Lukas 11:37

Rebuking the Pharisees and Experts in the Law

11:37 As he spoke, ¹  a Pharisee ²  invited Jesus ³  to have a meal with him, so he went in and took his place at the table. ⁴ 

Lukas 12:38

12:38 Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night ⁵  and finds them alert, ⁶  blessed are those slaves! ⁷ 

[11:37]  ¹ tn The use of the aorist infinitive here should probably be translated “as he spoke” rather than “while he was speaking” (see ExSyn 595). The Pharisee did not necessarily interrupt Jesus to issue the invitation.

[11:37]  ² sn See the note on Pharisees in 5:17.

[11:37]  ³ tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[11:37]  ⁴ tn Grk “and reclined at table,” as 1st century middle eastern meals were not eaten while sitting at a table, but while reclining on one’s side on the floor with the head closest to the low table and the feet farthest away.

[12:38]  ⁵ 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]  ⁶ 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]  ⁷ tn Grk “blessed are they”; the referent (the watchful slaves, v. 37) has been specified in the translation for clarity.