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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - John 18:10 - 18:10
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Having a sword (echōn machairan). It was unlawful to carry a weapon on a feast-day, but Peter had become alarmed at Christ’s words about his peril. They had two swords or knives in the possession of the eleven according to Luke (Luk 22:38). After the treacherous kiss of Judas (on the hand or the cheek?) the disciples asked: “Lord, shall we smite with the sword?” (Luk 22:49). Apparently before Jesus could answer Peter with his usual impulsiveness jerked out (heilkusen, first aorist active indicative of helkuō for which see Joh 6:44) his sword and cut off the right ear of Malchus (Joh 18:10), a servant of the high priest. Peter missed the man’s head as he swerved to his left. Luke also (Luk 22:50) mentions the detail of the right ear, but John alone mentions the man’s name and Peter’s. There was peril to Peter in his rash act as comes out later (Joh 18:26), but he was dead long before John wrote his Gospel as was Lazarus of whom John could also safely write (Joh 12:9-11). For ōtarion, diminutive of ous, see Mar 14:47 (only other N.T. example), another diminutive ōtion in Mat 26:51 (Mar 14:47; Luk 22:51).