiming to deliver Israel: tax rebels, leaders of armed bands, and prophets who promised signs in the wilderness. Rome treated them all as rebels.","r":""}
Inscriptions across the empire honored rulers and the powerful as benefactors for their gifts to the public (Keener and his notes), though, as Strauss notes in the Zondervan backgrounds commentary, the title often "would conceal tyranny under extravagant expenditure." Jewish literature often pictured the kingdom as a banquet for Israel, and most Jews expected the twelve tribes to be restored (Keener and his notes). Satan's demand recalls Job 1-2, where the satan accuses Job before the heavenly court (Keener and his notes). Heiser notes that the Hebrew word means adversary or prosecutor, a legal role in God's council, and writes, "The satan in Job 1-2 is not a villain." The first you in 22:31 is plural, all of them sifted, and the second singular, for Peter (Strauss). The swords are debated. Keener and his notes read them as a brief symbolic act, so that Jesus could be charged as a rebel and counted with transgressors as Isaiah 53:12 says, two being enough for that; Wright hears it is enough as Jesus ending a conversation the disciples have misunderstood, and Strauss agrees, noting that Josephus says even the Essenes carried arms against thieves.
- Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, on Luke 22:24-25, 22:26, 22:27, 22:28-30, 22:31-32 and 22:36-38
- NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, notes on Luke 22:25, 22:26, 22:30, 22:31 and 22:36
- Michael S. Heiser, The Unseen Realm, ch. 8, Only God Is Perfect
- N. T. Wright, Luke for Everyone, comment on Luke 22:24-38
- Mark L. Strauss, Luke, in Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary, ed. Clinton E. Arnold, on Luke 22:25, 22:31, 22:34 and 22:38
