Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.
Judas then - "He that was called Judas, one of the Twelve," says Luke (Luke 22:47), in language which brands him with special infamy, as in the sacred circle, though in no proper sense of it.
Having received a band [of men] and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, х teen (G3588) speiran (G4686), kai (G2532) ek (G1537) toon (G3588) archiereoon (G749) kai (G2532) Farisaioon (G5330) hupeeretas (G5257)] - rather, 'the band (without the supplement, "of men") and officers' or 'servants of the chief priests and Pharisees.' Two bodies are here mentioned: "the band," meaning, as Webster and Wilkinson expresses it, the detachment of the Roman cohort on duty at the festival, for the purpose of maintaining order; and the officials of the ecclesiastical authorities-the captains of the temple and armed Levites.
Cometh there with lanterns and torches and weapons. It was full moon, but in case He should have secreted Himself somewhere in the dark ravine, they bring the means of exploring its hiding-places-little knowing Whom they had to do with. The other Gospels tell us that the time when Judas drew near was "immediately, while Jesus yet spake," that is, while He was saying, after the Agony was over, to the three whom He had found sleeping for sorrow, "Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray Me" (Matthew 26:46-47). The next step, as we take it, is the act of Betrayal-not recorded at all, but only alluded to, in our Fourth Gospel; the other Evangelists having given it fully, whom we shall now follow.
"Now he that betrayed Him gave," or had given "them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast" (Matthew 26:48). The cold-bloodedness of this speech was only exceeded by the deed itself. "And Judas went before them (Luke 22:47), and said, Hail, Master! and kissed Him" (Matthew 26:49: see, for illustration of the act, 1 Samuel 20:41; and mark Proverbs 27:6.) The impudence of this atrocious deed shows how thoroughly he had by this time mastered all his scruples. If the dialogue between our Lord and His captors was before this, as some interpreters think it was, the kiss of Judas was purely gratuitous, and probably to make good his right to the money; our Lord having presented Himself unexpectedly before them, and rendered it unnecessary for anyone to point him out. But a comparison of the narratives seems to show that our Lord's "coming forth" to the band was subsequent to the interview of Judas. "And Jesus said unto him, Friend" х Hetaire (G2083)]. The difference between the term here studiously employed-which signifies rather 'companion' in mere social intercourse, and which is used on other occasions of remonstrance and rebuke (as Matthew 20:13; Matthew 22:12) - and the endearing term properly rendered "friend" (in Luke 12:4, and John 15:13-15) - is very striking: "Wherefore art thou come?" (Matthew 26:50). "Betrayest thou the Son of Man with a kiss?" (Luke 22:48) - imprinting on the foulest of all acts the mark of tenderest affection? What wounded feeling does this express! Of this Jesus showed Himself on various occasions keenly susceptible-as all generous and beautiful natures are. This brings us back to our own Gospel.