Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - John 18:3 - 18:3
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
The band of soldiers (tēn speiran). No word for “of soldiers” in the Greek, but the Latin spira (roll or ball) was used for a military cohort (Polybius 11, 23, 1) as in Mat 27:27; Act 10:1, etc., here for a small band secured from the Tower of Antonia. The Synoptics do not mention the soldiers, but only the “officers” as here (hupēretas for which see Mat 26:58; Mar 14:54, Mar 14:65) or temple police from the Sanhedrin.
Cometh (erchetai). Dramatic historical present middle indicative.
With lanterns and torches (meta phanōn kai lampadōn). Both old words, phanos only here in N.T., lampas, an oil lamp (Mat 25:1). It was full moon, but Judas took no chances for it may have been cloudy and there were dark places by the walls and under the olive trees. Meta is accompanied with and weapons (kai hoplōn). Mark (Mar 14:43) mentions “swords and staves.” Probably the temple guard had weapons as well as the soldiers.