'kiffed him. (The question put by Jesus, to ، Judas is not mentioned) And they laid their 'hands on him, and took him. And one of 'them that stood by, drew a sword, and smote 6 a fervant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. (The comment made by Jesus upon this action, ' is not mentioned, nor does he notice the in'finuation that Jesus could, by asking, obtain 'the affistance of twelve legions of angels) And 'Jesus answered and faid unto them, are ye come ' out as against a thief, with swords and with 'staves to take me? I was daily with you in the ، temple, teaching, and ye took me not: but 'the scriptures must be fulfilled. And they all ' forsook him and fled.' Luke's record says'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. But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of Man with a kiss? (It doth not appear that a kiss was given. And 'the question asked by Jesus, differs from that 'recorded by Matthew) When they which were about him, faw what would follow, they 'said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the 'sword? (This question is not recorded by Mat thew or Mark; nor does it here appear that they received any answer.) And one of them 'smote the fervant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. And Jesus answered and faid, • Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear and ' healed him. Then faid Jesus unto the chief ' priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders ' which were come to him. (Matthew says-The multitude came from the chief priests and elders ' of the people. Mark says-They came from ' the chief priests, and fcribes, and the elders. 'But by Luke's account, it seems the chief priests, ' and the elders were present, and made part of the multitude, with the captains of the temple.) Be ye come out as against a thief, with swords and staves? When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me. ' (How is this affertion to be reconciled with the ' record of John, ch. viii. v. 59.) But this is your ' hour, and the power of darkness.' Thus we see, the concluding speech likewise, is recorded differently by the three evangelists. The fourth, St. John; differs still more in the particulars of this transaction. His record, ch. xviii. stands thus'When Jesus had spoken these words, he went ' forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, ' where was a garden, into which he entered, ' and his disciples. And Judas also which be trayed him knew the place: for Jesus oft' times resorted thither with his disciples. Judas ' then having received a band of men and officers 'from the chief priests and Pharifees, cometh ' thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. 'Jesus therefore knowing all things that should 'come ، ، come upon him, went forth, and faid unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also which betrayed him, stood with them. As foon then as he had faid unto them, I am he; they went backward and ' fell to the ground. Then asked he them again; Whom seek ye? And they faid Jesus of Naza 'reth. Jesus answered, I have told you that I 6 ، am he. If therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: that the saying might be fulfilled ' which he spake-Of them which thou gavest ، ८ me, have I loft none. Then Simon Peter having a sword, drew it and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear; the fervant's name was Malchus. Then said Jesus unto Peter '-Put up thy sword into the sheath, the cup ' which my father hath given me, shall I not ، 6 drink it?" In this account John agrees with Matthew and Mark, though not with Luke, that the band of men and officers as he calls them, came from the chief priests, &c. We find this garden was a place of concealment, known, as such, to the disciples only; and who, having two fwords, meant, we may suppose, to defend themselves in cafe they were attacked. We find by John that this attack was made in the nighttime; and he only, tells us that Peter was the man who used his sword upon that occafion. By John's account, it doth not appear that Judas Chapter Verse kissed Jesus; or pointed him out; or that any conversation passed between them as recorded by the others. On the contrary, John says-That Jesus advanced to meet the band of men and officers; and afked whom they fought. Being answered-Jesus of Nazareth, he said I am he. (Here John remarks that Judas stood with them.) Upon this information, which appears to be the first, they went backward and fell to the ground. St. John is fingular in this account; and likewife in what follows: He says-that upon their thus retreating and falling to the ground, Jesus again asked them whom they fought; and they again replied, Jefus of Nazareth: to which he rejoined, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me let these (the eleven disciples) go their way. It is added, I suppose by St. John; 'that the faying might be fulfilled which he spake-Of them which thou gavest me have I loft none.' This saying of Jefus's is recorded by John in the 12th verse of the 17th chapter, with an excерtion, here omitted, the Son of Perdition Judas. I have already remarked, that neither Matthew, Mark, or Luke agree in the concluding speech; and here we fee that John differs from them all in that, and many other particulars of this interesting scene. We will now proceed with what followed the apprehenfion, when, according to Matthew and Mark, all his disciples forsook him xxvi. 57 and fled. Matthew says-' And they that had ' laid hold on Jesus, led him away to Caiaphas Chapter Verse ' the high priest, where the scribes, and the elders ' off, unto the high priest's palace, and went in ' and fat with the servants to fee the end. Now ' the chief priests and elders and all the council, ' fought false witness against Jesus to put him to ' death, but found none: yea though many false ' witnesses came, yet found they none. (This ' which here is an absurdity, is properly explain'ed by St. Mark.) At the last came two false ' witnesses and faid; this fellow said, I am able ' to destroy the temple of God, and to build ' it in three days.' (This teftimony was not false, vide John, ch. ii. verses 18, 19, and 20. He did not at that time explain his meaning to the Jews; nor doth it appear that the apostles themselves understood, 'till after his refurrection, that he meant the temple of his body.) And the high priest arose and faid unto him; ' Answerest thou nothing? What is it which ' these witness against thee? But Jesus held his 6 ، 6 6 peace. (As he had really spoken those words; why not explain their concealed import to the high prieft? We find this bravado, as they thought it, repeated to him in mockery when upon the crofs.) And the high priest answered ' and said unto him-I adjure thee by the living ، God, that thou tell us, whether thou be the Chrift 'the Son of God.' (What is the answer to this folemn L 59 60 61 62 63 |