The Meaning of Luke 22:24 Explained

Luke 22:24

KJV: And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

YLT: And there happened also a strife among them -- who of them is accounted to be greater.

Darby: And there was also a strife among them which of them should be held to be the greatest.

ASV: And there arose also a contention among them, which of them was accounted to be greatest.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  there was  also  a strife  among  them,  which  of them  should be accounted  the greatest. 

What does Luke 22:24 Mean?

Context Summary

Luke 22:24-34 - Disciples Who Grieve Their Lord
It is probable that this dispute about priority took place on their entering the supper room. It could hardly have taken place after the tender scene of John 13:1-38. But doubtless the irritated feelings which that contention engendered prepared the way for the testing, sifting and ultimate fall of Peter. It is the little waves that eventually become the mighty billows which wreck the big ships and engulf human lives.
Satan cannot assail us until he has asked and obtained permission, Luke 22:31. God does not tempt, though He permits us to be tempted, as in the case of Job; but with the temptation there is always a way of escape, if we wait on Him, 1 Corinthians 10:12-13. How often does our Lord anticipate our trial hours by His prayers, Luke 22:32! We owe it to them, either that we do not fall, or that, having fallen, we turn back. This is the best use we can make even of our failures; they teach us humility, pity, and how to help others. How little do we know ourselves! See Luke 22:33-34. [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 22

1  The leaders conspire against Jesus
3  Satan prepares Judas to betray him
7  The apostles prepare the Passover
19  Jesus institutes his holy supper;
21  covertly foretells of the traitor;
24  rebukes the rest of his apostles from ambition;
31  assures Peter his faith should not fail;
34  and yet he should deny him thrice
39  He prays in the mount, and sweats blood;
47  is betrayed with a kiss;
50  he heals Malchus' ear;
54  he is thrice denied by Peter;
63  shamefully abused;
66  and confesses himself to be the Son of God

Greek Commentary for Luke 22:24

Contention [πιλονεικια]
An old word from πιλονεικος — philoneikos fond of strife, eagerness to contend. Only here in the N.T. [source]
Greatest [μειζων]
Common use of the comparative as superlative. [source]
A strife [φιλονεικία]
Properly, “an eager contention.” Only here in New Testament. [source]
A strife [φιλονεικία]
Properly, “an eager contention.” Only here in New Testament. [source]
Greatest []
Strictly, greater. [source]
Greatest []
Strictly, greater. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 22:24

Matthew 23:6 The chief place at feasts [την πρωτοκλισιαν εν τοις δειπνοις]
Literally, the first reclining place on the divan at the meal. The Persians, Greeks, Romans, Jews differed in their customs, but all cared for the post of honour at formal functions as is true of us today. Hostesses often solve the point by putting the name of each guest at the table. At the last passover meal the apostles had an ugly snarl over this very point of precedence (Luke 22:24; John 13:2-11), just two days after this exposure of the Pharisees in the presence of the apostles. [source]
Matthew 18:1 Who then is greatest [τις αρα μειζων εστιν]
The αρα — ara seems to point back to the tax-collection incident when Jesus had claimed exemption for them all as “sons” of the Father. But it was not a new dispute, for jealousy had been growing in their hearts. The wonderful words of Jesus to Peter on Mount Hermon (Matthew 16:17-19) had evidently made Peter feel a fresh sense of leadership on the basis of which he had dared even to rebuke Jesus for speaking of his death (Matthew 16:22). And then Peter was one of the three (James and John also) taken with the Master up on the Mount of Transfiguration. Peter on that occasion had spoken up promptly. And just now the tax-collectors had singled out Peter as the one who seemed to represent the group. Mark (Mark 9:33) represents Jesus as asking them about their dispute on the way into the house, perhaps just after their question in Matthew 18:1. Jesus had noticed the wrangling. It will break out again and again (Matthew 20:20-28; Luke 22:24). Plainly the primacy of Peter was not yet admitted by the others. The use of the comparative μειζων — meizōn (so ο μειζων — ho meizōn in Matthew 18:4) rather than the superlative μεγιστος — megistos is quite in accord with the Koiné idiom where the comparative is displacing the superlative (Robertson, Grammar, pp. 667ff.). But it is a sad discovery to find the disciples chiefly concerned about their own places (offices) in the political kingdom which they were expecting. [source]
Mark 12:39 Chief places at feasts [πρωτοκλισιας εν τοις δειπνοις]
Recognizing proper rank and station. Even the disciples fall victims to this desire for precedence at table (Luke 22:24). [source]
Luke 22:23 Which of them it was [το τις αρα ειη εχ αυτων]
Note the article το — to with the indirect question as in Luke 22:2, Luke 22:4. The optative ειη — eiē here is changed from the present active indicative εστιν — estin though it was not always done, for see δοκει — dokei in Luke 22:24 where the present indicative is retained. They all had their hands on the table. Whose hand was it? [source]
John 13:4 Riseth from supper [εγειρεται εκ του δειπνου]
Vivid dramatic present middle indicative of εγειρω — egeirō From the couch on which he was reclining. Layeth aside Same dramatic present active of τιτημι — tithēmi His garments The outer robe ταλλιτ — tallith Jesus had already rebuked the apostles for their strife for precedence at the beginning of the meal (Luke 22:24-30). A towel Latin word linteum, linen cloth, only in this passage in the N.T. Girded himself First aorist active indicative of διαζωννυω — diazōnnuō (-υμι — umi), old and rare compound (in Plutarch, lxx, inscriptions, and papyri), to gird all around. In N.T. only in John (John 13:4, John 13:5; John 21:7). Did Peter not recall this incident when in 1 Peter 5:5 he exhorts all to “gird yourselves with humility” (την ταπεινοπροσυνην εγκομβωσαστε — tēn tapeinophrosunēn egkombōsasthe)? [source]
John 15:17 That ye may love one another [ινα αγαπατε αλληλους]
Repetition of John 13:34; John 15:12. This very night the disciples had been guilty of jealousy and wrangling (Luke 22:24; John 13:5, John 13:15). [source]
John 17:11 And these [και ουτοι]
Note adversative use of και — kai (= but these). I come Futuristic present, “I am coming.” Cf. John 13:3; John 14:12; John 17:13. Christ will no longer be visibly present to the world, but he will be with the believers through the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:20). Holy Father Only here in the N.T., but see 1 John 2:20; Luke 1:49 for the holiness of God, a thoroughly Jewish conception. See John 6:69 where Peter calls Jesus ο αγιος του τεου — ho hagios tou theou For the word applied to saints see Acts 9:13. See John 17:25 for πατηρ δικαιε — patēr dikaie (Righteous Father). Keep them First aorist (constative) active imperative of τηρεω — tēreō as now specially needing the Father‘s care with Jesus gone (urgency of the aorist tense in prayer). Which Locative case of the neuter relative singular, attracted from the accusative ο — ho to the case of the antecedent ονοματι — onomati (name). That they may be one Purpose clause with ινα — hina and the present active subjunctive of ειμι — eimi (that they may keep on being). Oneness of will and spirit This is Christ‘s prayer for all believers, for unity, not for organic union of which we hear so much. The disciples had union, but lacked unity or oneness of spirit as was shown this very evening at the supper (Luke 22:24; John 13:4-15). Jesus offers the unity in the Trinity (three persons, but one God) as the model for believers. The witness of the disciples will fail without harmony (John 17:21). [source]
Acts 11:6 I considered []
See on Matthew 7:3; Luke 22:24, Luke 22:27. [source]
Acts 22:30 Wherefore he was accused [το τι κατεγορειται]
Epexegetical after to ασπαλες — asphales Note article (accusative case) with the indirect question here as in Luke 22:1, Luke 22:23, Luke 22:24 (which see), a neat idiom in the Greek. Commanded (εκελευσεν — ekeleusen). So the Sanhedrin had to meet, but in the Tower of Antonia, for he brought Paul down (καταγαγων — katagagōn second aorist active participle of καταγω — katagō). Set him First aorist active (transitive) indicative of ιστημι — histēmi not the intransitive second aorist εστη — estē Lysias is determined to find out the truth about Paul, more puzzled than ever by the important discovery that he has a Roman citizen on his hands in this strange prisoner. [source]
1 Thessalonians 4:1 We beseech [ερωτωμεν]
Not “question” as in ancient Greek, but as often in N.T. (1 Thessalonians 5:12; 2 Thessalonians 2:1; Philemon 4:3) and also in papyri to make urgent request of one. How ye ought (το πως δει υμας — to pōs dei humās). Literally, explanatory articular indirect question (το πως — to pōs) after παρελαβητε — parelabēte according to common classic idiom in Luke (Luke 1:62; Luke 22:2, Luke 22:4, Luke 22:23, Luke 22:24) and Paul (Romans 8:26). That ye abound Loose construction of the ινα — hina clause with present subjunctive after two subordinate clauses with κατως — kathōs (as, even as) to be connected with “beseech and exhort.” More and more (μαλλον — mallon). Simply more, but added to same idea in περισσευητε — perisseuēte See also 1 Thessalonians 4:11. [source]
1 Thessalonians 4:1 How ye ought [το πως δει υμας]
Literally, explanatory articular indirect question (το πως — to pōs) after παρελαβητε — parelabēte according to common classic idiom in Luke (Luke 1:62; Luke 22:2, Luke 22:4, Luke 22:23, Luke 22:24) and Paul (Romans 8:26). [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 22:24 mean?

There was then also a dispute among them - which of them is thought to be [the] greatest
Ἐγένετο δὲ καὶ φιλονεικία ἐν αὐτοῖς τὸ τίς αὐτῶν δοκεῖ εἶναι μείζων

Ἐγένετο  There  was 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Singular
Root: γίνομαι  
Sense: to become, i.
καὶ  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
φιλονεικία  a  dispute 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: φιλονεικία  
Sense: love of strife, eagerness to contend.
τὸ  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
αὐτῶν  of  them 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
δοκεῖ  is  thought 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: δοκέω  
Sense: to be of opinion, think, suppose.
εἶναι  to  be 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
μείζων  [the]  greatest 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular, Comparative
Root: μέγας  
Sense: great.