John 18:4-7

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 18:4

Verse 4 4.Jesus therefore, hnowing. The Evangelist states more clearly with what readiness Christ went forward to death, but, at the same time, describes the great power which he exercised by a single word, in order to inform us that wicked men had no power over him, except so far as he gave permission. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 18:5

Verse 5 5.It is I. He replies mildly that he is the person whom they seek, and yet, as if they had been struck down by a violent tempest, or rather by a thunderbolt, he lays them prostrate on the ground. There was no want of power in him, therefore, to restrain their hands, if he had thought proper; but he wished to obey his Father, by whose decree he knew that he was called to die. We may infer from this how dreadful and alarming to the wicked the voicc of Christ will be, when he shall ascend... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 18:7

Verse 7 7.He therefore asked them again. Hence it appears what is the powerful effect of that blindness with which God strikes the minds of wicked men, and how dreadful is their stupidity, when, by a just judgment of God, they have been bewitched by Satan. Oxen and asses, if they fall, are touched with some kind of feeling; but those men, after having had an open display of the divine power of Christ, proceed as fearlessly as if they had not perceived in him even the shadow of a man; nay, Judas... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 18:1-11

(1) The betrayal , the majesty of his bearing , accompanied by hints of the bitter cup . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 18:1-11

The apprehension of Jesus. The crisis has come at last. I. THE SCENE OF THE ARREST . "He went forth with his disciples over the brook Kedron, where was a garden, into which he entered, and his disciples." 1. The garden was on the slope of Mount Olivet , and therefore outside Jerusalem . 2. He did not resort to it for the purpose of hiding himself from his enemies ; for Judas , the traitor , knew the place . It was to be the scene of his prayers and his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 18:4

Jesus then —the οὖν implies that our Lord discerned the approach of the hostile band— knowing all the things that were coming upon him —in full consciousness of his position, and in voluntary sacrifice of himself to the will of God and the purpose of his mission— went forth ; £ i.e. from the garden enclosure—see John 18:1 —(say Meyer and Godet); from the recesses of the garden or the garden-house (say others); partly in consequence of the language of the kinsman of Maichus,"... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 18:4-8

The moral courage of Jesus. We see this if we consider— I. WHAT HE MIGHT HAVE DONE UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES There is no virtue in not doing thus if we cannot do otherwise. But what could Jesus do now? 1. He might have not visited the garden on this night . He knew all that was coming. He knew that the devil of piltering and covetousness had entered Judas, and that he was then in the city betraying him to his thirsty and cruel foes. He entered not the garden in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 18:5-6

They answered him, Jesus the Nazarene. Jesus saith unto them, I am he . Then, in all probability, the miscreant, the son of perdition, said," Hail, Master!" and kissed him; and there followed before and after his act the sublime replies given, "Companion, wherefore art thou come?" and "Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?" John, however, overwhelmed with the majesty and spontaneous self-devotion of the Lord, calls attention to the language he addressed to the "baud" which... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 18:7-8

Again then ( οὖν , regarding all the conditions, the cup, the cross, the blood-baptism, the supreme will, all are at stake) he asked them, Whom seek ye? Then, restored from their fright and spasm of conscience, produced by the presence of One whom no fetters, not even those of death itself, could bind, and reassured now by the same voice (cf. Daniel 10:10 ; Revelation 1:17 ), they reply, Jesus the Nazarene . He thus compels them to limit their design, and to single himself out... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 18:6

They went backward ... - The cause of their retiring in this manner is not mentioned. Various things might have produced it. The frank, open, and fearless manner in which Jesus addressed them may have convinced them of his innocence, and deterred them from prosecuting their wicked attempt. His disclosure of himself was sudden and unexpected; and while they perhaps anticipated that he would make an effort to escape, they were amazed at his open and bold profession. Their consciences reproved... read more

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