John 18:3

3 So Judas led the way to the garden, and the Roman soldiers and police sent by the high priests and Pharisees followed. They arrived there with lanterns and torches and swords.

John 18:3 Meaning and Commentary

John 18:3

Judas then having received a band of men
From the captain of this band, who in ( John 18:12 ) ; is called a "Chiliarch", that is, a commander of a thousand men, one might conclude there were so many in this band; but it seems, that such an officer might have two bands under his command; and if this was, the case, there were at least five hundred men in this company; a large number indeed, to take an unarmed person; and yet, as if this was not sufficient, it is added,

and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees;
servants that belong to each of these, and who seem to be a considerable number also; for these are said to be "a great multitude"; ( Matthew 26:47 ) ; nay, not only so, but the chief priests, captains of the temple, and elders of the people, were themselves among them, ( Luke 22:52 ) ; to see that the men did their work, and did not return without him; as these officers, when sent by them once before, did:

cometh thither with lanterns, and torches, and weapons:
(onp) , which is no other than the Greek word here used for a lantern, the Jews tell us ^F21, was an earthen vessel, in which a candle was put and covered, that the wind might not put it out, and it had holes in the sides of it, through which light was let out; their (dypl) , or "lamp", here rendered "torch", they say ^F23, was also an earthen vessel in the form of a reed, at the top of which was a proper receptacle, in which they burnt old rags dipped in oil: now though it was full moon, being the time of the passover, they brought these along with them to discover him by the light of, and find him out with them, if he should hide himself among the trees, or in any of the more shady places in the garden; and they took warlike instruments, as swords, spears, and staves, as if they had a thief or a murderer to apprehend, or a little army of men to encounter with; whereas there were only Christ, and his eleven disciples; and these in no condition, nor had any design, to defend themselves in an hostile manner.

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FOOTNOTES:

F21 Maimon. & Bartenora in Misn. Celim, c. 2. sect. 4.
F23 Ib. in sect. 8.

John 18:3 In-Context

1 Jesus, having prayed this prayer, left with his disciples and crossed over the brook Kidron at a place where there was a garden. He and his disciples entered it.

2 Judas, his betrayer, knew the place because Jesus and his disciples went there often.

3 So Judas led the way to the garden, and the Roman soldiers and police sent by the high priests and Pharisees followed. They arrived there with lanterns and torches and swords.

4 Jesus, knowing by now everything that was coming down on him, went out and met them. He said, "Who are you after?" They answered, "Jesus the Nazarene."

5 He said, "That's me." The soldiers recoiled, totally taken aback. Judas, his betrayer, stood out like a sore thumb.