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Luke 22:52
ESV Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs?
NIV Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs?
NASB And Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders who had come against Him, 'Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against a man inciting a revolt?
CSB Then Jesus said to the chief priests, temple police, and the elders who had come for him, "Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a criminal?
NLT Then Jesus spoke to the leading priests, the captains of the Temple guard, and the elders who had come for him. 'Am I some dangerous revolutionary,' he asked, 'that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me?
KJV Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?
NKJV Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs?

What does Luke 22:52 mean?

Judas has led the temple guards, priests, and servants to the garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. There, Jesus has been agonizing in prayer. Jesus woke up Peter, James, and John as the crowd approached. In a foolish display of loyalty, Peter draws his sword and slashes at one of the servants. Jesus tells Peter to stop and heals the man's maimed ear (Luke 22:39–51; John 18:10–11).

Now, Jesus addresses His captors. Jesus has done nothing violent other than drive out the merchants on the temple Mount. These merchants cheated the travelers who needed sacrifices and money-changing, and they clogged the courtyard meant for Gentiles to worship (Luke 19:45–46). He is not a violent robber—like the two men He will be crucified next to. Despite their fears, He has not come to Jerusalem to begin an insurrection against them or the Romans. He is in Jerusalem to celebrate Passover and die at their hands.

Right before this moment, Jesus reminded the disciples that He is ever in control. He tells Peter to put away his sword and says, "Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?" (Matthew 26:52–53). Jesus also asks the mob, "Whom do you seek?" They respond, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus tells them, "I am he." The force of the words that identify Him as God are so great that they step back and fall to the ground. Jesus then tells them to leave the disciples alone because He will not lose any that the Father gave Him (John 18:4–9).

Even in this moment, Jesus is in full control, "But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled" (Matthew 26:56).

The King James Version uses "staves" instead of "clubs." Both mean a blunt weapon made of wood.
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