tify myself (b), that they alfo might be fanctified 20 through the truth. Neither pray I for thefe alone,. I but for them alfo which fhall believe on me through 21 their word: That they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee; that they alfo may be one in us (i): that the world may believe that thou 22 haft fent me. And the glory which thou gaveft me, I have given them that they may be one, even 23 as we are one. I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that thou haft fent me, and haft loved them, 24 as thou haft loved me. Father, I will that they also whom thou haft given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory which thou haft given me for thou lovedft me before the foundation 25 of the world. O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee; but I have known thee, and these 26 have known that thou haft fent me. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou haft loved me, may be in them, and I in them.. WH CHA P.. XVIII. HEN Jefus had spoken these words, he went forth with his difciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden (a), into the which he entered, 2 and his difciples.. And Judas alfo which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jefus oft times reforted thither with his difciples.. Judas then having received a band of men, and officers from the chief priests and 3 (h) I devote and offer up my life to thee for their fakes, that they may be ready likewife to die for the truth. (i) As Verfe 11. (a) This place was at the foot of the Mount of Olives. Luke xxii. 39. and called Gethsemane. Matt. xxvi. 36. Mark xiv. \26, 32. Pharifees, Pharifees, cometh thither with lanterns, and torches, 4 and weapons. Jefus therefore knowing all things that should come upon him (b), went forth, and said unto 5 them, Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jefus of Nazareth. Jefus faith unto them, I am he. And Judas 6 also which betrayed him, ftood with them. As foon then as he had faid unto them, I am he (c), they 7 went backward, and fell to the ground. Then afked he them again, Whom feek ye? And they faid, Je8 fus of Nazareth. Jefus answered, I have told you that I am be. If therefore ye feek me, let thefe go 9 their way (d): That the faying might be fulfilled which he fpake, Of them which thou gaveft me, 10 have I loft none. Then Simon Peter having a fword, drew it, and fmote the high-prieft's fervant, and cut off his right ear. The fervant's name was Malchus. II Then faid Jefus unto Peter, Put up thy fword into the sheath: the cup (e) which my Father hath given 12 me, fhall I not drink it? Then the band, and the captain, and officers of the Jews, took Jefus, and 13 bound him, And led him away to Annas first (ƒ) (for (6) With full knowledge of all that was to befal him, he ftept forward, refolved to deliver himself up to them. (c) Struck with amazement at his courage and greatnefs of mind, and ftung in their confcience with the wickednefs they were engaged in, they fell to the ground. (d) Obferve his love to his difciples. He is anxious for their fafety, whilft he voluntarily expofed his own life to the malice of his enemies. (e) In ancient times, the mafter of a family ufed to distribute to his children and fervants a certain feparate allowance of meat and drink for each by himself, differing in quantity and quality, accord-ing to their merit. The fame cuftom likewife was obferved in entertaining guefts. Gen. xlii. 32. In allufion to this custom, the word Cup is ufed for the difpenfations of providence; Almighty God, as our common Mafter and Father, appointing to every one his refpective share of good and evil. (f) By the law of Mofes, the high-prieft was to continue in office for life but it had been, notwithstanding, the custom long before our Saviour's time, to appoint a new one every year. See Luke iii. 2. Note. he he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, which was the high14 prieft that fame year). (g) Now Caiaphas was he which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expe-~ dient that one man fhould die for the people. 15 And Simon Peter followed Jefus, and fo did another difciple. That difciple was known unto the high-prieft, and went in with Jefus into the palace 16 of the high-prieft. But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other difciple which was known unto the high-priest, and fpake unto her that 17 kept the door, and brought in Peter. Then faith the damfel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou alfo one of this man's difciples? He faith, I am not. 18 And the fervants and officers ftood there, who had made a fire of coals (for it was cold), and they warmed themselves and Peter ftood with them,' and warmed himself. 19 The high-prieft then asked Jefus of his difciples, 20 and of his doctrine. Jefus anfwered him, I fpake openly to the world; I ever taught in the fynagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always refort, 21 and in fecret have I faid nothing (b). Why afketh thou me? afk them which heard me, what I have said un22 to them behold, they know what I faid. And when he had thus fpoken, one of the officers which ftood by, ftruck Jefus with the palm of his hand, faying, 23 Anfwereft thou the high-prieft fo? Jefus anfwered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil (¿): (g) Thus did they drag about the Saviour. of the world, bound like a malefactor, firft to Anuas, then to Caiaphas, verfe 24. then to Pilate, then to Herod, then to Pilate again. It is no wonder, confidering the cruelties he fuffered from them all, that he was unable to carry his crofs. (h) I have held no fecret cabals, and I have faid nothing that I am unwilling fhould be known publickly. (2) Shew me what law I have offended againft, and try me for it legally but if I have faid nothing unbecoming, why am I thus treated ? 24 but if well, why fmiteft thou me? (Now Annas had fent him bound unto Caiaphas the high-prieft.) 25 And Simon Peter ftood and warmed himfelf: They faid therefore unto him, Art not thou alfo one of his 26 difciples? He denied it, and faid, I am not. One of the fervants of the high-pricft (being his kinfman whofe ear Peter cut off) faith, Did not I fee thee in 27 the garden with him? Peter then denied again, and immediately the cock crew. 28 : Then led they Jefus from Caiaphas, unto the hall of judgment and it was early, and they themselves went not into the judgment-hall, left they fhould be defiled (k): but that they might eat the paffover, 29 Pilate then went out unto them, and faid, What ac30 cufation bring you against this man? They anfwer ed and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, 31 we would not have delivered him up unto thee. Then faid Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law (). The Jews therefore faid unto him, It is, not lawful for us to put any man to 32 death: That the faying of Jefus might be fulfilled, which he fpake, fignifying (m) what death he should 33 die. Then Pilate entered into the judgment-hall again, and called Jefus, and faid unto him, Art thou 34 the king of the Jews? Jefus answered him (n), Say (k) They would not go into the hall, where Pontius Pilate fat in judgment, left by being with him, and his officers and fervants, who were heathens, they might be defiled (See Ads x. 28.) and unfit to eat of the Pafchal facrifices: not reflecting how much more they were defiled by the bloody purpose they were engaged in. (1) The Romans had conquered the Jews, and deprived them of the power of executing any criminal, Obferve that the fceptre, or the power of civil government, being thus departed from Judah (Gen. xlix. 10.) this was the time for Shiloh, or Meffiah, to come. (m) He had fignified (Chap. iii. 14. xii. 32.) that he should die upon a crofs, which was not a Jewish, but a Roman punishment. (n) Have you feen any thing in my deportment, that might give you reafon to think me guilty of feditious practices against the em peror; or is your question only fuggefted by the malicious clamours of the people? eft eft thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee 35 of me? Pilate answered, Am I a Jew (o)? Thine own nation, and the chief priefts, have delivered thee 36 unto me. What haft thou done? Jefus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my fervants fight, that I fhould not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my 37 kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore faid unto him, Art thou a king then (p)? Jefus anfwered, Thou fayeft that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this caufe came I into the world, that I fhould bear witness unto the truth. Every one that 38 is of the truth, heareth my voice. Pilate faith unto him, What is truth (9)? And when he had faid this, he went out again unto the Jews, and faith unto 39 them, I find in him no fault at all. But ye have a custom, that I fhould release unto you one at the paffover will ye therefore that I releafe unto you 40 the king of the Jews? Then cried they all again, faying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber. (0) Not being a Jew, I do not concern myself about such queftions. With the fame indifference Lyfias and Feftus fpoke concern ing the difputes between St. Paul and the Jews. Acts xxiii. 29. χχν. 19. (p) In the fenfe in which I have now explained the nature of my kingdom, What thou fayeft is true. I acknowledge that I am a king. Matt. xxvii. 11. (4) In this behaviour of Pilate, we have a picture of many whe appear to be inquifitive after the great truths of religion, but either do not fet about their inquiries with a good mind, or do not carry them on with fteadiness and perfeverance, but (like Pilate) afraid left their practice fhould be condemned by what they difcover of the will of God, break off and pursue other matters before they receive an answer to their queftions and doubts. СНАР. |