Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary (4 vols)

Matthew 26:48

Matthew 26:48. Gave them a sign, previously agreed upon; comp. Mark 14:44, ‘had given.'

Whomsoever I shall kiss. The kiss among the ancients was a sign of affectionate and cordial intimacy, and particularly a token of fidelity, Genesis 29:11.

Take him. Judas may have feared He might still elude them, either by some exercise of His acknowledged power, or, more probably, with the help of His disciples. If the incidents mentioned by John (John 18:4-9) took place, as is probable, on the first appearance of the crowd, most of those present already knew which was Jesus. But the signal agreed upon would be necessary to point Him out to the Roman soldiers, who might not have understood the conversation or had orders to act upon this sign. Our Lord had probably rejoined the other disciples.

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Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary (4 vols)

Matthew 26:48

Old Testament

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