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Jesus Is Arrested(A)

18 When Jesus finished ·praying [L saying these things], he went with his ·followers [disciples] across the Kidron Valley [C a deep wadi or ravine separating Jerusalem on the east from the Mount of Olives]. On the other side there was a garden [or grove; C Gethsemane; Matt. 26:36; Mark 14:32], and Jesus and his ·followers [disciples] went into it.

Judas knew where this place was, because Jesus met there often with his ·followers [disciples]. Judas was the one who ·turned against [betrayed] Jesus. So Judas came there with a group of soldiers [C Roman] and some guards [C Jewish temple police] from the ·leading [T chief] priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns, and weapons.

Knowing everything that would happen to him, Jesus went out and asked, “Who is it you are looking for?”

They answered him, “Jesus ·from Nazareth [L the Nazarene].”

“·I am he [L I am; C this may be an allusion to God’s (Yahweh’s) self identification as “I AM” in Ex. 3:14 or to God’s repeated claim that “I am he” throughout Is. 40—55; see John 8:24, 28, 58],” Jesus said. (Judas, the one who ·turned against [betrayed] Jesus, was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “·I am he [L I am; see 18:5],” they moved back and fell to the ground.

Jesus asked them again, “Who is it you are looking for?”

They said, “Jesus ·of Nazareth [L the Nazarene].”

“I told you that I am he [see 18:5],” Jesus ·said [answered]. “So if you are looking for me, let the others go.” This happened so that the words Jesus said before would ·come true [L be fulfilled]: “I have not lost any of the ones you gave me [6:39; 17:12].”

10 [L Then] Simon Peter, who had a sword, pulled it out and struck the ·servant [slave; bond-servant] of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. (The ·servant’s [slave’s; bond-servant’s] name was Malchus.) 11 Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back [L into its sheath]. Shouldn’t I drink the cup the Father gave me?” [C The prophets spoke of a cup of judgment; by dying on the cross Jesus drinks it on our behalf; Jer. 25:15–29.]

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