Matthew 26:47-56

The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

47 And [while] 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]. Arrest him!"

49 And he came up to Jesus immediately [and] said, "Greetings, Rabbi," and kissed him.

50 And Jesus said to him, "Friend, [do that] for which you have come." Then they came up [and] laid hands on Jesus and arrested him.

51 And behold, one of those with Jesus extended his hand [and] 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 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] fled.

Footnotes

• [a]. *Here "[while]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("was ... speaking")
• [b]. *Here the predicate nominative ("[the one]") is implied
• [c]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("came up") has been translated as a finite verb
• [d]. *The words "[do that]" are not in the Greek text but are implied
• [e]. 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
• [f]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("came up") has been translated as a finite verb
• [g]. *Literally "the"; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
• [h]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("extended") has been translated as a finite verb
• [i]. *Here "[courts]" is supplied to distinguish this area from the interior of the temple building itself
• [j]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("abandoned") has been translated as a finite verb