When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples. Ver. 1. _Over the brook Cedron_] This was the town ditch, 2 Chronicles 30:14, and had its name from its darkness or muddiness; for it received... [ Continue Reading ]
And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples. Ver. 2. _And Judas also which betrayed him_] No such danger to Christ's Church by any as by apostates and false brethren,Galatians 2:4. Julian of a forward professor became a furious persecut... [ Continue Reading ]
Judas then, having received a band _of men_ and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. Ver. 3. _Judas having then received a band_] These are the enemies' best arguments, and those they flee to when all is done. So the Jesuits, those swo... [ Continue Reading ]
Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? Ver. 4. _Went forth and said unto them_] Met his enemy in the face, after he had prayed; whereas, till then, he feared. See the power of prayer. So Esther, when she had fasted and prayed, fo... [ Continue Reading ]
They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am _he_. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. Ver. 5. _Jesus of Nazareth Jesus saith, I am he_] They called him Jesus of Nazareth by way of reproach. He takes it upon him, and wears it for a crown. And should not we do l... [ Continue Reading ]
As soon then as he had said unto them, I am _he_, they went backward, and fell to the ground. Ver. 6. _As soon then as he had said, &c._] Here our Saviour let out a little beam of the majesty of his Deity, and 500 men fell before him. _Quid autem iudicaturus faciet, qui iudicandus hae fecit?_ saith... [ Continue Reading ]
Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Ver. 7. _Then asked he them again_] Though struck to the earth they desist not: so the Sodomites, smitten with blindness, grope for the door. Pharaoh, in that palpable darkness, rageth against God, and menaceth Moses. _Monoce... [ Continue Reading ]
Jesus answered, I have told you that I am _he_ : if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: Ver. 8. _Let these go their way_] This seems to indent with the Jews ere he yielded himself their prisoner. As a good shepherd, he interposeth between the wolf and the flock: as a heavenly eagle, he ha... [ Continue Reading ]
That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none. Ver. 9. _That the saying might be fulfilled, &c._] Christ spake it of their souls, it is here applied to their bodies. God hath a fatherly care of both, and will not lay more upon the outward man than... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. Ver. 10. _The servant's name was Malchus_] A busy fellow belike in surprising our Saviour. But it was a sad omen (saith a noble and renowned writer, Lord Brook) t... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? Ver. 11. _Put up thy sword_] Our Saviour checks him for his inordinate zeal; wherein to be overly carried, is easy and ordinary. The memorable story of William Gardiner, martyr... [ Continue Reading ]
Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him, Ver. 12. _Took Jesus and bound him_] This was done του λογου ησυχαζοντος, as Irenaeus hath it, while the Deity rested; for he could as easily have delivered himself as he did his disciples, but this sacrifice was to b... [ Continue Reading ]
And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year. Ver. 13. _And led him away to Annas first_] Who would not go to bed (late though it were) till he had seen Christ brought bound before him, and then cried out, likely, as Hannibal did, w... [ Continue Reading ]
Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. Ver. 14. _Now Caiaphas was he, &c._] So Balaam, the devil's boggyman, spake excellently of the star of Jacob. _See Trapp on "_ Joh 11:51 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Joh 11:52 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and _so did_ another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest. Ver. 15. _That disciple was known to the high priest_] Perhaps for that he and his father Zebedee were wont to serve the fat priest... [ Continue Reading ]
But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter. Ver. 16. _But Peter stood at the door_] Better he had kept him further off. He that will not fall into the ditch, must not walk... [ Continue Reading ]
Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also _one_ of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not. Ver. 17. _He saith, I am not_] False dissimulation is true denial. A silly wench is too hard for this stout stickler, who was alway _Melius animatus quam armatus, _ as one obser... [ Continue Reading ]
And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself. Ver. 18. _And warmed himself_] But while he warmed without, he cooled within. Evil company is a great quench coal, an ill air for zeal... [ Continue Reading ]
The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. Ver. 19. _Asked Jesus of his disciples_] Questioned him in the spiritual court first, as a heretic; as afterwards in the temporal court, for a seditious person. So the Papists condemned married priests for Nicolaitanes, in the... [ Continue Reading ]
Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. Ver. 20. _I spake openly to the world_] Truth is bold and barefaced; when heresy hides itself, and loathes the light, _Veritas absco... [ Continue Reading ]
Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said. Ver. 21. _Why askest thou me?_] We are to be ready always to give an answer to those that ask us a reason of our hope, so they do it to learn of us, and not to ensnare us. Thus I kept the ban-dog... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so? Ver. 22. _One of the officers_] Because our Saviour gave not the high priest his usual titles, but dealt freely with him, this officer, to curry favour,... [ Continue Reading ]
Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me? Ver. 23. _If I have spoken evil_] Christ bears with the officer's insolence, but forbears not to clear his own innocence. We must, when aspersed, labour as the eclipsed moon, by keeping our motion... [ Continue Reading ]
Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest. Ver. 24. _Bound to Caiaphas the high priest_] Who should have done our Saviour better justice than to have suffered him, bound and uncondemned, to be injuriously beaten before his face. But the times were then lawless and licentious for th... [ Continue Reading ]
And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also _one_ of his disciples? He denied _it_, and said, I am not. Ver. 25. _He denied it, and said, I am not_] Take heed by this example, _Patres nos instruunt tum docentes, tum labentes, _ saith Augustine. Seest th... [ Continue Reading ]
One of the servants of the high priest, being _his_ kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him? Ver. 26. _Whose ear Peter cut off_] A great mercy it was that Peter had not then been hewed in a hundred pieces, by the ruffianly soldiers. But God had designed him... [ Continue Reading ]
Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew. Ver. 27. _Peter then denied again_] He that is fallen down one round of hell's ladder, knows not where he shall stop or stay, till he come to the bottom. Sin is of an encroaching nature, medest and maidenly at first; but yield to it once, and... [ Continue Reading ]
Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover. Ver. 28. _Lest they should be defiled_] Putrid hypocrisy! they stand upon legal defilements, and car... [ Continue Reading ]
Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man? Ver. 29. _Pilate then went out unto them_] It was much he would gratify them so far in their "Stand further off, for I am holier than thou;" that he would yield to their superstition, which he could not but contemn... [ Continue Reading ]
They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee. Ver. 30. _If he were not a malefactor_] Why? what evil had he done them? Might he not have said to them, as Themistocles to his Athenians, Are ye weary of receiving so many benefits by one ma... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death: Ver. 31. _It is not lawful for us_] That is, upon this or any such like day, upon a holy day, or holy day eve. For otherwise they had powe... [ Continue Reading ]
That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die. Ver. 32. _Signifying what death he should die_] This shows that the Jews had power to put to death, but by a providence he was brought to Pilate, that according to the manner of the Romans he might be... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? Ver. 33. _Entered into the judgment hall again_] For without, among the people, there was nothing but clamour and confusion; much like to that _regnum Cyclopum, ubi_ ουδεις ουδεν ου... [ Continue Reading ]
Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? Ver. 34. _Sayest thou this of thyself_] As who should say, If thou dost this of thyself, what reason is it that thou shouldest be both judge and witness? if others have done it, why are not mine accusers brough... [ Continue Reading ]
Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? Ver. 35. _Am I a Jew?_] This he asketh in scorn of that nation; hateful among the heathens for their difference from them in religion. Gaius the emperor cast them out with their ora... [ Continue Reading ]
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Ver. 36. _My kingdom is not of this world_] Christ could not be received as a God into the Pantheon at R... [ Continue Reading ]
Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Ver. 37. _That I should bear witness of t... [ Continue Reading ]
Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault _at all_. Ver. 38. _What is truth?_] In a scornful, profane manner. As indeed profane spirits cannot hear savoury words, but they turn them off with a scorn.... [ Continue Reading ]
But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews? Ver. 39. _But ye have a custom_] An ungain, ungodly custom it was, Proverbs 17:15, whatever were the ground of it. _In ista consuetudine turpe et crassum fuit vi... [ Continue Reading ]
Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber. Ver. 40. _Now Barabbas was a robber_] And a murderer too, Acts 3:14, yet preferred before Christ, who was also crucified in the midst of two thieves, as the worst of the three. Thus he was _peccatorum maximus,... [ Continue Reading ]