Lukas 11:35

11:35 Therefore see to it ¹  that the light in you ²  is not darkness.

Lukas 12:38

12:38 Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night ³  and finds them alert, ⁴  blessed are those slaves! ⁵ 

Lukas 11:21

11:21 When a strong man, ⁶  fully armed, guards his own palace, ⁷  his possessions are safe. ⁸ 

[11:35]  ¹ tn This is a present imperative, calling for a constant watch (L&N 24.32; ExSyn 721).

[11:35]  ² sn Here you is a singular pronoun, individualizing the application.

[12:38]  ³ sn The second or third watch of the night would be between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. on a Roman schedule and 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. on a Jewish schedule. Luke uses the four-watch schedule of the Romans in Acts 12:4, so that is more probable here. Regardless of the precise times of the watches, however, it is clear that the late-night watches when a person is least alert are in view here.

[12:38]  ⁴ tn Grk “finds (them) thus”; but this has been clarified in the translation by referring to the status (“alert”) mentioned in v. 37.

[12:38]  ⁵ tn Grk “blessed are they”; the referent (the watchful slaves, v. 37) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[11:21]  ⁶ tn The referent of the expression “a strong man” is Satan.

[11:21]  ⁷ tn The word αὐλή (aulh) describes any building large and elaborate enough to have an interior courtyard, thus “dwelling, palace, mansion” (L&N 7.6).

[11:21]  ⁸ tn Grk “his goods are in peace.”