And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.
Parallel translations
- WEB There arose also a contention among them, which of them was considered to be greatest.
- BSB A dispute also arose among the disciples as to which of them would be considered the greatest.
- NKJV Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.
- NASB And a dispute also developed among them as to which one of them was regarded as being the greatest.
- NLT Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
A dispute arises among the apostles over which of them is the greatest. It reveals how persistent pride remains even at the holiest moments.
Overview
Strikingly, on the night of Jesus' betrayal the disciples argue about status and rank. Their rivalry exposes the lingering grip of pride in hearts still being shaped by grace. The contrast with Jesus' self-giving love sets up His teaching that true greatness in the Kingdom is found in humble service.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Luke 9:46Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.
- Mark 9:34But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.
- Matt 20:20–24Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.
- Mark 10:37–41They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.
- Rom 12:10Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
- 1 Pet 5:5–6Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
- 1 Cor 13:4Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
- Phil 2:3–5Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
- Jas 4:5–6Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 22:24 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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