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Mat_26:53. Ἤ ] or, in case this should not be sufficient to induce thee to thrust back thy sword.
ἄρτι ] this instant. See on Gal_1:10.
The interrogation does not extend merely as far as μου , in which case it would lose much of its significance, while the language would be rendered too abrupt, but on to ἀγγέλων ; yet not as though καί (for that, ὅτι ) introduced a broken construction, but thus: Thinkest thou that I am not able … and He will (not) place at my side, etc.? so that I can thus dispense entirely with thy protection! The force of the negative runs through the whole sentence.
πλείω δώδεκα λεγεώνας ἀγγέλων (see the critical remarks) is a genuine Attic usage, according to which it is permissible to have the neuter πλεῖον or πλείω without a change of construction, or even without inserting ἤ . Lobeck, ad Phryn. p. 410 f.; Stallbaum, ad Plat. Apol. p. 17 D; Kühner, II. 2, p. 847. The number twelve corresponds to the number of the apostles, because of these only one had shown a disposition to defend him.