Matthew 26 47

Matthew 26:47 kjv

And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.

Matthew 26:47 nkjv

And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people.

Matthew 26:47 niv

While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people.

Matthew 26:47 esv

While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people.

Matthew 26:47 nlt

And even as Jesus said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the leading priests and elders of the people.

Matthew 26 verses

Matthew 26 47 Meaning

Matthew 26:47 describes the sudden arrival of Judas Iscariot with a large crowd, armed with swords and clubs, dispatched by the chief priests and elders, just as Jesus concluded His discourse in Gethsemane. This marks the commencement of Jesus' betrayal and arrest, initiating the final stages of His Passion. The verse highlights the immediacy of the betrayal, the treachery of one of Jesus' inner circle, and the hostile, official nature of the force sent to apprehend Him.

Matthew 26 47 Context

Matthew chapter 26 chronicles the dramatic sequence of events leading to Jesus' crucifixion. It begins with the plotting of the chief priests and elders to kill Jesus during the Passover Feast, juxtaposed with Judas's agreement to betray Him for thirty pieces of silver. It then moves to the Last Supper, where Jesus institutes the Lord's Supper and foretells Peter's denial and Judas's betrayal. Following this, Jesus and His disciples go to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prays in agonizing solitude, submitting to the Father's will. Verse 47 serves as the pivotal moment, marking the abrupt end of Jesus' private communion with God and the onset of His public Passion, signifying the direct execution of the plot devised by the religious authorities and enacted by Judas. Historically, the arrest was designed to be swift and under the cover of night, avoiding public outcry during the crowded Passover festival. The presence of a "great multitude with swords and clubs" indicates that the Jewish authorities feared a popular uprising if Jesus were arrested openly and therefore mobilized a significant force, perhaps including temple guards and a Roman detachment as implied by other Gospel accounts.

Matthew 26 47 Word analysis

• While He was still speaking (ἔτι λαλοῦντος αὐτοῦ, eti lalountos autou): The immediacy of the event is emphasized. Jesus' words about His imminent betrayal (Matt 26:45-46, "the hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners") are still on His lips when the betrayer arrives, creating a powerful sense of prophetic fulfillment and precise timing in divine providence, not chance.
• Behold (ἰδοὺ, idou): This interjection, frequently used in the Bible, draws attention to the sudden, surprising, or significant nature of what follows. It functions as a dramatic indicator, signaling the gravity and momentousness of Judas's arrival.
• Judas (Ἰούδας, Ioudas): A tragic and ironic figure. His name is derived from "Judah," meaning "praise," which starkly contrasts with his act of betrayal. He is introduced with his full identity to underscore the heinousness of the deed being committed by one so close to Jesus.
• one of the twelve (εἷς τῶν δώδεκα, heis tōn dōdeka): This phrase profoundly highlights the shock and tragedy of the betrayal. "The twelve" refers to the chosen inner circle, the core of Jesus' discipleship, symbolizing completeness and divine appointment. The betrayal by one of them shatters this spiritual unity and emphasizes the depth of the treachery, making it an offense not just against Jesus but against the very fabric of the nascent church. It also fulfills specific Old Testament prophecies (e.g., Ps 41:9).
• with a great multitude (ὄχλος πολὺς, ochlos polys): Signifies a substantial group, not a discreet apprehension. The Greek ochlos can imply an unruly crowd or mob. In context with "swords and clubs," it suggests a forceful, even intimidating, presence. John's Gospel (John 18:3) specifies "a band of soldiers" (σπεῖρα, speira, a Roman cohort) and "officers" (ὑπηρέτης, hypērētēs, temple police), indicating official sanction and significant military power, reinforcing that this was not a simple arrest but an overwhelming display of force against one perceived as dangerous.
• with swords (μετὰ μαχαιρῶν, meta machairōn): Machaira generally refers to a short sword or dagger, a common weapon for defense or combat. Their presence signifies hostile intent and preparedness for armed conflict.
• and clubs (καὶ ξύλων, kai xylōn): Xylon literally means "wood" but here denotes sticks or staves, common improvised weapons for striking. The inclusion of clubs alongside swords suggests a mix of professional armed guards and perhaps an agitated, aggressive mob. Together, "swords and clubs" signify that Jesus was being treated as a violent criminal or a dangerous rebel who might resist arrest, despite His earlier teachings of peace. This contrasts with Jesus' later question in Matt 26:55, "Have you come out as against a robber with swords and clubs to arrest Me?"
• came from the chief priests (ἀπὸ τῶν ἀρχιερέων, apo tōn archiereōn): The "chief priests" were high-ranking priests, primarily Sadducees, who controlled temple operations and formed a powerful part of the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish judicial body. Their involvement indicates that the arrest was an official action sanctioned by the religious hierarchy, not an arbitrary act.
• and elders of the people (καὶ πρεσβυτέρων τοῦ λαοῦ, kai presbyterōn tou laou): "Elders" were respected lay leaders, often heads of families or communities, including scribes and other influential figures who also sat on the Sanhedrin. Their presence, alongside the chief priests, signifies the combined religious and socio-political authority of the Jewish establishment behind Jesus' apprehension, demonstrating a unified front in their determination to eliminate Him.

Matthew 26 47 Bonus section

• Symbolic Setting: Gethsemane, meaning "oil press," signifies the crushing pressure and anguish Jesus endured before His arrest. The sudden entry of the crowd here amplifies the contrast between Jesus' spiritual suffering and the harsh reality of human betrayal and injustice.
• The Irony of Zeal: Judas likely possessed a misplaced zeal for a different kind of kingdom, perhaps an earthly, political one. His betrayal might have been an attempt to force Jesus' hand into becoming the militant Messiah, or a deep disillusionment leading to avarice. His leading of an armed group into the garden shows the extent of his collaboration with Jesus' enemies.
• Contrast in Motives: This verse highlights the profound difference in motives: Jesus' obedient submission to His Father's will even unto death (Matthew 26:42), versus Judas's calculated treachery driven by greed or misguided expectation, and the religious leaders' fear, envy, and determination to preserve their own power.

Matthew 26 47 Commentary

Matthew 26:47 depicts the chilling realization of Jesus' betrayal, moments after His agonizing prayer in Gethsemane. The phrase "while He was still speaking" dramatically underscores the instantaneous transition from divine communion and spiritual resolve to human treachery and hostile confrontation. The stark identification of "Judas, one of the twelve," serves as a poignant reminder of the ultimate betrayal: not from an outside enemy, but from an intimate companion entrusted with the very message of the Kingdom. This detail profoundly intensifies the sorrow of the scene and fulfills ancient prophecies regarding betrayal by a trusted friend.

The arrival of "a great multitude with swords and clubs" dispatched by the "chief priests and elders of the people" speaks volumes. This was no mere casual apprehension but a pre-meditated, authoritative action orchestrated by the highest Jewish religious and political powers. The weapons signify the intent to overpower any resistance, treating Jesus not as a prophet or teacher, but as a dangerous insurrectionist or common criminal who needed to be violently subdued. The fear of public outcry during the crowded Passover led them to employ this covert yet forceful nighttime arrest. Ultimately, this verse sets in motion the pre-ordained path to the cross, illustrating human wickedness operating under divine sovereignty to achieve God's redemptive plan.