Luke 20:1

One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the gospel, the chief priests and scribes, together with the elders, came up to Him.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jesus is teaching the crowds in the temple courts when the chief priests, scribes, and elders approach Him. This occurs during His final week in Jerusalem as He publicly proclaims the gospel.

The words — The Greek διδασκόντος (didaskontos) literally means "when teaching," indicating Jesus was actively instructing the people. The phrase ἐν μιᾷ τῶν ἡμερῶν (en mia tōn hēmerōn) translates to "on one of those days," marking a specific moment in the narrative sequence.

The thread — This confrontation parallels the temple authority challenge in Matthew 21:23 and continues the narrative of Jesus traveling and preaching established in Luke 8:1. The presence of the chief priests echoes the priestly divisions outlined in 1 Chronicles 24:1.

Why it lands — The text records the religious leaders approaching Jesus while He teaches, establishing the immediate context of Luke 20:2. It requires the reader to recognize that Jesus’ public ministry directly challenges established religious authority.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders,

Cross-references

Matthew 21:23 When Jesus returned to the temple courts and began to teach, the chief priests and elders of the people came up to Him. “By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave You this authority?”
Luke 8:1 Soon afterward, Jesus traveled from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with Him,
1 Chronicles 24:1 These were the divisions of the descendants of Aaron. The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
Matthew 26:55 At that time Jesus said to the crowd, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would an outlaw? Every day I sat teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest Me.
Mark 11:27 After their return to Jerusalem, Jesus was walking in the temple courts, and the chief priests, scribes, and elders came up to Him.
Luke 19:47 Jesus was teaching at the temple every day, but the chief priests, scribes, and leaders of the people were intent on killing Him.
John 18:20 “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus answered. “I always taught in the synagogues and at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.
Acts 4:1 While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them,
Acts 6:12 So they stirred up the people, elders, and scribes and confronted Stephen. They seized him and brought him before the Sanhedrin,