The Judas Kiss

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 he went right 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 slave and cut off his ear.(C)

52 Then Jesus told him, “Put your sword back in its place because all who take up a sword will perish by a sword.(D) 53 Or do you think that I cannot call on My Father, and He will provide Me at once with more than 12 legions[b] 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,[c] to capture Me? Every day I used to sit, teaching in the temple complex, and you didn’t arrest Me.(G) 56 But all this has happened so that the prophetic Scriptures[d](H) would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples(I) deserted Him and ran away.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 26:50 Or Jesus told him, “do what you have come for.” (as a statement)
  2. Matthew 26:53 A Roman legion contained up to 6,000 soldiers.
  3. Matthew 26:55 Lit as against a criminal
  4. Matthew 26:56 Or the Scriptures of the prophets

Jesus is Arrested(A)

47 Just then, while Jesus[a] was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. A large crowd armed with swords and clubs was with him. They were from the high priests and elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer personally had given them a signal, saying, “The one I kiss[b] is the man. Arrest him.”

49 So Judas[c] immediately went up to Jesus and said, “Hello, Rabbi!”[d] and kissed him tenderly.

50 Jesus asked him, “Friend, why are you here?”[e] Then the other men[f] surged forward, took hold of Jesus, and arrested him.

51 Suddenly, one of the men with Jesus reached out his hand, drew his sword, and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his ear. 52 Jesus told him, “Put your sword back in its place! Everyone who uses a sword will be killed by a sword. 53 Don’t you think that I could call on my Father, and he would send me more than twelve legions of angels now? 54 How, then, would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say this must happen?”

55 At this point,[g] Jesus asked the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as if I were a bandit?[h] Day after day I sat teaching in the Temple, yet you didn’t arrest me. 56 But all of this has happened so that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.”

Then all the disciples deserted Jesus[i] and ran away.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 26:47 Lit. he
  2. Matthew 26:48 People customarily greeted their friends with a kiss.
  3. Matthew 26:49 Lit. he
  4. Matthew 26:49 Rabbi is Heb. for Master and/or Teacher.
  5. Matthew 26:50 Or do what you came for
  6. Matthew 26:50 Lit. they
  7. Matthew 26:55 Lit. In that hour
  8. Matthew 26:55 Or revolutionary
  9. Matthew 26:56 Lit. him