Luke 22:53 Meaning and Explanation
“When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Jesus notes they never seized him in the temple by day; this hour belongs to them - and to the power of darkness.
What Does Luke 22:53 Mean?
Every day that week he had taught publicly in the temple courts (Luke 21:37-38), and no hand touched him. Now they come at night, away from the people. Jesus names the moment for what it is: 'your hour, and the power of darkness.'
He sees past the human actors to the dark authority operating behind them (verse 3; Colossians 1:13) - yet even this hour is permitted, bounded, and brief. Darkness gets an hour; God owns the day. That is why Jesus stands so calm in the torchlight. Believers facing evil's apparent victories may hold this verse like a lamp: the hour of darkness is real, and it is only an hour.
Luke 22:53 in the Original Language
exousia (ἐξουσία), 'power' -- authority; darkness is granted only a brief jurisdiction.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 22:53
What does Luke 22:53 mean?
Jesus notes they never seized him in the temple by day; this hour belongs to them - and to the power of darkness.