John 18:5

Ἰ. τ. Ναζωραῖον. Jesus the Nazarene (Matthew 2:23), a rather more contemptuous expression than ‘Jesus of Nazareth’ (John 1:46; Acts 10:38; comp. Matthew 21:11). ‘The Nazarene’ in a contemptuous sense occurs John 19:19; Matthew 26:71; Mark 14:67. It is sometimes used in a neutral sense (Mark 10:47; Luke 18:37; Luke 24:19). Later on the contempt of Jews and heathen became the glory of Christians (Acts 2:22; Acts 3:6; Acts 4:10; Acts 6:14).

ἐγώ εἰμι. These words to Jewish ears were the name of Jehovah. We have had the same expression several times in this Gospel (John 4:26), John 6:20; John 8:24; John 8:28; John 8:58; John 13:1 (see notes). Judas, if not the chief priests, must have noticed the significant words. There is nothing in the narrative to shew that either the whole company were miraculously blinded (Luke 24:16), or that Judas in particular was blinded or paralysed. Even those who knew Him well might fail to recognise Him at once by night and with the traces of the Agony fresh upon Him.

εἱστήκει … ὁ παραδιδούς. Judas, who was betraying Him (John 18:2) was standing with them. This tragic detail is stamped on the Evangelist’s memory: that one dark figure standing as the chief representative of the ἐξουσία τοῦ σκότους. S. John has been accused of personal hatred towards Judas; but he alone of the four Evangelists omits the traitor’s kiss. For εἱστήκει John 18:16, comp. John 1:35; John 7:35; John 19:25; John 20:11.