Judas’s Betrayal of Jesus

47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, suddenly arrived.(A) A large mob with swords and clubs was with him from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 His betrayer had given them a sign: “The one I kiss, he’s the one; arrest him.” 49 So immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.

50 “Friend,”(B) Jesus asked him, “why have you come?”[a]

Then they came up, took hold of Jesus, and arrested him. 51 At that moment one of those with Jesus reached out his hand and drew his sword. He struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his ear.(C)

52 Then Jesus told him, “Put your sword back in its place because all who take up the sword will perish by the sword.(D) 53 Or do you think that I cannot call on my Father, and he will provide me here and now with more than twelve legions of angels?(E) 54 How, then, would the Scriptures be fulfilled(F) that say it must happen this way?”

55 At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs, as if I were a criminal,[b] to capture me? Every day I used to sit, teaching in the temple, and you didn’t arrest me.(G) 56 But all this has happened so that the writings of the prophets(H) would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples(I) deserted him and ran away.

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Footnotes

  1. 26:50 Or Jesus told him, “do what you have come for.”
  2. 26:55 Lit as against a criminal

The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

47 And while[a] he was still speaking, behold, Judas—one of the twelve—arrived, and with him a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now the one who was betraying him had given them a sign, saying, “The one whom I kiss—he is the one.[b] Arrest him!” 49 And he came up to Jesus immediately and[c] said, “Greetings, Rabbi,” and kissed him. 50 And Jesus said to him, “Friend, do that[d] for which you have come.”[e] Then they came up and[f] laid hands on Jesus and arrested him.

51 And behold, one of those with Jesus extended his[g] hand and[h] drew his sword, and striking the slave of the high priest, cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place! For all who take up the sword will die by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I cannot call upon my Father, and he would put at my disposal at once more than twelve legions of angels? 54 How then would the scriptures be fulfilled that it must happen in this way?”

55 At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs, as against a robber, to arrest me? Every day in the temple courts[i] I sat teaching, and you did not arrest me! 56 But all this has happened in order that the scriptures of the prophets would be fulfilled.” Then the disciples all abandoned him and[j] fled.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 26:47 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was … speaking”)
  2. Matthew 26:48 *Here the predicate nominative (“the one”) is implied
  3. Matthew 26:49 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came up”) has been translated as a finite verb
  4. Matthew 26:50 The words “do that” are not in the Greek text but are implied
  5. Matthew 26:50 The meaning of this phrase is disputed: (1) some take it as a declarative (as in the translation); (2) others understand it as some form of a question, often with supplied words: (a) “Friend, are you misusing the kiss for that purpose for which you are here?” (b) “Friend, in connection with that for which you have appeared do you kiss me?” (c) “Friend, are you here for this purpose?” (d) “Friend, what are you here for?”; this last option, though often suggested, is doubtful because of lack of evidence for the relative pronoun used as an interrogative in direct questions
  6. Matthew 26:50 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came up”) has been translated as a finite verb
  7. Matthew 26:51 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  8. Matthew 26:51 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“extended”) has been translated as a finite verb
  9. Matthew 26:55 Here “courts” is supplied to distinguish this area from the interior of the temple building itself
  10. Matthew 26:56 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“abandoned”) has been translated as a finite verb