Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/704

 “Whomsoever I shall  kiss,  that  is  He;  hold  Him  fast!”  As  soon as he  saw  Jesus,  he  approached  Him,  saying:  “Hail,  Rabbi!” and he  kissed  Him. Jesus said  to  him:  “Friend,  whereto art thou  come? Judas, dost  thou  betray  the  Son  of  Man  with a kiss?”

Then, advancing  towards  the  troop,  He  said:  “Whom  seek ye?” They  answered: “Jesus  of  Nazareth”. He said  to  them  with a look of  majesty:  “I  am  He!”  At  the  sound  of  His  Voice  they started back,  and  fell  to  the  ground  as  though  they  had  been struck by  lightning. When they  had  raised  themselves  up,  He asked  them  again:  “Whom  seek  ye?”  They  spoke  as  before: “Jesus of  Nazareth”. He answered:  “I  have  told  you  that  I am He. If, therefore,  you  seek  Me,  let  these  go  their  way.”  They then laid  hold  of  Him.

The apostles,  seeing  this,  asked  their  Lord  if  they  might  not strike with  the  sword  in  His  defence. But Peter ,  without  waiting for permission,  struck  a servant  of  the  High  Priest,  called  Malchus, and cut  off  his  right  ear. Then Jesus  said  to  Peter:  “Put  up  thy sword into  the  scabbard. Thinkest thou  that  I cannot  ask  My Father,  and  He  will  give  Me  presently  more  than  twelve  legions