And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders,

LUKE 20:1KJV
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Luke 20:1 (KJV)

What does Luke 20:1 mean?

Luke 20:1 describes a public encounter between Jesus and Jerusalem’s religious leaders. As Jesus teaches the people and announces good news in the temple, a group of leaders approaches him. Their arrival sets the scene for a question about his authority.

The temple was the center of Jewish worship in Jerusalem, and its grounds included areas where people gathered. The chief priests, scribes, and elders were respected figures with roles in religious and community affairs. Luke presents them arriving together while Jesus is addressing the people.

The Greek behind Luke 20:1

  • “gospel” — εὐαγγελίζω (euangelizō): This word means to announce good news. The Greek expresses an action: Jesus is bringing that news to the people.
  • “temple” — ἱερόν (hieron): This word can refer to the temple grounds as a whole. It places the encounter in the wider temple area, not necessarily inside the sanctuary building.
  • “came upon” — ἐφίστημι (ephistēmi): This word can carry the sense of coming up to someone or appearing before them. Luke uses it to picture the leaders approaching Jesus during his public activity.

Why Luke 20:1 matters

  • The encounter involves several groups of leaders, not just one official. Luke names “the chief priests and the scribes” together “with the elders.”
  • The public setting matters for the exchange that follows. Jesus is teaching “the people,” and the leaders’ question in verse 2 challenges the authority behind what he is doing.
  • The timing links the encounter to the preceding scene. In Luke 19:47–48, the leaders seek a way to destroy Jesus, while the people are eager to hear him.

Where else these words appear

“upon” Greek G2186 · used in 21 verses

  • Luke 2:9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
  • Acts 4:1 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,
  • Acts 22:20 And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.

“gospel” Greek G2097 · used in 52 verses

  • Matthew 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
  • Acts 11:20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.
  • 2 Corinthians 11:7 Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?

“temple” Greek G2411 · used in 67 verses

  • Matthew 4:5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
  • Luke 19:45 And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought;
  • Acts 3:3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

“scribes” Greek G1122 · used in 67 verses

  • Matthew 2:4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
  • Matthew 26:57 And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
  • Mark 15:1 And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate.