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Selected Verse: John 18:3 - King James
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
Joh 18:3 |
King James |
Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
Judas then--"He that was called Judas, one of the Twelve," says Luke (Luk 22:47), in language which brands him with peculiar infamy, as in the sacred circle while in no sense of it.
a band of men--"the detachment of the Roman cohort on duty at the festival for the purpose of maintaining order" [WEBSTER and WILKINSON].
officers from the chief priests and Pharisees--captains of the temple and armed Levites.
lanterns and torches--It was full moon, but in case He should have secreted Himself somewhere in the dark ravine, they bring the means of exploring its hiding-places--little knowing whom they had to do with. "Now he that betrayed Him had given them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is He, hold Him fast" (Mat 26:48). The cold-bloodedness of this speech was only exceeded by the deed itself. "And Judas went before them [Luk 22:47], and forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, Master, and kissed Him" (Mat 26:49; compare Exo 4:27; Exo 18:7; Luk 7:45). The impudence of this atrocious deed shows how thoroughly he had by this time mastered all his scruples. If the dialogue between our Lord and His captors was before this, as some interpreters think it was, the kiss of Judas was purely gratuitous, and probably to make good his right to the money; our Lord having presented Himself unexpectedly before them, and rendered it unnecessary for any one to point Him out. But a comparison of the narratives seems to show that our Lord's "coming forth" to the band was subsequent to the interview of Judas. "And Jesus said unto him, Friend"--not the endearing term "friend" (in Joh 15:15), but "companion," a word used on occasions of remonstrance or rebuke (as in Mat 20:13; Mat 22:12) --"Wherefore art thou come?" (Mat 26:50). "Betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss"--imprinting upon the foulest act the mark of tenderest affection? What wounded feeling does this express! Of this Jesus showed Himself on various occasions keenly susceptible--as all generous and beautiful natures do. |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
A band - See the notes at Mat 26:47; Mat 27:27. John passes over the agony of Jesus in the garden, probably because it was so fully described by the other evangelists.
Lanterns ... - This was the time of the full moon, but it might have been cloudy, and their taking lights with them shows their determination to find him. |
Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
A band (τὴν σπεῖραν)
Properly, the band. See on Mar 15:16; also see on centurion, Luk 7:2; and see on Act 21:31. The band, or cohort, was from the Roman garrison in the tower of Antonia.
Officers (ὑπηρέτας)
See on Mat 5:25. Sent from the Sanhedrim.
The temple police
The Synoptists speak of the body which arrested Jesus as ὄχλος, a multitude or rabble; but both Matthew and Mark mention the band (σπεῖρα) later in the narrative (Mat 27:27; Mar 15:16).
Lanterns (φανῶν)
Only here in the New Testament. A detail peculiar to John. Though it was full moon, it was feared that Jesus might hide and escape. |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
A troop of soldiers - A cohort of Roman foot. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
A band - Την σπειραν, The band or troop. Some think that the spira was the same as the Roman cohort, and was the tenth part of a legion, which consisted sometimes of 4200, and sometimes of 5000 foot. But Raphelius, on Mat 27:27, has clearly proved, from Polybius, that the spira was no more than a tenth of the fourth part of a legion. And as the number of the legion was uncertain, and their divisions not at all equal, no person can tell how many the band or spira contained. See many curious particulars in Raphelius on this point, vol. i. p. 351, edit. 1747. This band was probably those Roman soldiers given by the governor for the defense of the temple; and the officers were those who belonged to the Sanhedrin.
With lanterns and torches - With these they had intended to search the corners and caverns, provided Christ had hidden himself; for they could not have needed them for any other purpose, it being now the fourteenth day of the moon's age, in the month Nisan, and consequently she appeared full and bright. The weapons mentioned here were probably no other than clubs, staves, and instruments of that kind, as we may gather from Mat 26:55; Mar 14:48; Luk 22:52. The swords mentioned by the other evangelists were probably those of the Roman soldiers; the clubs and staves belonged to the chief priest's officers. |
50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
7 And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent.
27 And the LORD said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mount of God, and kissed him.
49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.
47 And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.
48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.
47 And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.
47 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.
16 And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.
25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
31 And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
2 And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.
16 And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.
52 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?
48 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me?
55 In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.