CHAPTER 26.
THE PASSION HISTORY.
These Chapter s give with exceptional fulness and minuteness of detail
the story of Christ's last sufferings and relative incidents. The
story finds a place in all four Gospels (Mark 14:15; Luke 22:23; John
18:19), showing the intense interest felt by Christians of... [ Continue Reading ]
πάντας τ. λόγους τούτους, all these sayings, most
naturally taken as referring to the contents of chaps. 24, 25, though
a backward glance at the whole of Christ's teaching is conceivable.
Yet in case of such a comprehensive retrospect why refer only to
words? Why not to both _dicta et facta_ ?... [ Continue Reading ]
_Introductory_ (Mark 14:1-2; Luke 22:1-2).... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 26:1-2 contain a prediction by Jesus two days before Passover
of His approaching death; Matthew 26:3-5 a notice of a consultation by
the authorities as to how they might compass His death. n the
parallels the former item appears as a mere date for the latter, the
prediction being eliminated.... [ Continue Reading ]
τὸ πάσχα, used both of festival, as here, and of victim, as in
Matthew 26:17. The Passover began on the 14th of Nisan; it is referred
to here for the first time in our Gospel. παραδίδοται,
present, either used to describe vividly a future event (Burton, M.
T., § 15) or to associate it with the feast... [ Continue Reading ]
τότε, two days before Passover. συνήχθησαν points to a
meeting of the Sanhedrim. εἰς τὴν αὐλὴν denotes the
meeting place, either the _palace_ of the high priest in accordance
with the use of αὐλή in later Greek (Weiss), or the court around
which the palatial buildings were ranged (Meyer) = _atrium_... [ Continue Reading ]
ἵνα with subjunctive after a verb of effort or plan; in classic
Greek oftener ὅπως with future indicative (Burton, § 205).
δόλῳ by, craft, a method characteristic of clerics; _indigna
consultatio_ (Bengel); cowardly and merciless.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἔλεγον δὲ : δὲ points back to Matthew 26:1, which fixes
the passion in Passover time, while the Sanhedrists thought it prudent
to keep off the holy season for reason given. μὴ, etc., to avoid
uproar apt to happen at Passover time, Josephus _teste_ (B. J., i., 4,
3).... [ Continue Reading ]
τοῦ δὲ Ἰησοῦ, etc.: indicates the scene, in Bethany, and
in the house of Simon known as the leper (the one spoken of in Matthew
8:2 ?). The host of Luke 7:36 ff. was a Simon. On the other hand, the
host of John 12:1 f., or at least a prominent guest, was Lazarus,
brother of Martha and Mary. This and... [ Continue Reading ]
_Anointing in Bethany_ (Mark 14:3-9, _cf._ John 12:1-11). Six days
before Passover in John; no time fixed in Mt. and Mk. Certainly within
Passion week. The thing chiefly to be noted is the setting of this
pathetic scene, between priestly plotting and false discipleship.
“Hatred and baseness on eithe... [ Continue Reading ]
ἀλάβαστρον, an “alabaster” (vase), the term, originally
denoting the material, being transferred to the vessel made of it,
like our word “glass” (Speaker's _Com._), in common use for
preserving ointments (Pliny, N.H., iii., 3). An alabaster of nard
(μύρου) was a present for a king. Among five precio... [ Continue Reading ]
ἠγανάκτησαν, as in Matthew 20:24. The disciple-circle
experienced various annoyances from first to last: Syrophenician
woman, mothers and children, ambition of James and John, Mary of
Bethany. The last the most singular of all. Probably all the disciples
disapproved more or less. It was a _woman's_... [ Continue Reading ]
δοθῆναι, etc., to be given (the proceeds, subject easily
understood) to the _poor_. How much better a use than to waste it in
the expression of a sentiment!... [ Continue Reading ]
γνοὺς, perceiving though not hearing. We have many mean thoughts
we would be ashamed to speak plainly out. τί κόπους
παρέχετε, etc., why trouble ye the woman? a phrase not
frequent in classic authors, though similar ones occur, and even this
occasionally (_vide_ Kypke); found not only here but in Lu... [ Continue Reading ]
suggests a distinction between general ethical categories and duties
arising out of special circumstances. ommon men recognise the former.
It takes a genius or a passionate lover to see and swiftly do the
latter. Mary saw and did the rare thing, and so achieved an
ἔργον καλὸν. ἐμὲ δὲ οὐ π., “a melan... [ Continue Reading ]
πρὸς τὸ ἐνταφ., to prepare for burial by embalming; so
near is my death, though ye thought not of it: effect of the woman's
act, not her conscious purpose. The Syriac version introduces a
_quasi_. She meant nothing but to show her love, quickened possibly by
instinctive foreboding of ill. But an act... [ Continue Reading ]
τὸ εὐ. τοῦτο, _this_ gospel, the gospel of my death of
love. ἐν ὅλῳ τῷ κόσμῳ : after ὅπου ἐὰν
might seem superfluous; not so, however: it serves to indicate the
range of the “wheresoever”: wide as the world, universality
predicted for Christianity, and also for the heroine of the anointing.
Chrysost... [ Continue Reading ]
τότε, then; the roots of the betrayal go much further back than
the Bethany scene _vide_ on Matthew 17:22-23 but that scene would help
to precipitate the fatal step. Death at last at hand, according to the
Master's words. Then a base nature would feel uncomfortable in so
unworldly company, and would... [ Continue Reading ]
_Judas offers to betray Jesus_ (Mark 14:10-11; Luke 22:3-6).... [ Continue Reading ]
τί θέλετε, etc., what are ye willing to give me? Mary and
Judas extreme opposites: she freely spending in love, he willing to
sell his Master for money. What contrasts in the world and in the same
small circle! The mercenary spirit of Judas is not so apparent in Mk.
and Lk. κἀγὼ, etc.: καὶ introduci... [ Continue Reading ]
εὐκαιρίαν, a good occasion, the verb, εὐκαιρέω
(Mark 6:31), belongs to late Greek (Lobeck, _Phryn._, p. 125).... [ Continue Reading ]
_Arrangements for Paschal Feast_ (Mark 14:12-16; Luke 22:7-13).... [ Continue Reading ]
τῇ δὲ πρώτῃ τ. ἀ. The sacred season which began on the
14th Nisan and lasted for seven days, was two feasts rolled into one,
the Feast of the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and it
was called by either name indifferently. ποῦ, where? A much more
perplexing question is: when? Was it on th... [ Continue Reading ]
ὑπάγετε, go ye into the city, _i.e._, Jerusalem. πρὸς
τὸν δεῖνα, to such a one, evidently no sufficient direction.
Mk. and Lk. are more explicit. Mt. here, as often, abbreviates.
Doubtless a previous understanding had been come to between Jesus and
an unknown friend in Jerusalem. Euthy. suggests tha... [ Continue Reading ]
ὀψίας δὲ γ. It is evening, and the company are at supper,
and during the meal (ἐσθιόντων αὐ., Matthew 26:21) Jesus
made a startling announcement. At what stage is not indicated. Elsner
suggests a late stage: “Cumfere comedissent; vergente ad finem
coenâ,” because an early announcement would have kil... [ Continue Reading ]
_The presence of a traitor announced_ (Mark 14:18-21; Luke 22:21-23).... [ Continue Reading ]
παραδώσει με, shall betray me. General announcement,
without any clue to the individual, as in Mk. Matthew 26:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
λυπούμενοι seems a weak word, and the addition of the
evangelist's pet word σφόδρα does not make it strong. None of
the accounts realistically express the effect which must have been
produced. ἤρξαντο helps to bring out the situation: they
_began_ to inquire after some moments of mute astonishment.... [ Continue Reading ]
ὁ ἐμβάψας, he who dipped, dips, or shall have dipped. The
aorist participle decides nothing as to time, but merely points to a
single act, as distinct from a process (_cf._ the present in Mk.). The
expression in Mt. does not necessarily identify the man unless we
render: who has just dipped, and con... [ Continue Reading ]
ὑπάγει, goeth, a euphemism for death. _Cf._ John 13:33.
καλὸν ἦν without the ἄν, not unusual in conditional
sentences of this sort: supposition contrary to fact (_vide_ Burton,
M. T., §§ 248 9).... [ Continue Reading ]
ἐσθ. δὲ αὐτῶν : same phrase as in Matthew 26:21, with
δὲ added to introduce _another_ memorable incident of the paschal
supper. No details are given regarding that meal, so that we do not
know how far our Lord followed the usual routine, for which consult
Lightfoot, _Hor. Heb._, or Smith's _Dictiona... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord's Supper_ (Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:19-20).... [ Continue Reading ]
ποτήριον, a cup, the article being omitted in best MSS. It is
idle, and in spirit Rabbinical, to inquire which of the four cups
drunk at the paschal feast. The evangelist had no interest in such a
question. εὐχαριστήσας : a different word from that used
in reference to the bread, but similar in impo... [ Continue Reading ]
τὸ αἷμά μου : the very colour of the wine suggestive; hence
called αἷμα σταφυλῆς in Deuteronomy 32:14; my blood,
pointing to the passion, like the breaking of the bread. τῆς
διαθήκης (for the two gen. μου τ. δ. dependent on
αἷμα, _vide_ Winer, 30, 3, 3), the blood of me, of the
_covenant_. The intro... [ Continue Reading ]
contains an express statement of the fact implied in the preceding
actions, _iz._, that death is near. It is the last time I shall drink
paschal (τούτου τ. γ., etc.) wine with you. I am to die at
this passover. The second half of the sentence is not to be taken
prosaically. It is the thought of meet... [ Continue Reading ]
ὑμνήσαντες. With this participle, referring to the last act
within the supper chamber the singing of the paschal hymn (the Hallel,
part 2, Psalms 115-118, or possibly a _new_ song, Grotius) we pass
without, and after talk between Jesus and the disciples, arising out
of the situation, arrive at the s... [ Continue Reading ]
_Gethsemane_ (Mark 14:26-42; Luke 22:39-46).... [ Continue Reading ]
τότε, then, on the way through the valley between the city and
Olivet, the valley of Jehoshaphat (Kedron), suggestive of prophetic
memories (Joel 3, Zechariah 13, 14), leading up, as well as the
present situation, to the topic. πάντες, all; one false-hearted,
all without exception weak. ἐν ἐμοὶ, in... [ Continue Reading ]
predicts a brighter future to alleviate the gloom. he shepherd will
yet again go before His flock (προάξω, _pastoris more_,
Grotius), leading them. εἰς τ. Γαλιλαίαν, the place of
reunion. This verse is wanting in the Fayam Fragment, which Harnack
regards as a sign of its great antiquity. Resch, _Agr... [ Continue Reading ]
εἰ πάντες σκανδαλισθήσονται, if, or
although, all shall be offended; the future implies great probability
of the case sussposed; Peter is willing to concede the likelihood of
the assertion in reference to all the rest. ἐγὼ
οὐδέποτε, _I, never_, vehemently spoken and truly, _so far as
he knows himsel... [ Continue Reading ]
ἐν. τ. τ. ν., repetition of statement in Matthew 26:31, with
added emphasis (ἀμὴν, etc.), and = never? This night I tell you.
πρὶν ἀλέκτορα φωνῆσαι : more exact specification
of the time to make the statement more impressive = before the dawn.
ἀλέκτωρ, poetic form for ἀλεκτρυών. This fowl not
mentio... [ Continue Reading ]
: intensified protestation of fidelity καὶ before ἐάν
(κἂν) intensive, ntroducing an extreme case, death for the Master.
οὐ μή, making the predictive future emphatically negative = I
certainly will not. ὁμοίως, similarly, weaker than Mk.'s
ὡσαύτως. Very improbable, thinks De Wette. But the disciples... [ Continue Reading ]
_The agony_ (so called from the word ἀγωνία in Luke 22:44, a
ἅπαξ λεγ.).... [ Continue Reading ]
χωρίον, a place in the sense of a property or farm = _villa_ in
Vulgate, _ager_, Hilary, _Grundstück_, Weizsäcker's translation.
Γεθσημανῆ, probably = גַּת שֶׁסֶן, an oil press.
Descriptions of the place now identified with it in Robinson's
_Researches_, Furrer's _Wanderungen_, and Stanley's _Sinai... [ Continue Reading ]
παραλαβὼν : He takes the same three as at the
transfiguration along with Him that they may be near enough to prevent
a feeling of utter isolation. ἤρξατο, He began. This beginning
refers to the appearance of distress; the inward beginning came
earlier. He did His feeling till He had reduced His foll... [ Continue Reading ]
τοτὲ λέγει αὐτ.: He confides to the three His state of
mind without reserve, as if He wished it to be known. _Cf._ the use
made in the epistle to the Hebrews of this frank manifestation of
weakness as showing that Christ could not have usurped the priestly
office, but rather simply submitted to be m... [ Continue Reading ]
μικρὸν, a little space, presumably near enough for them to hear
(_cf._ Luke 22:41). ἐπὶ πρόσωπον, on His face, not on
kness, _summa demissio_ (Beng.). πάτερ, Father! Weiss in
Markus-Evang. seems to think that the one word Abba was all the three
heard, the rest of the prayer being an expansion and in... [ Continue Reading ]
ἔρχεται : not necessarily immediately after uttering the
foregoing prayer. Jesus may have lain on the ground for a considerable
time silent. τῷ Πέτρῳ : all three were asleep, but the
reproach was most fitly addressed to Peter, the would-be valiant and
loyal disciple. οὕτως : Euthy. puts a mark of in... [ Continue Reading ]
λέγων, saying; whereupon follow the words. Mark simply states
that Jesus prayed to the same effect. οὐ δύναται : οὐ not
μὴ. He knows that it is not possible, yet the voice of nature says
strongly: would that it were!... [ Continue Reading ]
_Further progress of the agony_. That Jesus had not yet reached final
victory is apparent from His complaint against the disciples. He came
craving, needing a sympathy He had not got. When the moment of triumph
comes He will be independent of them.... [ Continue Reading ]
καθεύδοντας : again! surprising, one would say incredible
on first thoughts, but not on second. It was late and they were sad,
and sadness is soporific.... [ Continue Reading ]
esus leaves them sleeping and goes away again for the final struggle,
praying as before.... [ Continue Reading ]
καθεύδετε λ. κ. ἀναπαύεσθε, sleep now and rest;
not ironical or reproachful, nor yet seriously meant, but concessive =
ye may sleep and rest indefinitely so far as I am concerned; I need no
longer your watchful interest. The Master's time of weakness is past;
He is prepared to face the worst. ἡ ὥρα... [ Continue Reading ]
_The apprehension_ (Mark 14:43-52; Luke 22:47-53). εἷς τ.
δώδεκα, as in Matthew 26:14, repeated not for information, but
as the literary reflection of the chronic horror of the apostolic
church that such a thing should be possible. That it was not only
possible but a fact is one of the almost undisp... [ Continue Reading ]
ἔδωκεν : the traitor, as he approached the place where he
shrewdly guessed Jesus would be, _gave_ (_dedit_, Vulg [139]), not
_had given_. His plan was not cut and dry from the first. In flashed
upon him as he drew near and began to think how he would meet his
Master. The old charm of the Master reas... [ Continue Reading ]
κατεφίλησεν, kissed Him heartily. In late Greek there was a
tendency to use compounds with the force of the simple verb, and this
has been supposed, to be a case in point (De Wette). But coming after
φιλήσω, Matthew 26:48, the compound verb is plainly used with
intention. It occurs again in Luke 7:3... [ Continue Reading ]
ἑταῖρε : so might a master salute a disciple, and disciple or
companion is, I think, the sense of the word here (so Elsner,
Palairet, Wolf, Schanz, Carr, Camb. N. T.). It answers to ῥαββί
in the salute of Judas. ἐφʼ ὃ πάρει, usually taken as a
question: “ad quid venisti?” Vulg [140] Wherefore art th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Blood drawn_. ἰδού, introducing a second scene connected with
the apprehension (_cf._ Matthew 26:47); the use of a weapon by one of
Christ's disciples. A quite likely occurrence if any of them happened
to have weapons in their hands, though we may wonder at that. It might
be a large knife used in c... [ Continue Reading ]
ἀπόστρεψον : Jesus could not encourage the use of arms by
His disciples, and the order to sheathe the weapon He was sure to
give. The accompanying word, containing a general legal maxim: draw
the sword, perish with the sword (the subsequent history of the Jewish
people a tragic exemplification of it... [ Continue Reading ]
gives another reason for not using the sword: if it were God's will
that His Son should be rescued it could be done in a different way. he
way suggested is described in military language, the verbs
παρακαλεῖν and παριστάναι being both used in
classics in connection with military matters, and the wor... [ Continue Reading ]
πῶς οὖν : refers to both forms of aid, that of the sword and
that of angels (Grotius, Fritzsche); rescue in any form inconsistent
with the predicted destiny of Messiah to be a sufferer. ὅτι
οὕτω, etc., the purport of all prophetic scripture is that thus
it should be: apprehension and all that is to... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jesus complains of the manner of His apprehension_. ἐν ἐκ. τ.
ὥρᾳ, connects with ἐκράτησαν αὐτόν in Matthew
26:50. Having said what was necessary to the bellicose disciple, Jesus
turns to the party which had come to arrest Him, here called τοῖς
ὄχλοις. ὡς ἐπὶ λῃστὴν, etc.: the words may be
taken ei... [ Continue Reading ]
τοῦτο δὲ, etc.: a formula of the evangelist, introducing
another reference by Jesus to the prophecies in these terms, ἵνα
πληρωθῶσιν, etc. Jesus reconciles Himself to the indignity
in the manner of His arrest, as to the arrest itself, and all that it
involved, by the thought that it was in His “cup”... [ Continue Reading ]
_Before Caiaphas_ (Mark 14:53-65; Luke 22:54; Luke 22:66-71).
πρὸς Καιάφαν, to Caiaphas, who sent them forth, and who
expects their return with their victim. ὄπου, where, _i.e._, in
the palace of Caiaphas. γρ. καὶ πρ.: scribes and presbyters,
priests and presbyters in Matthew 26:3. Mk. names all the... [ Continue Reading ]
is the prelude to the story of Peter's denial, hich is resumed at
Matthew 26:69 after the account of the trial. Similarly in Mk. Lk.
gives the story without interruption. μακρόθεν, from afar:
Peter followed his Master, having after a while recovered from the
general panic; more courageous than the r... [ Continue Reading ]
τ. συν. ὅλον, the _whole_ Sanhedrim, _cf._ πάντες in
Hebrews 3:16, the statement in both cases admitting of a few
exceptions. ψευδομαρτυρίαν, _false_ evidence, of course
in the first place from the evangelist's point of view
(μαρτυρίαν in Mk.), but substantially true to the fact. They
wanted evidenc... [ Continue Reading ]
_The trial_.... [ Continue Reading ]
οὐχ εὗρον : they found not false witness that looked
plausible and justified capital punishment. πολλῶν π. ψ.: it
was not for want of witnesses of a kind; many offered themselves and
made statements, but they did not serve the purpose: either trivial or
inconsistent; conceivable in the circumstances... [ Continue Reading ]
οὗτος ἔφη, this person said: then follows a version of a
word really spoken by Jesus, of a startling character, concerning
destroying and rebuilding the temple. An inaccurate report of so
remarkable a saying might easily go abroad, and the version given by
the two witnesses seems from Matthew 27:40... [ Continue Reading ]
ἀναστὰς ὁ ἀρ.: the high priest rose up not because he
felt the evidence just led to be very serious, rather in irritation
because the most damaging statements amounted to nothing more serious.
A man could not be sentenced to death for a boastful word (Grotius).
οὐδὲν ἀποκρίνῃ … καταμαρτυροῦσιν :
eit... [ Continue Reading ]
ἐσιώπα : Jesus seeing the drift of the questions gave the high
priest no assistance, but continued silent. ἐξορκίζω
(ἐξορκόω more common in classics). The high priest now takes a
new line, seeing that there is no chance of conviction any other way.
He puts Jesus on His oath as to the cardinal questi... [ Continue Reading ]
σὺ εἶπας : in current phrase = I am. Was Jesus morally bound
to answer? Why not continue silent? First, the whole ministry of Jesus
had made the question inevitable. Second, the high priest was the
proper person to ask it. Third, it was an important opportunity for
giving expression to His Messianic... [ Continue Reading ]
τότε : At last they have, or think they have, Him at their mercy.
διέρρηξεν, etc.: a very imposing act as the expression of
true emotion; in reality a theatrical action demanded by custom and
performed in accordance with rule: length and locality of rent, the
garments to be rent (the nether; all of... [ Continue Reading ]
ἔνοχος θανάτου : death the penalty of blasphemy,
Leviticus 24:15, and of being a false prophet, Deuteronomy 18:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 26:67-68 : to judicial injustice succeed personal indignities:
spitting in the face (ἐνέπτυσαν), miting with the fist
(ἐκολάφισαν, not Attic, κονδυλίζω used instead),
or with the open hand (ἐρράπισαν, originally to beat with
rods). Euthy. Zig. distinguishes the two last words thus:
κολαφισμὸ... [ Continue Reading ]
ὁ δὲ Π.: δὲ resumes the Peter-episode introduced at Matthew
26:58. ἐκάθητο, was sitting, while the judicial proceedings
were going on. αὐλῇ, here means the court, _atrium_; the trial
would take place in a chamber within the buildings surrounding the
court. μία π., _one_ servant girl, to distinguish... [ Continue Reading ]
_Peter's denial_ (Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:54-62). The discrepancies of
the four accounts here are perplexing but not surprising. It would be
difficult for any one present in the confused throng gathered within
the palace gate that night to tell exactly what happened. Peter
himself, the hero of the ta... [ Continue Reading ]
οὐκ οἶδα, etc.: affectation of extreme ignorance. So far from
knowing the man I don't even know what you are talking about. This
said _before all_ (ἔμπ. πάντων). First denial, entailing
others to follow.... [ Continue Reading ]
εἰς τ. πυλῶνα, to or towards the gateway, away from the
crowd in the court. ἄλλη (παιδίσκη), another saw him, and
said, not to him, but to others there (not easy to escape 1).
οὗτος, etc., this person, pointing to him, was, etc.... [ Continue Reading ]
μεθʼ ὅρκου : second denial, more emphatic, with an oath, and
more direct: I know not the man (τὸν ἄν.).... [ Continue Reading ]
οἱ ἑστῶτες, loungers; seeing Peter's confusion, and
amusing themselves by tormenting him. ἀληθῶς, beyond doubt,
you, too, are one of them; of the notorious gang. ἡ λαλιά :
They had heard him speak in his second denial, which so leads up to a
third. Galilean speech was defective in pronouncing the gu... [ Continue Reading ]
καταθεματίζειν (here only, καταναθ. in T. R.,
probably belonging to vulgar speech, Meyer), to call down curses on
himself, sign of irritation and desperation; has lost self-control
completely. καὶ εὐθὺς : just after this passionate outburst
_a cock crew_. “Magna circumstantia,” Beng.... [ Continue Reading ]
καὶ ἐμνήσθη : The cock crowing caused a sudden revulsion
of feeling, and flashed in on Peter's mind the light of a vivid
recollection: the word his Master had spoken. πρὶν, etc.,
repeated as in Matthew 26:34. ἐξελθὼν, going out, neither in
fear of apprehension (Chrys., Euthy.) nor from shame (Orig.,... [ Continue Reading ]