_When Jesus had spoken these words_ Had delivered the discourse
recorded above, and concluded his intercessory prayer; _he went with
his disciples over the brook Cedron_ On the other side of which _was a
garden_, known by the name of the garden of Gethsemane; (see notes on
Matthew 26:36;) and probab... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jesus, knowing all things that should come upon him_ That is,
knowing, not only in general, that he must suffer a variety of
insults, tortures, and even death itself, but also all the particular
circumstances of ignominy and horror that should attend his
sufferings; _went forth_ Namely, after his r... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then the band_, &c. To whom Jesus, without any opposition,
surrendered himself; _took and bound him_ Foolishly supposing, that he
might attempt to make his escape. _And led him away to Annas_ Annas
had been high-priest before his son-in-law Caiaphas. And though he had
for some time resigned that of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Simon Peter followed_ See note on Matthew 26:58; Luke 22:54; _and so
did another disciple_ Generally supposed to have been John himself, it
being the manner of this evangelist to speak of himself in the third
person. Grotius however, is of opinion, that the disciple intended was
not one of the twel... [ Continue Reading ]
_The high-priest then asked Jesus_ As he stood before him; of _his
disciples, and of his doctrine_ What it was that he taught, and with
what view he had gathered so many followers. In these questions there
was a great deal of art. For, as the crime laid to our Lord's charge
was, that he set himself... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment_ Το
πραιτωριον, _the pretorium_, the governor's palace. Properly
speaking, the pretorium was that part of the palace where the soldiers
kept guard, Mark 15:16; but in common language it was applied to the
palace in general. The Jewish high... [ Continue Reading ]
_Pilate then went out and said, What accusation bring ye against this
man?_ This was the most natural question imaginable for a judge to ask
on such an occasion; nevertheless the priests thought themselves
affronted by it. _They answered_, haughtily, _If he were not a
malefactor_ Greek, κακοποιος, a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then Pilate entered into the judgment-hall again_ See the note on
Matthew 27:11. It seems, as the governor had heard an honourable
report of Jesus, and observed in his silence, under the accusations
brought against him, an air of meek majesty and greatness of spirit,
rather than any consciousness o... [ Continue Reading ]