Luke 22:43-44

The Angel and Bloody Sweat

KJV Reading Defended

And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Why the KJV Reading Is Retained

Luke 22:43-44 is included in the KJV/TR but omitted by several significant early witnesses, producing ancient support on both sides.

Disputed unit

Presence of the two verses, with separate states for inclusion marked by an obelus and for relocation after Matthew 26:39.

Short omitted phraseComplex evidenceMajority Greek supportPatristic supportLatin supportSyriac supportCoptic support

Evidence assessment

The angel and the bloody sweat stand in the first hand of Sinaiticus, Codex Bezae, Cyprius, Guelferbytanus, Regius, 0171, Family 1, 174, 230, 157, 565, 700, the first hand of 892, 1241 and the Byzantine tradition, with Latin, the Curetonian, Peshitta, Harklean and Palestinian Syriac and Bohairic manuscripts. Justin, Irenaeus, Epiphanius and Hilary all use the passage. P75, the corrector of Sinaiticus, Alexandrinus and Vaticanus omit it.

Primary support for the KJV reading

Byzantine tradition with second-century patristic use

King James Bible reading

And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Open in Research Desk

Evidence sources

Where the evidence on this page comes from.

Sources used for the witnesses, readings, dates, and notes on this page. Complete citations appear in the References section at the end of the page.

Governing apparatus and count scope

Willker's selected Luke apparatus, which prints named witnesses together with the group siglum Maj. Counts below name the witnesses this apparatus prints.

Full witness information

Earliest KJV-supporting evidence

The earliest reviewed support at a glance.

c. AD 150 — Justin Martyr, related agony tradition. Earliest surviving Greek text: late third–early fourth century — Uncial 0171.

Earliest surviving Greek support: Late third–early fourth century — Uncial 0171.

Primary support for the KJV reading

Byzantine tradition with second-century patristic use

The sections below preserve each supporting, competing, and related record under its proper evidence type.

Majority Text standing

Presence of the angel and bloody-sweat verses

The two verses are the overwhelming numerical Majority Text reading in the Greek tradition.

Estimated Greek support: More than 1,500 Greek manuscripts

This is a conservative working estimate based on the published Majority or Byzantine designation and the approximate number of continuous-text manuscripts that preserve the book. Lacunae and collation scope make the exact denominator vary by verse.

Source scope and denominator

Willker's selected Luke apparatus, which prints named witnesses together with the group siglum Maj. Counts below name the witnesses this apparatus prints.

Greek support in the cited corpus

12 named Greek witnesses plus Family 1 and the Maj group in Willker's apparatus

Greek competing evidence in the cited corpus

12 named Greek witnesses plus four cited collectively

Principal competing witnesses named in the snapshot

P75
Codex Sinaiticus corrector (01C1)
Codex Alexandrinus (02)
Codex Vaticanus (03)

Evidence represented on this page

Greek manuscripts

Represented

Ancient versions

Represented

Church fathers

Represented

Printed editions

No entry listed

Complete source-scoped roster

Complete roster within the stated source scope.

This roster preserves every named or grouped state recovered in the governing sources, including exact readings, competing readings, corrections, related forms, lacunae, versions, and aggregate traditions. When Maj or Byz appears on the KJV side, it marks the numerically dominant Greek transmission at that unit. The green Majority Text card above supplies the best available passage-specific estimate. The grouped siglum is then retained so it is not mistaken for one individual manuscript.

Apparatus and roster scope

Willker's selected Luke apparatus, which prints named witnesses together with the group siglum Maj. Counts below name the witnesses this apparatus prints.

Greek support in cited scope: 12 named Greek witnesses plus Family 1 and the Maj group in Willker's apparatus
Greek competing evidence in cited scope: 12 named Greek witnesses plus four cited collectively
Evidence classification: Byzantine tradition with second-century patristic use

Presence of the two verses

KJV/TR unit: ὤφθη δὲ αὐτῷ ἄγγελος ἀπ’ οὐρανοῦ ἐνισχύων αὐτόν… καὶ ἐγένετο ὁ ἱδρὼς αὐτοῦ ὡσεὶ θρόμβοι αἵματος

Greek manuscripts

Supports the KJV/TR form

01* 05 017 019 024 174 230 157 565 700 892* 1241

Grouped evidence: Family 1 · Family 13 margin · Maj

Latin, Syriac and Coptic

Supports the KJV/TR form

Curetonian Peshitta Harklean Palestinian-Syriac Bohairic-manuscripts

Grouped evidence: Latin evidence on this line · Diatessaron descendant tradition

Greek manuscripts

Related or qualified evidence

present with an obelus or critical sign

05C 024C 0171 230 892mg 1071mg 1424

Grouped evidence: about 34 further manuscripts cited collectively · Bohairic manuscripts

Greek manuscripts

Related or qualified evidence

placed after Matthew 26:39

713

Grouped evidence: Family 13

Greek manuscripts

Competing reading

P75 01C1 02 03 022 027 029 032 0211 13* 579 1071*

Grouped evidence: four further manuscripts cited collectively (158, 512*, 552, 1128)

Old Latin, Syriac, Coptic and other versions

Competing reading

f (VL10) Sinaitic Sahidic Bohairic Armenian Georgian

Larger omission of 22:42–44 and part of 45

Non-directional evidence

P69

Lacunose

Non-directional evidence

04 33

Church Fathers and literary witnesses

Precisely located citations and additional names reported by the controlling apparatus are kept separate. An apparatus-level attribution is not presented as an independently verified exact quotation.

Justin Martyr

AD 150–160

Not specified

Apparatus-level attribution

Supporting witnessCitation type: Patristic citation

Early witness to Christ's agony / bloody sweat tradition

Locator: Wieland Willker, A Textual Commentary on the Greek Gospels, Vol. 3: Luke, Luke 22:43–44, PDF pp. 538–558; exact work and section are not separately identified in the current dossier

Open source

Tatian / Diatessaron

c. AD 170

Syria

Apparatus-level attribution

Supporting witnessCitation type: Patristic citation

Includes the agony tradition in early Gospel harmony tradition

Locator: Wieland Willker, A Textual Commentary on the Greek Gospels, Vol. 3: Luke, Luke 22:43–44, PDF pp. 538–558; exact work and section are not separately identified in the current dossier

Open source

Irenaeus

c. AD 180

Gaul

Against Heresies 3.22.2

Supporting witnessCitation type: Direct quotation

Refers to Christ sweating great drops of blood

Locator: Adversus haereses 3.22.2

Open source

Hippolytus

c. AD 220

Rome

Apparatus-level attribution

Supporting witnessCitation type: Patristic citation

Cites the passage in connection with Christ's real suffering

Locator: Wieland Willker, A Textual Commentary on the Greek Gospels, Vol. 3: Luke, Luke 22:43–44, PDF pp. 538–558; exact work and section are not separately identified in the current dossier

Open source

Athanasius

AD 301–400

Against the Arians 3

Supporting witnessCitation type: Allusion

Allusion in Against the Arians 3.

Locator: PG 26:440

Open source

Hilary of Poitiers

AD 356–360

De Trinitate 10.41

Supporting witnessCitation type: Textual comment

Textual comment in De Trinitate 10.41.

Open source

Gregory Nazianzen

AD 367–400

Theological Oration IV.16

Supporting witnessCitation type: Indirect report

Indirect report in Theological Oration IV.16. Preserved through Severus.

Locator: Theological Oration IV.16, reported by Severus

Open source

John Chrysostom

AD 367–400

Homily on “Father, if possible, let this cup pass from me”

Supporting witnessCitation type: Indirect report

Indirect report in Homily on “Father, if possible, let this cup pass from me”. Preserved through Severus.

Locator: Homily on “Father, if possible…”, reported by Severus

Open source

Epiphanius

c. AD 374

Cyprus

Ancoratus 31.5 and 37.1

Supporting witnessCitation type: Direct quotation

Knows the passage and discusses its omission in some copies

Locator: Ancoratus 31.5; 37.1

Open source

Cyril of Alexandria

AD 401–500

Contra Julianum book 12, preserved by Severus

Competing witnessCitation type: Indirect report

Indirect report in Contra Julianum book 12, preserved by Severus. Preserved through Severus.

Locator: PO 14:245–246

Open source

Jerome

c. AD 415

Against the Pelagians 2.16

Mixed witnessCitation type: Evidence on both forms

Manuscript report in Against the Pelagians 2.16.

Locator: Dialogus adversus Pelagianos 2.16

Open source

Roster distinctions

P69 omits the larger block 22:42–44 and part of 45.
0171 is dated around AD 200 and preserves the end of verse 44 with a critical mark.
Sinaiticus is one codex in two states: the first hand includes and a later corrector cancels.

Evidence notes

Important distinctions in the evidence.

P69 omits the larger block 22:42–44 and part of 45.
0171 is dated around AD 200 and preserves the end of verse 44 with a critical mark.
Sinaiticus is one codex in two states: the first hand includes and a later corrector cancels.

Evidence assessment

Why the KJV reading is retained

The angel and the bloody sweat stand in the first hand of Sinaiticus, Codex Bezae, Cyprius, Guelferbytanus, Regius, 0171, Family 1, 174, 230, 157, 565, 700, the first hand of 892, 1241 and the Byzantine tradition, with Latin, the Curetonian, Peshitta, Harklean and Palestinian Syriac and Bohairic manuscripts. Justin, Irenaeus, Epiphanius and Hilary all use the passage. P75, the corrector of Sinaiticus, Alexandrinus and Vaticanus omit it.

Primary support for the KJV reading

Byzantine tradition with second-century patristic use

Evidence represented on this page

Evidence types, without turning rows into votes.

GreekRepresented

LatinRepresented

Other versionsRepresented

FathersRepresented

Printed editionsNot listed

References

Editions and works cited.

Institut für Neutestamentliche Textforschung. New Testament Virtual Manuscript Room. Münster: University of Münster.
New Testament Virtual Manuscript Room
Aland, Barbara, et al., eds. Novum Testamentum Graece. 28th rev. ed. Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2012.
Robinson, Maurice A., and William G. Pierpont. The New Testament in the Original Greek: Byzantine Textform 2018. Nürnberg: VTR Publications, 2018.
The New Testament in the Original Greek: Byzantine Textform 2018
Tyndale House, Cambridge, ed. The Greek New Testament. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2017.
Wieland Willker, A Textual Commentary on the Greek Gospels, Vol. 3: Luke. Luke 22:43–44, PDF pp. 538–558.
Open source
IGNTP, The New Testament in Greek: The Gospel According to St Luke, Parts 1–2 (OUP 1984, 1987). Comprehensive Luke collation.
Open source
INTF Kurzgefasste Liste / NTVMR manuscript metadata. Physical dates for the named Greek manuscripts.
Open source
Vetus Latina Gospel manuscripts register (ITSEE, University of Birmingham). Identity and physical date of the named Old Latin manuscripts.
Open source
New Advent Fathers of the Church. Irenaeus, Haer. 3.22.2; Hilary, De Trinitate 10.41.
Open source

The Angel and Bloody Sweat

Luke 22:43-44 in the King James Bible

Where the evidence on this page comes from.

The earliest reviewed support at a glance.

Byzantine tradition with second-century patristic use

Complete roster within the stated source scope.

Presence of the two verses

Greek manuscripts

Latin, Syriac and Coptic

Greek manuscripts

Greek manuscripts

Greek manuscripts

Old Latin, Syriac, Coptic and other versions

Larger omission of 22:42–44 and part of 45

Lacunose

Church Fathers and literary witnesses

Justin Martyr

Tatian / Diatessaron

Irenaeus

Hippolytus

Athanasius

Hilary of Poitiers

Gregory Nazianzen

John Chrysostom

Epiphanius

Cyril of Alexandria

Jerome

Important distinctions in the evidence.

Why the KJV reading is retained

Evidence types, without turning rows into votes.

Editions and works cited.