Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
I have a baptism (baptisma de exw). Once again Jesus will call his baptism the baptism of blood and will challenge James and John to it (Mark 10:32 f.; Matthew 20:22 f.). So here. "Having used the metaphor of fire, Christ now uses the metaphor of water. The one sets forth the result of his coming as it affects the world, the other as it affects himself. The world is lit up with flames and Christ is bathed in blood" (Plummer).
And how I am straitened (kai pwv sunexomai). See this same vivid verb sunexomai in Luke 8:37; Acts 18:5; Philippians 1:23 where Paul uses it of his desire for death just as Jesus does here. The urge of the Cross is upon Jesus at the moment of these words. We catch a glimpse of the tremendous passion in his soul that drove him on.
Till it be accomplished (ewv otou telesqh). First aorist passive subjunctive of telew with ewv otou (until which time), the common construction for the future with this conjunction.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Luke 12:50:
Matthew 4:24
Mark 10:38
Luke 8:37
Luke 12:4
John 13:27
2 Corinthians 5:14
DISCLAIMER: Church of the Great God (CGG) provides these resources to aid the individual in studying the Bible. However, it is up to the individual to "prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21). The content of these resources does not necessarily reflect the views of CGG. They are provided for information purposes only.