Matthew 26:53-54

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 26:47-56

We are here told how the blessed Jesus was seized, and taken into custody; this followed immediately upon his agony, while he yet spake; for from the beginning to the close of his passion he had not the least intermission or breathing-time, but deep called unto deep. His trouble hitherto was raised within himself; but now the scene is changed, now the Philistines are upon thee, thou blessed Samson; the Breath of our nostrils, the Anointed of the Lord is taken in their pits, Lam. 4:20. Now... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 26:50-56

26:50-56 Then they came forward and laid hands on Jesus and held him. And, look you, one of these who was with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck the servant of the High Priest, and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, "Put back your sword in its place; for all who take the sword shall perish by the sword. Or, do you not think that I am able to call on my Father, and he will on the spot send to my aid more than twelve regiments of angels? How then are the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 26:53

Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father ,.... Meaning, if he thought proper, or that there was any necessity for it, or that he was desirous of being rescued out of such hands he was falling into. This must be understood of him as man: for, as God, the angels were his creatures and ministering servants, whom he had the command of himself, and so had no need, as such, to pray to his Father to detach a number of them to his assistance, and which, as man, he could only want, And he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 26:54

But how then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled ,.... That is, should Christ make such a request to his Father, and he should grant it, and an host of angels should be sent to rescue him, and he should be rescued by them; how then should the Scriptures, which speak of Christ's being taken, and led as a lamb to the slaughter, and of his various sufferings, and the circumstances of them, have their accomplishment? "declaring", as the Arabic version supplies, or as the Ethiopic version, "which... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 26:53

More than twelve legions of angels? - As if he had said, Instead of you twelve, one of whom is a traitor, my Father can give me more than twelve legions of angels to defend me. A legion, at different times, contained different numbers; 4,200, 5,000, and frequently 6,000 men; and from this saying, taking the latter number, which is the common rate, may we not-safely believe that the angels of God amount to more than 72,000? read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 26:54

But how then - Had I such a defense - shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say, that thus it must be? That is, that I am to suffer and die for the sin of the world. Probably the Scriptures to which our Lord principally refers are Psalm 22, 69, and especially Isaiah 53:1-12 , and Daniel 9:24-27 . Christ shows that they had no power against him but what he permitted; and that he willingly gave up himself into their hands. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 26:53

Verse 53 53.Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father? Now follows that special reason which I mentioned a little ago; for Christ reminds them, that he would have at his command a better and more legitimate kind of defense, were it not that he must obey the decree of the Father. The substance of what he says is this. “As he has been appointed by the eternal purpose of God to be a sacrifice, and as this has been declared by the predictions of Scripture, he must not fight against it.”... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 26:54

Verse 54 54.How then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled? By this expression Christ means, that he ought not to attempt any method of escaping death, to which he knew that he was called by the Father. For himself, indeed, he had no need of the Scriptures to inform him that God had appointed that he should die at that time; but because mortals do not know what God has determined to do until it be revealed by his word, Christ, with a view to his disciples, properly refers to the testimony which God... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 26:46-56

The arrest. The words, "Rise, let us be going," are not inconsistent with those just uttered, "Sleep on now, and take your rest." These latter words had rather a moral significance than a physical. They meant, "I have no longer any need of your watching." But just as he utters them, he catches the gleam of arms through the trees, and exclaims, "Rise." Describe the scene—the measured tread of the Roman cohort; the glare of torches and lanterns, and the swarming rabble come out to see an... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 26:47-56

Betrayal and apprehension of Jesus. ( Mark 14:43-52 ; Luke 22:47-53 ; John 18:2-11 .) read more

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