NT-GOSPEL.filter - rwp swords:

rwp@John:18:3 @{The band of soldiers} (\tn speiran\). No word for "of soldiers" in the Greek, but the Latin _spira_ (roll or ball) was used for a military cohort (Polybius 11, 23, 1) as in strkjv@Matthew:27:27; strkjv@Acts:10:1|, etc., here for a small band secured from the Tower of Antonia. The Synoptics do not mention the soldiers, but only the "officers" as here (\hupretas\ for which see strkjv@Matthew:26:58; strkjv@Mark:14:54,65|) or temple police from the Sanhedrin. {Cometh} (\erchetai\). Dramatic historical present middle indicative. {With lanterns and torches} (\meta phann kai lampadn\). Both old words, \phanos\ only here in N.T., \lampas\, an oil lamp (Matthew:25:1|). It was full moon, but Judas took no chances for it may have been cloudy and there were dark places by the walls and under the olive trees. \Meta\ is accompanied with {and weapons} (\kai hopln\). Mark (Mark:14:43|) mentions "swords and staves." Probably the temple guard had weapons as well as the soldiers.

rwp@John:18:10 @{Having a sword} (\echn machairan\). It was unlawful to carry a weapon on a feast-day, but Peter had become alarmed at Christ's words about his peril. They had two swords or knives in the possession of the eleven according to Luke (22:38|). After the treacherous kiss of Judas (on the hand or the cheek?) the disciples asked: "Lord, shall we smite with the sword?" (Luke:22:49|). Apparently before Jesus could answer Peter with his usual impulsiveness jerked out (\heilkusen\, first aorist active indicative of \helku\ for which see strkjv@6:44|) his sword and cut off the right ear of Malchus (John:18:10|), a servant of the high priest. Peter missed the man's head as he swerved to his left. Luke also (Luke:22:50|) mentions the detail of the right ear, but John alone mentions the man's name and Peter's. There was peril to Peter in his rash act as comes out later (John:18:26|), but he was dead long before John wrote his Gospel as was Lazarus of whom John could also safely write (12:9-11|). For \tarion\, diminutive of \ous\, see strkjv@Mark:14:47| (only other N.T. example), another diminutive \tion\ in strkjv@Matthew:26:51| (Mark:14:47; strkjv@Luke:22:51|).

rwp@Luke:22:38 @{Lord, behold, here are two swords} (\kurie idou machairai hde duo\). They took his words literally. And before this very night is over Peter will use one of these very swords to try to cut off the head of Malchus only to be sternly rebuked by Jesus (Mark:14:47; strkjv@Matthew:26:51f.; strkjv@Luke:22:50f.; strkjv@John:18:10f.|). Then Jesus will say: "For all that take the sword shall perish with the sword" (Matthew:26:52|). Clearly Jesus did not mean his language even about the sword to be pressed too literally. Songs:he said: "It is enough" (\Hikanon estin\). It is with sad irony and sorrow that Jesus thus dismisses the subject. They were in no humour now to understand the various sides of this complicated problem. Every preacher and teacher understands this mood, not of impatience, but of closing the subject for the present.

rwp@Luke:22:49 @{What would follow} (\to esomenon\). Article and the future middle participle of \eimi\, to be. {Shall we smite with a sword?} (\ei pataxomen en machairi;\). Note \ei\ in a direct question like the Hebrew. Luke alone gives this question. Instrumental use of \en\. They had the two swords already mentioned (22:38|).

rwp@Matthew:26:47 @{While he yet spake} (\eti autou lalountos\). It was an electric moment as Jesus faced Judas with his horde of helpers as if he turned to meet an army. {Let us go} (\agmen\), Jesus had said. And here he is. The eight at the gate seemed to have given no notice. Judas is described here as "one of the twelve" (\heis tn ddeka\) in all three Synoptic Gospels (Mark:14:43; strkjv@Matthew:26:47; strkjv@Luke:22:47|). The very horror of the thing is thus emphasized, that one of the chosen twelve apostles should do this dastardly deed. {A great multitude} (\ochlos polus\). The chief priests and Pharisees had furnished Judas a band of soldiers from the garrison in Antonia (John:18:3|) and the temple police (Luke:22:52|) with swords (knives) and staves (clubs) with a hired rabble who had lanterns also (John:18:3|) in spite of the full moon. Judas was taking no chances of failure for he well knew the strange power of Jesus.