And saith unto them ,.... The above three disciples; my soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death : he was surrounded with sorrow, and it pressed him so hard, and close, on every side, that he was just ready to die with it: tarry ye here, and watch : in Matthew it is added, "with me": See Gill on Matthew 26:38 . read more
And he went forward a little ,.... About a stone's cast, Luke 22:41 , and fell on the ground, and prayed ; he fell on his face to the ground, which was a praying posture. One of the Jewish canons concerning it, is this F1 Maimon. Hilch. Tephilla, c. 5. sect. 13. : "worshipping, how is it done? after a man has lifted up his head; he bows it five times, he sits upon the ground, and "falls upon his face", ארצה , "to the ground", and supplicates with whatsoever supplication he... read more
And he said, Abba, Father ,.... In the original text, the former of these is a Syriac word, and the latter a Greek one, explanative of the former, as in Romans 8:15 and Galatians 4:6 or the repetition is made, to express the vehemency of his affection, and his strong confidence in God, as his Father, amidst his distress, as the Syriac version renders it, אבא אבי , "Abba, my Father": or "my Father, my Father"; and so the Ethiopic version: all things are possible unto thee ; so... read more
And he cometh and findeth them sleeping ,.... His three disciples, Peter, James, and John: and saith unto Peter ; particularly, he having so lately asserted, with so much confidence, his love to Christ, and close attachment to him: Simon, sleepest thou ? Christ calls him by the name he first went by, and not by that which he had given him, Cephas, or Peter; he not now having that firmness and constancy, though he boasted of it, which answers to that name: couldst thou not watch... read more
Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation ,.... Of denying Christ, and falling off from him, which would quickly offer to them, when they should see him apprehended, bound, and led away. The spirit truly is ready . The Persic version renders it, "my mind"; as if the Spirit or soul of Christ was meant; whereas it is either to be understood of the evil spirit, Satan, who was disposed to attack them, and especially Peter, whom he desired to have, and sift as wheat; or else the spirit... read more
And again he went away ,.... To the same place, or at much such a distance from them, as before: and prayed and spake the same words ; or word, that is, the same matter; for λογος , here, answers to דבר , which signifies a thing, or matter, as well as word: Christ prayed to the same effect, for matter and substance the same as before, though not in the same express words, as is clear from Matthew 26:39 . read more
And when he returned, he found them asleep again ,.... Notwithstanding the expostulation he had used with them, the exhortation he had given them, and the danger he had suggested to them: for their eyes were heavy : with sleep and sorrow: neither wist they what to answer him ; partly through confusion and shame, not knowing how to excuse themselves; and partly, through their being stupefied with sleep and grief. read more
And he cometh the third time ,.... After he had prayed a third time, to the same purport as before: and saith unto them, sleep on now, and take your rest ; which words are spoken ironically: it is enough ; or "the end is come"; as the Syriac and Arabic versions render it, of watching and praying: the hour is come, behold the son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners ; both Jews and Gentiles, by one of his own disciples; See Gill on Matthew 26:45 . read more
Rise up let us go ,.... To meet the enemy and the danger; for there is no escaping; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand ; Judas, that he had hinted at supper should betray him, was now about doing it; and was just now coming upon him, in order to deliver him into the hands of the Jews, and the Roman band of soldiers; See Gill on Matthew 26:46 . read more
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John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 14:33
And he taketh with him Peter, and James, and John ,.... Who were witnesses of his transfiguration on the mount, and now of his sorrows in the garden: and began to be sore amazed ; to be in great consternation and astonishment, at the sight of all the sins of his people coming upon him; at the black storm of wrath, that was gathering thick over him; at the sword of justice which was brandished against him; and at the curses of the righteous law, which, like so many thunderbolts of... read more