After ardently praying to be released from a situation that seems to be leading inevitably to his execution, Jesus calmly goes to meet the soldiers who are about to arrest him. The religious authorities and the Romans were apparently not so calm – they had sent a large number of armed men after this one simple rabbi, and now when he gives his name, they all fall back in apparent fear.
Jesus is the one controlling the events, although Luke 22:51 is ambiguous about exactly what he’s saying. Translations range from “Stop! That’s enough of this” (God’s Word), to “Permit me thus far” (Weymouth). Notice that the soldiers are holding onto him firmly, and then Simon Peter draws his sword and cuts off the ear of the High Priest’s servant. Jesus says (literally), “Let be until,” and then he reaches out and touches the ear. Some translators think he’s talking to Peter, telling him to stop. Others think Jesus is talking to the soldiers, telling them to free his arms so that he can heal the man’s ear. I have long been in the second camp; I am gratified that John Wesley thought roughly the same thing. I think Jesus was saying, “Allow me,” as you might when you do someone a courtesy, like opening a door.
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2-3 Now Judas also, who at that very time was betraying Him, knew the place, for Jesus had often resorted there with His disciples. So Judas, followed by the battalion and by a detachment of the Temple police sent by the High Priests and Pharisees, came there with torches and lamps and weapons.
4 Jesus therefore, knowing all that was about to befall Him, went out to meet them. “Who are you looking for?” He asked them.
5 “For Jesus the Nazarene,” was the answer. “I am he,” He replied. (Now Judas who was betraying Him was also standing with them.)
6-7 As soon then as He said to them, “I am he,” they went backwards and fell to the ground. Again therefore He asked them, “Who are you looking for?” “For Jesus the Nazarene,” they said.
8-9 “I have told you,” replied Jesus, “that I am he. If therefore you are looking for me, let these my disciples go their way.” He made this request in order that the words He had spoken might be fulfilled, “As for those whom Thou hast given me, I have not lost one.”
44-45 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them. “The one I kiss,” he said, “is the man: lay hold of him, and take him safely away.” So he came, and going straight to Jesus he said, “Rabbi!” and kissed Him with seeming affection.
48, 46 “Judas,” said Jesus, “are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” whereupon they laid hands on Him and held Him firmly.
49, 10 Those who were about Him, seeing what was likely to happen, asked Him, “Master, shall we strike with the sword?” Simon Peter, however, having a sword, drew it, and, aiming at the High Priest’s servant, cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
11 Jesus therefore said to Peter, “Put back your sword. Shall I refuse to drink the cup of sorrow which the Father has given me to drink?”
51 “Permit me thus far,” said Jesus. And He touched the ear and healed it.
53-54 “Or do you suppose I cannot entreat my Father and He would instantly send to my help more than twelve legions of angels? In that case how are the Scriptures to be fulfilled which declare that thus it must be?”
55-56 Then said Jesus to the crowds, “Have you come out as if to fight with a robber, with swords and bludgeons to apprehend me? Day after day I have been sitting teaching in the Temple, and you did not arrest me. But all this has taken place in order that the writings of the Prophets may be fulfilled.” At this point the disciples all left Him and fled.
51-52 One youth indeed did follow Him, wearing only a linen cloth round his bare body. Of him they laid hold, but he left the linen cloth in their hands and fled without it.
Luke 22:54; John 18:13-14, 19-23, Friday, not long after midnight. First trial, before Annas, former high priest (10/6/14)
Jesus was subjected to six “trials,” some of them of questionable legality, after his arrest shortly after midnight on the Mount of Olives. The first of these was before the former high priest, Annas, who was the father-in-law of the current high priest, Caiaphas.
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4, 13-14 And they arrested Him and led Him away, and brought Him to the High Priest’s house, while Peter followed a good way behind. They then brought Him to Annas first; for Annas was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was High Priest that year. (It was this Caiaphas who had advised the Jews, saying, “It is to your interest that one man should die for the People.”)
19 So the High Priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and His teaching.
20-21 “As for me,” replied Jesus, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have continually taught in some synagogue or in the Temple where all the Jews are wont to assemble, and I have said nothing in secret. Why do you question me? Question those who heard what it was I said to them: these witnesses here know what I said.”
22 Upon His saying this, one of the officers standing by struck Him with his open hand, asking Him as he did so, “Is that the way you answer the High Priest?”
23 “If I have spoken wrongly,” replied Jesus, “bear witness to it as wrong; but if rightly, why that blow?”
John 18:15-18, Friday, not long after midnight. Meantime, Peter and a companion (probably John) gain admission to the courtyard. (10/7/14)
A lot was happening in the very early hours of Friday. Probably the “other disciple” was John, who apparently had some sort of connection with the high priest; we don’t know what kind of connection. Anyway, he managed to get Peter admitted to the courtyard while Jesus was appearing before Annas, the former high priest, inside the palace. Even though Peter followed Jesus this far, he denies that he knows Jesus when he is asked.
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15 Meanwhile Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so also was another disciple. The latter was known to the High Priest, and went in with Jesus into the court of the High Priest’s palace.
16-17 But Peter remained standing outside the door, till the disciple who was acquainted with the High Priest came out and induced the portress to let Peter in. This led the girl, the portress, to ask Peter, “Are you also one of this man’s disciples?” “No, I am not,” he replied.
18 Now because it was cold the servants and the police had lighted a charcoal fire, and were standing and warming themselves; and Peter too remained with them, standing and warming himself.
John 18:24; Mark 14:55-60; Matthew 26:63-66; Luke 22:63, Matthew 26:67-68; Luke 22:65, Friday, 2:00 or 3:00 a.m. Second trial, an informal meeting of the Sanhedrin; Jesus is beaten and mocked. (10/8/14)
The high priest and the Sanhedrin were determined to have Jesus executed, and they held a second trial (although apparently not in an official gathering, as we’ll see later). According to Jewish law, they had to have two witnesses who could give identical testimony to impose a death sentence (Deuteronomy 17:6), but they couldn’t get any of the witnesses to agree. Finally the high priest decided to try for a confession. Notice the irony here. They aren’t able to execute Jesus based on the lies of their own “witnesses”; however, when the high priest puts Jesus on oath and he tells them the truth, they find him guilty of blasphemy, a capital offense.
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24 So Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the High Priest.
55-56 Meanwhile the High Priests and the entire Sanhedrin were endeavouring to get evidence against Jesus in order to put Him to death, but could find none; for though many gave false testimony against Him, their statements did not tally.
57-59 Then some came forward as witnesses and falsely declared, “We have heard him say, ‘I will pull down this Sanctuary built by human hands, and three days afterwards I will erect another built without hands.’” But not even in this shape was their testimony consistent.
60 At last the High Priest stood up, and advancing into the midst of them all, asked Jesus, “Have you no answer to make? What is the meaning of all this that these witnesses allege against you?”
63 Jesus however remained silent. Again the High Priest addressed Him. “In the name of the ever-living God,” he said, “I now put you on your oath. Tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.”
64 “I am He,” replied Jesus. “But I tell you that, later on, you will see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND of Omnipotence, AND COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY.”
65-66 Then the High Priest tore his robes and exclaimed, “Impious language! What further need have we of witnesses! See, you have now heard the impiety. What is your verdict?” “He deserves to die,” they replied.
63, 67-68, 65 Meanwhile the men who held Jesus in custody repeatedly beat Him in cruel sport, Then they spat in His face, and struck Him – some with the fist, some with the open hand – while they taunted Him, saying, “Christ, prove yourself a Prophet by telling us who it was that struck you.” And they said many other insulting things to Him.
Mark 14:66-68a; Matthew 26:71-74; Luke 22:61-62, Friday, shortly before daybreak. Meantime, Peter denies Jesus three times. (10/9/14)
While Jesus was inside the palace at what was apparently an informal gathering of the Sanhedrin, Peter was waiting outside in the courtyard. He denies that he knows Jesus not once, not twice, but three times. At that moment, Jesus is led outside, and he looks at Peter. The cock crows.
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66-67 Now while Peter was below in the quadrangle, one of the High Priest’s maidservants came, and seeing Peter warming himself she looked at him and said, “You also were with Jesus, the Nazarene.”
68a But he denied it, and said, “I don’t know – I don’t understand – What do you mean?”
71 Soon afterwards he went out and stood in the gateway, when another girl saw him, and said, addressing the people there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.”
72 Again he denied it with an oath. “I do not know the man,” he said.
73 A short time afterwards the people standing there came and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your brogue shows it.”
74 Then with curses and oaths he declared, “I do not know the man.” Immediately a cock crowed,
61 The Master turned and looked on Peter; and Peter recollected the Master’s words, how He had said to him, “This very day, before the cock crows, you will disown me three times.”
62 And he went out and wept aloud bitterly.
More of The Chronological Gospel
Birth Announcements and Early Lives of Jesus and John the Baptist
Early Ministries of Jesus and John the Baptist
Jesus’ Early Ministry
Jesus’ Galilean Ministry
Sabbath Controversies
The Sermon on the Mount
The Sermon on the Plain
John the Baptist
Signs and Parables
Miracles and Mission Trips
Bread of Life
Miracles and Meanings
Transfiguration and Teachings
To Jerusalem for the Festival of Tabernacles
Some Results of Luke’s Research
Light
More of Luke’s Research
On the Road Again
The Raising of Lazarus
Holy Week: Palm Sunday and Monday
Holy Week: Tuesday, Parables and Questions
Holy Week: Wednesday Part 1, Discussions
Holy Week: Wednesday Part 2, Be Ready!
Holy Week: Thursday Part 1, Jesus' Celebration of the Passover
Holy Week: Thursday Part 2, Jesus' Farewell Discourse
Holy Week: Friday Part 1, Jesus' Arrest and Two Informal Trials
Holy Week: Friday Part 2, More Trials
Holy Week: Friday, Part 3, and Saturday, Jesus' Death and Burial
The Empty Tomb
Final Appearances of Jesus Prior to Pentecost
Copyright 2014 by Regina L. Hunter. All rights reserved. Scripture readings are from the Weymouth New Testament (1912); caps indicate quotations from the Old Testament. "Jesus Betrayed by Judas" is from the Binns Family Bible, now in the private collection of Regina Hunter. This page has been prepared for the web site by RPB.
Opinions expressed on this page are solely those of the author, Regina Hunter, and may or may not be shared by the sponsors or the Bible-study participants. Thanks to the Holy Spirit for any useful ideas presented here, and thanks to all the readers for their support and enthusiasm. All errors are, of course, the sole responsibility of the author.
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