in the preceding verse, and did so as if from kindly feeling. He violated the inviolable countenance of Jesus with the utmost temerity.
50. *Era//?£, comrade1} Ammonious says, " eraT/Jos does not cor respond exactly with p/'Xog" (a friend) " and ira/po/" (in the plural number) " are those who have associated together for a long time in conversation and employment." In Luke xxii. 48 we have 'louiSa, Judas ; see Ps. Iv. 14, and Eccles. xxxvii. 5, with ibid. ver. 1—4. — Jp w vdpti, for which thou are come'2) An eliptical mode of expression for, Is this the object for which thou art come ? Hesychius renders the words, " With what aim art thou present, and hast come here ?"
51. E%, one) St Matthew does not mention Peter by name. He might have had more reasons than one for his silence. Danger might possibly threaten Peter from the unbelieving Jews. — rbv dovXov, the slave) He perhaps acted more violently than the rest by his master's desire. — rb urlov, his ear) with a most dangerous stroke, He had aimed at the shoulder of the principal aggressor.
52. Sou rr,v f^d^aipav, THY sword) most foreign to MY cause. — TOVOV, place) The sword, when out of the scabbard, is not in its place, except when it ministers to the wrath of God. —
theij who take) When God does not give it them. — Ji/ by the sword) Thus the LXX. use lv /^a-^alpa airodv7ia-/.!iv (to die by the sword) ; 2 Chron. xxiii. 14, and Jer. xxi. 9. — a<7ro6avouvrai, shall die) This word implies a punishment in kind.
53. "Apr/, noiv) Even noiv. — rbv Har'spa Mou, My Father) Jesus even, when He is just about to drink the cup, retains that filial disposition which He had previously and always towards the Father ; see ver. 42. — crXf/ou; % SwSexa Xsyswvag, more than twelve legions) A legion consisted of six thousand ; twelve legions therefore of seventy-two thousand. A legion is contrasted with each of the twelve apostles ; a thousand angels with each of the seventy disciples. The angels are divided into their numbers and ranks.
54. n£5s DM, X..T.X., how then, etc.) The Saviour altogether voluntarily undertakes His Passion. — or/, x. ?-./.., that thus it
1 Engl. Vers. "Friend"— (I. B.)
2 Engl. Vers." Wherefore art thou come?'' — (I. B.)