The reason why Peter singled out this man was that he was more forward than the rest in apprehend ing his master. The blow was aimed at the head, but fortunately took a less dangerous direction. This sword, with which Peter was furnished, was not provided for the present occasion, but was the common instrument of defence in travelling through a country which abounded with robbers. From Luke xxii. 38. we find that the disciples were furnished with two swords for this purpose. For one man to resist a whole band of soldiers, was indeed an act of great rashness; but it served to show the strength of his attachment to his master. 11. Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath; the cup which my Father hath given me shall I not drink it? By the cup Jesus evidently means his sufferings, and he prohibits Peter from attempting to rescue him from them, from the consideration that they were intended for him by his Father. 12. Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus and bound him, The word captain, here used, signifies in the Greek the commander of a thousand men, and the Roman cohort, or as it is here called band, consisted generally of that number, although sometimes of much fewer. 13. And led him away to Annas first; for he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, who was the high priest that same year. It is supposed that Annas had been high priest before his son-in-law, and that he was still regarded with so much respect as to be consulted on the près sent important juncture. The high priest was appointed for life. By its being said of Caiaphas, therefore, that he was high priest that year, no more is intended than that he was in that office at that time, which John, writing some time after the event, mentions for the information of strangers*. 14. Now Caiaphas was he who gave counsel to the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. This advice is mentioned John xi. 50. By a judge who had already given such an opinion there was little prospect of acquittal. REFLECTIONS. 1. We have here a striking example of fortitude in danger, founded upon principle. Jesus, instead of fleeing from his enemies, or attempting to resist them, voluntarily surrenders himself into their hands, and when, through surprise or terror, they are incapable of apprehending him the first time, he offers himself a second; nor did he act thus from presumptuous ig norance, like the man who rashly exposes himself to danger because he is unacquainted with its extent. But he had, what ordinary men cannot have, a clear foresight of all that he was to suffer, and therefore, of all the consequences of the present action. All the insults and barbarities which were to fall upon his head from a malicious and bloodthirsty enemy were present to his view. The public trial, the crown of thorns, the bloody scourge, the purple robe, the fatal cross, accompanied with the taunts and reproaches of Vol. 2.] * See Lardner's Works, Vol. i. p. 387. 4 B brutal soldiers and more brutal scribes and Phariseesall these things were seen by him in clear prospect, as immediately to take place, and had indeed produced a terrible conflict; but it was now over, and had left him calm and resigned, a resolute and a willing victim. What must be the benevolence of that mind which could chearfully embrace death, with all its horrors, for our benefit! What comprehension and faith, to be able to look through such sufferings to the glory that • would ensue, a resurrection from the dead and the triumph of the gospel! Let us always contemplate such a character with respect and veneration, with love and gratitude. 2. Observe the piety of Jesus, exhibited in those remarkable words, The cup which my Father hath given me shall I not drink it? If any event can deserve to be called the work of man, it must be the death of Christ. The condemnation and crucifixion of so illustrious a prophet and of so excellent a character, who was perfectly harmless and inoffensive, who went about distributing benefits, could proceed only from mean jealousy of superior excellence, or from unqualified malice. But he considers it as an affliction proceeding from his Father, because it came by his permission, and was appointed to answer useful purposes in the schemes of his providence, and derives hence a motive for submitting to it without reluct ance. Such is the sublime philosophy of Christianity: let us endeavour to cherish it in our minds. The afflictions of life, from whatever causes they come, will hereby lose their sting, and be regarded as the kind visitations of a friend and a father. John xviii. 15-27. In the preceding part of this chapter we have an account of the voluntary surrender which Jesus made of himself into the hands of those who came to apprehend him, and of the rash zeal which his disciple Peter discovered upon the occasion. We have now a further account of the failings of that apostle, and of the composed behaviour of Jesus at his trial. 15. And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple; that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest. 16. But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter. It is generally supposed that the other disciple here mentioned, who was known to the high priest, was the writer of this history, the apostle John, and that he chose to conceal himself, from motives of modesty, under that description. But as John was only a fisherman by profession, and lived in the remote country of Galilee, it has been thought improbable by others that he should be acquainted with the high priest, and that therefore the person here referred to could not be he, but some other disciple of Jesus, of more consequence: more especially, as the denomination which John usually gives himself in other places is the disciple whom Jesus loved*. 17. Then saith the damsel that kept the door, unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not. This question was probably altogether unexpected by Peter, and it is likely that he was not aware of his danger till this moment. The suddenness of the See Pearce. temptation, therefore, will account for his denying his master, but not excuse it. The rest of his conduct, prior to this moment, seems to manifest a greater degree of resolution than was necessary for acknowledging himself his disciple. 18. And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold; and they warmed themselves; and Peter stood with them and warmed himself. Fires for persons' warming themselves are made in Judæa and in other parts of the East by a pan of charcoal, placed in the middle of any apartment of the house. Of this nature was probably the fire here mentioned ; which will account for its being made in one of the apartments of a palace, · Fire would be found in Judæa a seasonable refreshment for those who had been out all night; for, although the days are warm, the nights produce a considerable degree of cold, especially at the season of the passover. 19. The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples and of his doctrine. He asked him why he collected disciples together, and what doctrines he taught them in private; strongly intimating that he had some evil design in view in assembling people around him, and that what he taught in private was different from what he communicated to the world. Nothing could be more absurd and unreasonable than to propose such questions to Jesus, who appeared as a prisoner before him, brought by his authority; whom he ought, therefore, to have been ready to charge with some crime, and to support the charge by proper witnesses; instead of which he shows that he is furnished with nothing |