Luke 22 43

Luke 22:43 kjv

And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

Luke 22:43 nkjv

Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.

Luke 22:43 niv

An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.

Luke 22:43 esv

And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.

Luke 22:43 nlt

Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him.

Luke 22 verses

Luke 22 43 Meaning

Luke 22:43 describes a pivotal moment in Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane, revealing God's direct intervention to sustain His Son during intense spiritual and physical agony. After Jesus earnestly prayed for the Father's will to be done regarding the "cup" of suffering, a heavenly messenger was sent to minister to Him. This angelic appearance served to strengthen Jesus, affirming God's presence and provision as He faced the imminent betrayal, trial, and crucifixion. It highlights the depth of Jesus' human struggle and the Father's compassionate support for Him in His suffering, while never deviating from the divine plan of redemption.

Luke 22 43 Context

Luke 22:43 is set within the intensely emotional and spiritually profound narrative of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, immediately following the Last Supper and Jesus' prophecy of Peter's denial. Jesus has just led His disciples to the Mount of Olives and, withdrawing from them, has begun to pray with extreme fervency, telling Peter, James, and John that His "soul is very sorrowful, even to death." His prayer concerns the "cup," referring to the divine wrath and suffering He was about to endure as the sin-bearer for humanity. He petitions the Father for the "cup" to pass, yet immediately submits to the Father's will. It is at the height of this struggle, when His sweat became like great drops of blood, that the angel appears. This scene underscores the unique nature of Christ—fully God, yet fully man, grappling with the weight of humanity's sin and the Father's purpose, but doing so with divine aid as He prepares for His ultimate sacrifice.

Luke 22 43 Word analysis

• Then (δέ - de): A conjunction that smoothly connects this event to Jesus' previous fervent prayer and His immense anguish, indicating a direct response or consequence. It shows the immediacy of divine intervention following His profound struggle and submission.
• an angel (ἄγγελος - angelos): The Greek word means "messenger." This signifies a supernatural, divine agent, confirming that the comfort and strength Jesus received came directly from God. Angels frequently ministered to God's people in Scripture, and notably to Jesus Himself after His wilderness temptation (Matt 4:11, Mk 1:13), marking critical junctures in His ministry. This particular angel underscores the dire need and the unique importance of this moment.
• appeared (ὤφθη - ōphthē): A form of horao, meaning "was seen" or "became visible." This implies a clear, discernible manifestation, not just an inner feeling or abstract presence. The visibility validates the reality of the divine intervention to Jesus and, by extension, to Luke's audience.
• to Him (αὐτῷ - autō): Specifically to Jesus, indicating a personal and direct interaction, designed solely for His benefit in His hour of greatest need. This direct address shows the Father's tender care for His Son.
• from heaven (ἀπὸ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ - apo tou ouranou): This specifies the origin of the angel. "From heaven" signifies the divine source and authority of the messenger. It emphasizes that this intervention was not earthly but truly supernatural, coming from God's own dwelling place. It highlights the divine nature of the support given to Christ, acknowledging His true source of strength.
• strengthening (ἐνισχύων - enischyōn): The Greek word enischyō means "to strengthen, empower, or give vigor to, both physically and morally/spiritually." It is an active participle, indicating a continuous or ongoing act. This strengthening was multifaceted: not merely physical to endure the upcoming scourging and crucifixion, but also emotional, spiritual, and volitional to perfectly embrace the Father's will and endure the spiritual burden of sin. It enabled Jesus to press forward, even when His humanity was pushed to its limits, confirming His reliance on the Father. This does not imply Jesus was deficient but that, in His perfect humanity, He received sustenance just as any human relies on God's grace to fulfill a divine call, especially under extreme pressure.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• Then an angel appeared to Him: This phrase emphasizes the Father's direct response to Jesus' earnest prayer and suffering. It highlights God's immediate care and personal attentiveness to His Son during the most intense period of spiritual and emotional agony before the cross. This intervention also demonstrates the active role of angelic beings in carrying out God's will.
• from heaven, strengthening Him: This powerfully illustrates the source and purpose of the angelic visit. "From heaven" signifies divine origination and authority, assuring Jesus that the aid was from God Himself. "Strengthening Him" underlines the practical and essential nature of this support. It was not just a comforting presence, but an infusion of power enabling Jesus' humanity to endure the immeasurable suffering and divine wrath associated with His atonement, securing His obedience to the Father's will till the end. It signifies a profound demonstration of the Father sustaining the Son through His mission.

Luke 22 43 Bonus section

The verses Luke 22:43-44, which include the angel strengthening Jesus and Jesus sweating blood, are notable in scholarly discussions for being absent from some early and significant manuscripts. This has led to debates among textual critics about their originality. However, they are present in many other ancient manuscripts and major English translations. Regardless of their exact origin within the Luke narrative, theologically, these verses deeply resonate with other biblical themes: the full humanity of Christ, His genuine struggle in bearing the world's sin, the active intervention of God in human history, and the Father's comforting presence and strength given to His Son during immense suffering. If viewed as original, they add significant theological weight to Luke's portrayal of Jesus' human and divine nature in Gethsemane. If considered later additions, they still reflect an early Christian theological understanding of Jesus' experience consistent with other Gospel accounts of His agony and dependency on God. The focus remains on the critical nature of Christ's struggle and the divine assistance provided.

Luke 22 43 Commentary

Luke 22:43 is a profound depiction of Jesus' humanity and divine provision during His Gethsemane agony. This brief verse, often discussed due to manuscript variations, underscores that even the Son of God, in His incarnate state, experienced profound human distress and relied on His Father for strength to accomplish His mission. It affirms that Jesus was genuinely sorrowful, even to the point of physical and spiritual exhaustion, a reality demonstrated by the preceding description of His sweat like drops of blood (Lk 22:44, also sometimes disputed). The angelic appearance signifies that God heard Jesus' earnest prayer and compassionately provided the necessary fortitude for Him to face the cross. This was not a moment of weakness on Jesus' part, but a testament to the immense burden He carried—the weight of all humanity's sin and the immeasurable wrath of God. The strengthening allowed Jesus, in His full humanity, to perfectly submit to the Father’s will and proceed toward His sacrifice with resolved purpose. For believers, this scene offers comfort: if the Son of God received heavenly strength in His direst hour, we too can find solace and empowerment from God when facing trials and immense pressure, trusting that His grace is sufficient. It is a powerful example of reliance on God even in the face of overwhelming adversity.