And while he yet spake
The above words to his disciples, behold a multitude.
The Persic version adds, "of Jews, with arrows, swords, and spears"; but the multitude consisted partly of Roman soldiers, and partly of the officers of the chief priests: and he that was called Judas:
and sometimes Iscariot, to distinguish him from another Judas, who also was of the number of the apostles: one of the twelve;
disciples of Christ, whom he had chosen, called, and ordained: went before them;
as their guide, to show them where Jesus was, and to point him out unto them; see ( Acts 1:16 ) and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him;
that being the signal he had given them, by which they should know him. The Syriac version here adds, "for this sign he had given to them, whomsoever I shall kiss, the same is he": and so likewise the Persic and Ethiopic versions, adding also this, "lay hold upon him"; but the whole seems to be transcribed from ( Matthew 26:48 ) .