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ground. Then asked he them again, “ Whom "seek ye?" And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered, "I have told you that I 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 me have I lost none." Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, Master; and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, "Judas, betrayest thou "the Son of man with a kiss ?" Then the band, and the captain, and officers of the Jews, took Jesus, and bound him.

When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. Then said Jesus unto Peter," Put up thy sword into the "sheath for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that "I cannot now pray to my Father, and he "shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? but how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?” and he touched Malchus' ear, and healed him.

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Let my disciples depart in safety.

See page 234. Note ().

A customary mode of salutation among the Jews.

Resistance will but tend to your own destruction. The use of the sword, (as in this instance,) against the magistrates and the ministers of justice is unlawful.

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

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against a thief, with swords and staves? "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.' Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

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And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him: and he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.

131. Jesus is brought before Annas and Caiaphas. Peter denies him thrice.

Time.

AND they led him away Place. A. D. 33. to Annas first; (for he was The JudgThe morning of the day of father in law to Caiaphas, ment-hall of the high priest. crucifixion. which was the high priest that same year.) Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest. And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest. But Peter stood at the door without. Then went

a

there.

Captains of the temple were officers keeping guard b Supposed to be St. John.

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out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter. And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; (for it was cold:) and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself. And [Peter] went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.

And as Peter was beneath in the palace," there cometh the damsel that kept the door. And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.

And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them. And he denied it again. And about the space of one hour after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilean and thy speech agreeth thereto. But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak. And immediately, while he yet spake, the second time the cock crew. And the Lord turned and looked upon Peter. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, "Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny "me thrice." And he went out, and wept bitterly.

In the common hall appointed for the lower sort of people.

Peter spake in the provincial dialect of Galilee.

132. Jesus questioned before Caiaphas, and afterward before the whole Jewish Council, confesses himself to be the Christ, and is pronounced guilty of death.

THE high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. Jesus answered him, "I spake openly to the world; I ever

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taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, "whither the Jews always resort; and in secret "have I said nothing. Why askest thou me? "ask them which heard me, what I have said "unto them; behold, they know what I said." And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so? Jesus answered him, "If I "have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: "but if well, why smitest thou me?”

AND as soon as it was day, the Place. elders of the people and the chief The judgment priests and the scribes came toge

hall of the high priest, ther, and led him into their council. chief priests, And the chief priests and all the elders, and council sought for witness against scribes. Jesus to put him to death; and found none. For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.

And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying, We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with

Nothing that I am ashamed of.

b Shew me what law I have offended, if I have not offended, why am I thus treated?

hands,' and within three days I will build another made without hands. But neither so did their witness agree together. And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? but he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God," that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, "I am: and ye shall "see the Son of man sitting on the right hand "of power, and coming in the clouds of "heaven." Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, "Ye

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" d

say that I am." Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death."

* Our Saviour meant not the material fabric of the temple, but of his body, which though they might destroy, would be raised in three days. John ii. 19. This figurative expression the Jews maliciously applied in the literal sense. Besides, to speak disrespectfully of, or to prophesy against the temple, was considered as blasphemy, and of course a capital crime.

This was the oath of adjuration among the Jews; and the party, whether criminal or witness, when so adjured, was obliged to answer as under the sanction of an oath. Lev. v. i. Jesus conceived himself bound in conscience to break silence.

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Coming in the clouds of heaven, was with the Jews a characteristic mark of the Messiah.

d It is true, it is as you suppose.

• A mark of extreme horror and indignation,

His crime subjects him by the law of Moses to the penalty of death.

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