“Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?”
The full verse · Luke 22:64 · KJV
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Asked by
Guards: "the men that held Jesus" in the high priest's house during the night after His arrest (Luke 22:54, 63)
Asked to
Jesus: the Son of God and promised Messiah, held in the high priest's house after His arrest (Luke 22:54)
The Scene
During the night in the high priest's house, just after Peter's third denial, the men holding Jesus mock Him and strike Him (Luke 22:54, 60-63).
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionThis was mockery, not a real question. The men covered Jesus' eyes, hit Him, and dared Him to name who did it, making a game of His claim to be a prophet. Barnes, on the parallel in Matthew 26:68, explains that to prophesy here means "to declare anything that is unknown, or anything which cannot be known by natural knowledge or without revelation." Barnes explains their thinking: if He was the Christ, they supposed He could tell who struck Him. Gill describes it as "deriding his prophetic office," and likens it to the children's game of blindman's buff.
The Response
What Scripture recordsLuke records no answer from Jesus. The abuse went on: "many other things blasphemously spake they against him" (Luke 22:65). Notice that Luke uses the word "blasphemously" for what the mockers said. As soon as it was day, they led Him into the council (Luke 22:66), where Jesus did speak, about who He is (Luke 22:67-70).
Historical Context
The world behind the wordsThe Greek word for "blindfolded" is perikalypsantes, glossed "having blindfolded." The verb for "struck" (etypton) is in the imperfect tense, glossed on the interlinear "they were striking," which pictures repeated blows. The word "Prophesy" (propheteuson) is a command.
The Gospels each add details. Matthew records the taunt as "Prophesy unto us, thou Christ" (Matthew 26:68). Mark says they spat on Him, covered His face, and that "the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands" (Mark 14:65). Luke simply calls them "the men that held Jesus" (Luke 22:63).
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyThe irony is sharp. Just before this in Luke's account, Jesus' prophecy about Peter had come true word for word: "the cock crew. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord" (Luke 22:60-61). The men demanded a prophecy, while His prophecies were being fulfilled all around them. Jesus had also foretold this very treatment: the Son of man "shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated" (Luke 18:32), so that "all things that are written by the prophets" would be accomplished (Luke 18:31).
Matthew Henry turns the charge back: "Those that condemned Jesus for a blasphemer, were the vilest blasphemers." Then he invites the reader to "consider Him who endured such contradiction of sinners against himself," borrowing the words of Hebrews 12:3.
Look Closer
What had just happened in that courtyard before the mocking?
Carry the question into prayer and conversation.
Lord Jesus, You were mocked as a false prophet while every word You spoke was coming true; how can I trust You when others ridicule what I believe?
A prayer to carry into the day.
- The mockers wanted Jesus to prove Himself on their terms. When are you tempted to ask God to prove Himself your way?
- Tell about a time you watched someone stay gracious while being ridiculed, and what it taught you.
For you, a small group, a friend, or the dinner table.
If you are ever mocked for following Jesus, He knows what that is like. He was blindfolded, struck, and taunted, and He did not need to prove Himself to His mockers. His words were proven true by what happened, not by winning their game.
When ridicule wears you down, Scripture points you to Him: "consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds" (Hebrews 12:3).
This does not mean you must stay silent in every kind of mistreatment. When an officer struck Jesus before the high priest, He spoke up: "if well, why smitest thou me?" (John 18:23). Jesus endured the mocking with dignity, and He also named injustice when it was time. Scripture's own application: Hebrews 12:3
Built from the biblical text and checked against trusted commentaries and lexicons. References & Sources
Keep questioning
“Who is he that smote thee?”
“Art thou the Christ?”
“Art thou then the Son of God?”
“Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?”