Matteo 26:53

53 Credi tu forse ch’io non potrei pregare il Padre mio che mi manderebbe in quest’istante più di dodici legioni d’angeli?

Matteo 26:53 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 26:53

Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father
Meaning, if he thought proper, or that there was any necessity for it, or that he was desirous of being rescued out of such hands he was falling into. This must be understood of him as man: for, as God, the angels were his creatures and ministering servants, whom he had the command of himself, and so had no need, as such, to pray to his Father to detach a number of them to his assistance, and which, as man, he could only want.

And he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels.
A Roman legion consisted of about six thousand soldiers, or upwards; some add six hundred sixty six; and others make the number far greater. Twelve are mentioned, either with respect to the twelve apostles; or in allusion, as others think, to the Roman militia; a proper and full army with them consisting of such a number of legions: and that there is an innumerable company of angels, thousand thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand, is certain; and the Persic version here reads; "twelve myriads" of legions; and that these are at the command of God, and he can dispatch them at once, on any emergent occasion, is very evident; and what is it that such a company of angels is not capable of, when a single angel slew in one night an hundred, fourscore, and five thousand men, ( 2 Kings 19:35 ) , wherefore had Christ had any inclination to have been rescued from the present danger, he stood in no need of Peter's sword.

Matteo 26:53 In-Context

51 Ed ecco, un di coloro ch’eran con lui, stesa la mano alla spada, la sfoderò; e percosso il servitore del sommo sacerdote, gli spiccò l’orecchio.

52 Allora Gesù gli disse: Riponi la tua spada al suo posto, perché tutti quelli che prendon la spada, periscon per la spada.

53 Credi tu forse ch’io non potrei pregare il Padre mio che mi manderebbe in quest’istante più di dodici legioni d’angeli?

54 Come dunque si adempirebbero le Scritture, secondo le quali bisogna che così avvenga?

55 In quel punto Gesù disse alle turbe: Voi siete usciti con spade e bastoni come contro ad un ladrone, per pigliarmi. Ogni giorno sedevo nel tempio ad insegnare, e voi non m’avete preso;