Luke 22:41
in Luke 22And He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, where He knelt down and prayed,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And he was parted from them about a stone’s cast; and he kneeled down and prayed,
KJV
And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
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This verse in Luke 22
Commentary
10 notes on this verseBut not to do good by words only, He went forward a little and prayed; as it follows, And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast. You will every where find Him praying apart, to teach you that with a devout mind and quiet heart we should speak with the most high God. He did not betake Himself to prayer, as if He was in want of another's help, who is the Almighty power of the Father, but that we may learn not to slumber in temptation, but rather to be instant in prayer.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
But what meaneth His bending of knees? of which it is said, And he kneeled down, and prayed. It is the way of men to pray to their superiors with their faces on the ground, testifying by the action that the greater of the two are those who are asked. Now it is plain that human nature contains nothing worthy of God's imitation. Accordingly the tokens of respect which we evince to one another, confessing ourselves to be inferior to our neighbours, we have transferred to the humiliation of the Incomparable Nature. And thus He who bore our sicknesses and interceded for us, bent His knee in prayer, by reason of the man which He assumed, giving us an example, that we ought not to exalt ourselves at the time of prayer, but in all things be conformed to humility; for God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. (James 4:6, 1 Pet. 5:5.)
Now every art is set forth by the words and works of him who teacheth it. Because then our Lord had come to teach no ordinary virtue, therefore He speaks and does the same things. And so having in words commanded to pray, lest they enter into temptation, He does the same likewise in work, saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me. He saith not the words, If thou wilt, as if ignorant whether it was pleasing to the Father. For such knowledge was not more difficult than the knowledge of His Father's substance, which He alone clearly knew, according to John, As the Father knoweth me, even so have I known the Father. (John 10:15.) Nor says He this, as refusing His Passion. For He who rebuked a disciple, who wished to prevent His Passion, (Matt. 16:23.) so as even after many commendations, to call him Satan, how should He be unwilling to be crucified? Consider then why it was so said. How great a thing was it to hear that the unspeakable God, who passes all understanding, was content to enter the virgin's womb, to suck her milk, and to undergo every thing human. Since then that was almost incredible which was about to happen, He sent first indeed Prophets to announce it, afterwards He Himself comes clothed in the flesh, so that you could not suppose Him to be a phantom. He permits His flesh to endure all natural infirmities, to hunger, to thirst, to sleep, to labour, to be afflicted, to be tormented; on this account likewise He refuses not death, that He might manifest thereby His true humanity.
(de Qu. Evang. lib. ii. qu. 50.) He was torn from them about a stone's cast, as though He would typically remind them that to Him they should point the stone, that is, up to Him bring the intention of the law which was written on stone.
The Medieval Church2 voices
And he was separated from them about a stone's throw. And kneeling down, he prayed, saying. Having given the apostles the command to pray, he himself, separated from them, prays alone for all, signifying that his prayer is as far removed from ours as his …
He also alone prays for all, who was to suffer alone for all, signifying that His prayer is as far distant from ours as His Passion.
4 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
Third, as regards the devotion of prayer on the part of the manner of praying, he adds: And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and kneeling down he prayed: in which he shows the devotion and humility and reverence of the heart. …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And he was withdrawn from them,.... That is, from the three disciples, Peter, James, and John, whom he took along with him, leaving the rest at some further distance; and from these he removed, about a stone's cast; fifty, or sixty feet from the place where they were: and kneeled down and prayed; the following prayer.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
proposed
The verses before us contain Luke's account of our Lord's agony in the garden. It is a passage of Scripture which we should always approach with particular reverence. The history which it records is one of the "deep things of God." While we read it, the words of Exodus should come across our minds, "Do not come any closer. Take off your sandals — for you are standing on holy ground." (Exodus 3:5.) We see, firstly, in this passage — an example of what believers ought to do in time of trouble.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
proposed
The verses before us contain Luke's account of our Lord's agony in the garden. It is a passage of Scripture which we should always approach with particular reverence. The history which it records is one of the "deep things of God." While we read it, the words of Exodus should come across our minds, "Do not come any closer. Take off your sandals — for you are standing on holy ground." (Exodus 3:5.) We see, firstly, in this passage — an example of what believers ought to do in time of trouble. The great Head of the Church Himself supplies the pattern . We are told that when He came to the Mount of Olives, the night before He was crucified, "He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed." It is a striking fact, that both the Old and New Testaments give one and the same remedy for bearing trouble. What does the book of Psalms say? "Call upon Me in the time of trouble — and I will deliver you." (Psalm 50:15.) What does the apostle James say? "Are any of your afflicted? Let him pray." (James 5:13.) Prayer is the remedy which Jacob used — when he feared his brother Esau. Prayer is the remedy which Job used — when property and children were suddenly taken from him. Prayer is the remedy which Hezekiah used — when Sennacherib's threatening letter arrived. And prayer is the remedy which the Son of God Himself was not ashamed to use in the days of His flesh. In the hour of His mysterious agony, He "prayed." If we want comfort in affliction — then let us take care that we use our Master's remedy. Whatever other means of relief we use — let us pray. The first Friend we should turn to — ought to be God. The first message we should send — ought to be to the throne of grace. No depression of spirits must prevent us. No crushing weight of sorrow, must make us speechless.
The words behind it
13 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| αὐτὸς | autos | He himself | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἀπεσπάσθη | apespasthe | withdrew | G645 → | |
| ἀπ᾽ | ap᾽ | from | G575 → | 640 times |
| αὐτῶν | auton | them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ὡσεὶ | hosei | about | G5616 → | 21 times |
| λίθου | lithou | a stone’s | G3037 → | 58 times |
| βολήν, | bolen | throw, | G1000 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| θεὶς | theis | having fallen on | G5087 → | 100 times |
| τὰ | ta | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| γόνατα | gonata | knees | G1119 → | |
| προσηύχετο | proseucheto | He was praying | G4336 → | 85 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
αὐτὸςHe himself
autosG846 →5565 times
ἀπεσπάσθηwithdrew
apespastheG645 →
ἀπ᾽from
ap᾽G575 →640 times
αὐτῶνthem
autonG846 →5565 times
ὡσεὶabout
hoseiG5616 →21 times
λίθουa stone’s
lithouG3037 →58 times
βολήν,throw,
bolenG1000 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
θεὶςhaving fallen on
theisG5087 →100 times
τὰthe
taG3588 →19766 times
γόναταknees
gonataG1119 →
προσηύχετοHe was praying
proseuchetoG4336 →85 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 26:39Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”
it leads to
- John 6:38
For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me.
- Philippians 2:8
And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.
- Matthew 26:42
A second time He went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, may Your will be done.”
- Luke 22:41–42
And He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, where He knelt down and prayed,
- Hebrews 5:7
During the days of Jesus’ earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His…
- John 6:38
Through
Luke 18:11The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.
it leads to
- Matthew 6:5
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. Truly I tell you, they…
- Revelation 3:17
You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.
- Isaiah 65:5
They say, ‘Keep to yourself; do not come near me, for I am holier than you!’ Such people are smoke in My nostrils, a fire that burns all day long.
- Matthew 6:5
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies12
About Luke
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Augustine of Hippo, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bede, On the Gospel of Luke; Bede, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bonaventure, Commentary on Luke, Chapter 22; Cyril of Alexandria, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Gregory of Nyssa, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); John Chrysostom, Catena Aurea by Aquinas and John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748).