39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. |
40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. |
41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, |
42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. |
43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. |
44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. |
45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, |
46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. |
47 And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. |
48 But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? |
49 When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? |
50 And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. |
51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him. |
52 Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves? |
53 When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. |
54 Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off. |
55 And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. |
56 But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. |
57 And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. |
58 And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. |
59 And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. |
60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. |
61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. |
62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly. |
63 And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. |
64 And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee? |
65 And many other things blasphemously spake they against him. |
66 And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying, |
67 Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe: |
68 And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go. |
69 Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God. |
70 Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am. |
71 And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth. |
22
22:39 Mat 26:30.
22:40 The place - The garden of Gethsemane.
22:43 Strengthening him - Lest his body should sink and die before the time.
22:44 And being in an agony - Probably just now grappling with the powers of darkness: feeling the weight of the wrath of God, and at the same time surrounded with a mighty host of devils, who exercised all their force and malice to persecute and distract his wounded spirit. He prayed more earnestly - Even with stronger cries and tars: and his sweat - As cold as the weather was, was as it were great drops of blood - Which, by the vehement distress of his soul, were forced out of the pores, in so great a quantity as afterward united in large, thick, grumous drops, and even fell to the ground.
22:48 Betrayest thou the Son of man - He whom thou knowest to be the Son of man, the Christ?
22:49 Seeing what would follow - That they were just going to seize him. Mat 26:51; Mar 14:47.
22:51 Suffer me at least to have my hands at liberty thus far, while I do one more act of mercy.
22:52 Jesus said to the chief priests, and captains, and the elders who were come - And all these came of their own accord: the soldiers and servants were sent.
22:53 This is your hour - Before which ye could not take me: and the power of darkness - The time when Satan has power.
22:54 Mat 26:57; Mar 14:53; Joh 18:12.
22:58 Another man saw him and said - Observe here, in order to reconcile the four evangelists, that divers persons concurred in charging Peter with belonging to Christ.
22:59 And about one hour after - So he did not recollect himself in all that time.
22:63 Mat 26:67; Mar 14:65.
22:64 And having blindfolded him, they struck him on the face - This is placed by St. Matthew and Mark, after the council's condemning him. Probably he was abused in the same manner, both before and after his condemnation.
22:65 Many other things blasphemously spake they against him - The expression is remarkable. They charged him with blasphemy, because he said he was the Son of God: but the evangelist fixes that charge on them, because he really was so.
22:66 Mat 26:63; Mar 14:61.
22:70 They all said, Art thou then the Son of God? - Both these, the Son of God, and the Son of man, were known titles of the Messiah; the one taken from his Divine, and the other from his human nature.