Luke 20:26

And they were unable to trap Him in His words before the people. And amazed at His answer, they fell silent.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses the spies sent by the religious leaders who had attempted to trap Him with a question about paying taxes to Caesar. The narrative records the immediate aftermath of His reply, noting the crowd's presence and the questioners' reaction.

The words — οὐκ ἴσχυσαν (ouk ischusan) literally means "they were not able," while ἐπιλαβέσθαι ῥήματος (epilabesthai rhēmatos) translates to "to catch Him in a declaration." These terms describe the failed attempt to use Jesus' own words against Him.

The thread — This pattern of thwarted schemes appears in Job 5:12, where God thwarts the crafty, and echoes the earlier trap set by the spies in Luke 20:20. The dynamic of silencing a trap-setter also aligns with the wisdom warning in Proverbs 26:4.

Why it lands — The text requires the reader to recognize that divine wisdom neutralizes human attempts at manipulation. It calls for a response of silence and attention rather than continued debate or defense.

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

καὶkaiAnd οὐκouknot ἴσχυσανischusanthey were able ἐπιλαβέσθαιepilabesthaito catch Him in αὐτοῦautouHis ῥήματοςrhēmatosdeclaration ἐναντίονenantionbefore τοῦtouthe λαοῦ,laoupeople,καὶkaiand θαυμάσαντεςthaumasanteshaving marveled ἐπὶepiat τῇtēathe ἀποκρίσειapokriseianswer αὐτοῦautouof Him ἐσίγησαν.¶esigēsanthey became silent.

King James Version

And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.

Cross-references

Luke 20:20 So they watched Him closely and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. They were hoping to catch Him in His words in order to hand Him over to the rule and authority of the governor.
Job 5:12 He thwarts the schemes of the crafty, so that their hands find no success.
Proverbs 26:4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.
Matthew 22:12 ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ But the man was speechless.
Matthew 22:22 And when they heard this, they were amazed. So they left Him and went away.
Matthew 22:34 And when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they themselves gathered together.
Luke 13:17 When Jesus said this, all His adversaries were humiliated. And the whole crowd rejoiced at all the glorious things He was doing.
Luke 20:39 Some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, You have spoken well!”
Romans 3:19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.
2 Timothy 3:8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth. They are depraved in mind and disqualified from the faith.