Luke 21:28

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Luke 21:28 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads; because your redemption draweth nigh.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads; because your redemption draweth nigh.
Luke 21:28 — American Standard Version

Context — Luke 21

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
28But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads; because your redemption draweth nigh.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And when these things begin to come to pass, etc.] When the first of these signs appears, or any one of them: then look up and lift up your heads; be cheerful and pleasant; do not hang down your heads as bulrushes, but erect them, and put on a cheerful countenance, and look upwards, from whence your help comes; and look out wistfully and intently, for your salvation and deliverance: for your redemption draweth nigh; not the redemption of their souls from sin, Satan, the law, the world, death, and hell; for that was to be obtained, and was obtained, before any of these signs took place; nor the redemption of their bodies at the last day, in the resurrection, called the day of redemption; for…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“redemption--from the oppression of ecclesiastical despotism and legal bondage by the total subversion of the Jewish state and the firm establishment of the evangelical kingdom (Luk 21:31). But the words are of far wider and more precious import. Matthew (Mat 24:30) says, "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven," evidently something distinct from Himself, mentioned immediately after. What this was intended to mean, interpreters are not agreed. But as before Christ came to destroy Jerusalem, some appalling portents were seen in the air, so before His personal appearing it is likely that something analogous will be witnessed, though of what nature it is vain to conjecture.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The account of the destruction of Jerusalem contained in this chapter has been fully considered in the notes at Matthew 24:0. All that will be necessary here will be an explanation of a few words that did not occur in that chapter. Luke 21:9 Commotions - Insurrections. Subjects rising against their rulers. Luke 21:11 Fearful sights - See Matthew 24:7. Luke 21:12, Luke 21:13 Synagogues, and into prisons - See the notes at Mark 13:9-10. Luke 21:14 Settle it, therefore, in your hearts - Fix it firmly in your minds - so firmly as to become a settled principle - that you are always to depend on God for aid in all your trials. See Mark 13:11. Luke 21:15 A mouth - Eloquence, ability to speak as the…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Now when these things - Mentioned Luk 21:8, Luk 21:10, &c, begin to come to pass, look up with firm faith, and lift up your heads with joy: for your redemption out of many troubles draweth nigh, by God's destroying your implacable enemies. Luke 21:29”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“look: Psa 98:5-9; Isa 12:1-3, Isa 25:8, Isa 25:9, Isa 60:1, Isa 60:2 redemption: Rom 8:19, Rom 8:23; Eph 1:14, Eph 4:30 Luke 21:29”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification