Luke 22:45
New International Version
When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.

New Living Translation
At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief.

English Standard Version
And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow,

Berean Standard Bible
When Jesus rose from prayer and returned to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.

Berean Literal Bible
And having risen up from the prayer, having come to the disciples, He found them sleeping from the grief.

King James Bible
And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,

New King James Version
When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow.

New American Standard Bible
When He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow,

NASB 1995
When He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow,

NASB 1977
And when He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow,

Legacy Standard Bible
And when He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow,

Amplified Bible
When He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow,

Christian Standard Bible
When he got up from prayer and came to the disciples, he found them sleeping, exhausted from their grief.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When He got up from prayer and came to the disciples, He found them sleeping, exhausted from their grief.

American Standard Version
And when he rose up from his prayer, he came unto the disciples, and found them sleeping for sorrow,

Contemporary English Version
Jesus got up from praying and went over to his disciples. They were asleep and worn out from being so sad.

English Revised Version
And when he rose up from his prayer, he came unto the disciples, and found them sleeping for sorrow,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When Jesus ended his prayer, he got up and went to the disciples. He found them asleep and overcome with sadness.

Good News Translation
Rising from his prayer, he went back to the disciples and found them asleep, worn out by their grief.

International Standard Version
When he got up from prayer, he went to the disciples and found them asleep from sorrow.

Majority Standard Bible
When Jesus rose from prayer and returned to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.

NET Bible
When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping, exhausted from grief.

New Heart English Bible
When he rose up from his prayer, he came to the disciples, and found them sleeping because of grief,

Webster's Bible Translation
And when he arose from prayer, and had come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow:

Weymouth New Testament
When He rose from his prayer and came to His disciples, He found them sleeping for sorrow.

World English Bible
When he rose up from his prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And having risen up from the prayer, having come to the disciples, He found them sleeping from the sorrow,

Berean Literal Bible
And having risen up from the prayer, having come to the disciples, He found them sleeping from the grief.

Young's Literal Translation
And having risen up from the prayer, having come unto the disciples, he found them sleeping from the sorrow,

Smith's Literal Translation
And having risen from prayer, having come to his disciples, he found them sleeping from grief;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And when he had risen up from prayer and had gone to his disciples, he found them sleeping out of sorrow.

New American Bible
When he rose from prayer and returned to his disciples, he found them sleeping from grief.

New Revised Standard Version
When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then he rose up from his prayer, and came to his disciples, and found them sleeping because of distress.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And he arose from his prayer and he came to his disciples and found them sleeping from the anguish.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And he arose from prayer, and came to his disciples, and found them asleep for sorrow.

Godbey New Testament
And having risen from prayer, having come to His disciples, He found them sleeping on account of weariness,

Haweis New Testament
And when he rose up from prayer, on coming to his disciples, he found them sleeping from sorrow.

Mace New Testament
then rising from prayer, he came to his disciples, and finding them asleep, oppress'd with grief, why do you sleep?

Weymouth New Testament
When He rose from his prayer and came to His disciples, He found them sleeping for sorrow.

Worrell New Testament
And, arising from prayer, and coming to the disciples, He found them sleeping for grief,

Worsley New Testament
And when He rose up from prayer, He came to his disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives
44And in His anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground. 45When Jesus rose from prayer and returned to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46“Why are you sleeping?” He asked. “Get up and pray so that you will not enter into temptation.”…

Cross References
Matthew 26:40
Then Jesus returned to the disciples and found them sleeping. “Were you not able to keep watch with Me for one hour?” He asked Peter.

Mark 14:37
Then Jesus returned and found them sleeping. “Simon, are you asleep?” He asked. “Were you not able to keep watch for one hour?

Matthew 26:41
“Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

Mark 14:38
Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

1 Thessalonians 5:6
So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober.

Romans 13:11
And do this, understanding the occasion. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

Ephesians 6:18
Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.

1 Peter 4:7
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray.

Proverbs 6:9-11
How long will you lie there, O slacker? When will you get up from your sleep? / A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, / and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.

Isaiah 56:10
Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber.

Jonah 1:6
The captain approached him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call upon your God. Perhaps this God will consider us, so that we may not perish.”

1 Corinthians 16:13
Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.

Colossians 4:2
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful,

Revelation 3:2-3
Wake up and strengthen what remains, which is about to die; for I have found your deeds incomplete in the sight of My God. / Remember, then, what you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know the hour when I will come upon you.

Proverbs 24:33-34
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, / and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.


Treasury of Scripture

And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,

sleeping.

Matthew 26:40,43
And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? …

Mark 14:37,40,41
And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? …

Jump to Previous
Asleep Disciples Exhausted Found Getting Grief Prayer Risen Rising Rose Sleeping Sorrow
Jump to Next
Asleep Disciples Exhausted Found Getting Grief Prayer Risen Rising Rose Sleeping Sorrow
Luke 22
1. The leaders conspire against Jesus.
3. Satan prepares Judas to betray him.
7. The apostles prepare the Passover.
19. Jesus institutes his holy supper;
21. covertly foretells of the traitor;
24. rebukes the rest of his apostles from ambition;
31. assures Peter his faith should not fail;
34. and yet he should deny him thrice.
39. He prays in the mount, and sweats blood;
47. is betrayed with a kiss;
50. he heals Malchus' ear;
54. he is thrice denied by Peter;
63. shamefully abused;
66. and confesses himself to be the Son of God.














When Jesus rose from prayer
This phrase highlights Jesus' commitment to prayer, especially during times of great distress. The setting is the Garden of Gethsemane, a place Jesus often visited for solitude and prayer (John 18:2). This moment is significant as it follows His intense prayer where He asked for the cup of suffering to pass from Him, yet submitted to the Father's will (Luke 22:42). This act of rising from prayer signifies His readiness to face the impending crucifixion, demonstrating His obedience and resolve.

and returned to the disciples,
Jesus' return to the disciples shows His concern for them even in His own time of need. The disciples were His closest followers, and He had previously instructed them to pray so they would not fall into temptation (Luke 22:40). This return is a reminder of His role as a teacher and shepherd, guiding and caring for His flock. It also reflects the communal aspect of faith, emphasizing the importance of supporting one another in spiritual vigilance.

He found them asleep,
The disciples' sleep contrasts sharply with Jesus' vigilance in prayer. This sleep is not merely physical but symbolizes spiritual unpreparedness. Despite Jesus' earlier warnings about the coming trials (Luke 22:31-34), the disciples succumb to their human frailty. This moment foreshadows their later abandonment of Jesus during His arrest and trial, highlighting the weakness of the flesh even when the spirit is willing (Matthew 26:41).

exhausted from sorrow.
The disciples' exhaustion is attributed to sorrow, indicating the emotional toll of the events unfolding around them. They were likely overwhelmed by Jesus' predictions of His suffering and death (Luke 22:37). This sorrow reflects a deep, human response to impending loss and confusion about the future. It also connects to the broader biblical theme of sorrow preceding joy, as their grief would later turn to joy with the resurrection (John 16:20-22).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus
The central figure in this passage, Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane, praying earnestly before His impending arrest and crucifixion. His prayer reflects His deep communion with the Father and His submission to God's will.

2. Disciples
Specifically, Peter, James, and John are mentioned in the broader context. They are Jesus' closest followers, whom He brought with Him to pray, but they fall asleep due to exhaustion from sorrow.

3. Garden of Gethsemane
This is the place where Jesus went to pray. It is located on the Mount of Olives, a significant location in Jesus' ministry and a place of deep spiritual significance.

4. Prayer
The act of Jesus communicating with the Father, demonstrating His reliance on God and His human struggle with the impending suffering.

5. Sorrow
The emotional state of the disciples, which leads to their exhaustion and sleep. This sorrow is due to the weight of the events unfolding around them, including Jesus' predictions of His death.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Vigilance in Prayer
Jesus' example in Gethsemane teaches us the necessity of prayer, especially in times of trial. We must remain spiritually alert and not succumb to the distractions or sorrows of life.

Human Frailty and Divine Strength
The disciples' exhaustion highlights human weakness. We are reminded that our strength comes from God, and we must rely on Him, especially when we feel overwhelmed.

The Role of Sorrow in Spiritual Growth
Sorrow can lead to spiritual lethargy if not addressed through prayer and reliance on God. We should bring our sorrows to God, allowing Him to transform them into opportunities for growth.

The Call to Support One Another in Prayer
Jesus asked His disciples to watch and pray with Him. This teaches us the importance of supporting each other in prayer, especially during difficult times.(45) He found them sleeping for sorrow.--It is, perhaps, again characteristic of St. Luke, that while the other Gospels state simply the fact that the disciples slept, he assigns it psychologically and physiologically to its cause. Prolonged sorrow has, at last, a numbing and narcotising effect. (See Note on "believing not for joy," Luke 24:41.)

Verses 45, 46. - He found them sleeping for sorrow, and said unto them, Why sleep ye rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The events of the past evening; the long excitement stirred up by listening to such words as their Master had been speaking to them during the sad hours of the Last Supper; the sure consciousness of coming sorrow; then the walk through the silent city: - all predisposed them to sleep. Commentators are never weary with pressing these excuses for the slumber of the eleven at that awful moment. But all these things, though they may well have predisposed them to slumber, are not sufficient to account for that strange heavy sleep which seems to have paralyzed the eleven in Gethsemane. In spite of their Master's solemn injunction to watch and pray, he finds them, several times during that dreadful watch of his in the garden, asleep, in spite of his asking them for sympathy and prayer, in spite of his evident longing for their sympathy - each time he cast his eyes on them, he sees them, not watching, but sleeping! Many a time in their work-filled lives those fishermen he loved so well, John and Peter and Andrew, had toiled all night with their nets; but on this night of sorrow, when their pleading voices were listened for, possibly their hand-press waited for, their silent sympathy certainly longed for, they slept, seemingly forgetful of all save their own ease and comfort. Surely on this night of temptation they were influenced by some invisible power, who lulled them to sleep during those precious moments when they should have been agonizing with their Master in prayer, and so arming themselves against the supreme moment of temptation just coming upon them. But swayed by the power of evil of whom the Lord had been warning them, but in vain, they let the moments slip by, and the hour of temptation came on them unawares. We know how grievously they all fell.

"'Forsake the Christ thou sawest transfigured! him
Who trod the sea and brought the dead to life?
What should wring this from thee?' - ye laugh and ask.
What wrung it? Even a torchlight and a noise,
The sudden Roman faces, violent hands,

And fear of what the Jews might do! Just that;
And it is written, 'I forsook and fled:'
There was my trial, and it ended thus ."


(Browning, 'A Death in the Desert.')

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
When
Καὶ (Kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

[Jesus] rose
ἀναστὰς (anastas)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 450: To raise up, set up; I rise from among (the) dead; I arise, appear. From ana and histemi; to stand up.

from
ἀπὸ (apo)
Preposition
Strong's 575: From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses.

prayer
προσευχῆς (proseuchēs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 4335: From proseuchomai; prayer; by implication, an oratory.

[and] returned
ἐλθὼν (elthōn)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2064: To come, go.

to
πρὸς (pros)
Preposition
Strong's 4314: To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.

the
τοὺς (tous)
Article - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

disciples,
μαθητὰς (mathētas)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3101: A learner, disciple, pupil. From manthano; a learner, i.e. Pupil.

He found
εὗρεν (heuren)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2147: A prolonged form of a primary heuro, which heureo is used for it in all the tenses except the present and imperfect to find.

them
αὐτοὺς (autous)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

asleep,
κοιμωμένους (koimōmenous)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2837: From keimai; to put to sleep, i.e. to slumber; figuratively, to decease.

exhausted from
ἀπὸ (apo)
Preposition
Strong's 575: From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses.

sorrow.
λύπης (lypēs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3077: Pain, grief, sorrow, affliction. Apparently a primary word; sadness.


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