Charles Ellicott Commentary Matthew 26:40

"And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?" — Matthew 26:40 (ASV)

He comes to the disciples—perhaps to both groups, first the three and then the eight. All were sleeping, as Luke characteristically adds, sleeping for sorrow.

What, could you not watch...?—Literally, Were you thus unable to watch? Mark (Mark 14:37) individualizes the words: Simon, are you sleeping? He had boasted of his readiness to do great things, yet he could not so much as rouse himself to watch for one hour. This last word may be fairly taken as partly measuring the time that had passed since their Master had left them. As the words are reported, we must believe that the disciples were roused just enough to hear them, and that they sank back, powerless, into slumber.