CHAPTER LXIX.
BETRAYAL OF JESUS—BROUGHT BEFORE THE HIGH PRIEST.
NOW he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast, and lead him away safely. And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him: and saith, Hail, Master, Master; and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him,
Friend, wherefore art thou come? Betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?
Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
When they, which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? And one of them that stood by (Simon Peter) with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. And Jesus answered and said,
Suffer ye thus far.
And he touched his ear and healed him. Then said Jesus unto Peter,
[343]Put up thy sword into the sheath: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
In that same hour, Jesus said unto the chief priests and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him,
Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves for to take me? When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.
But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.
And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him: and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.
Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus and bound him, and led him away to Annas first; for he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year. Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, and brought him into the high priest's house.
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. 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.
The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. Jesus answered him,
I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort: and in secret have I said nothing. Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.
And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so? Jesus answered him,
[345]If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?
Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest. And with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes. And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among the servants, and warmed himself at the fire, to see the end.