His enemies are represented as believing that his arrest could be secured only by strategy and stealth. Under these circumstances is it reasonable to suppose that the chief priests would send out a torchlight procession to apprehend him? Besides, as it was at the full of the moon, what need had they of lanterns and torches? Again, lanterns were unknown in Palestine.
288
When the band sent to capture him first came up to him what did they do?
Matthew and Mark: “They laid hands on him and took him” ([Matt. xxvi, 47–50]; [Mark xiv, 43–46]).
John: “They went backward and fell to the ground” ([xviii, 3–6]).
289
What did Peter do when Jesus was arrested?
John: “Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear” ([xviii, 10]).