Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 18

Jesus and the disciples left the room where they had convened, descended from the city, crossed the Kidron Valley, and made their way up the lower slope of the Mount of Olives, to the Garden of Gethsemane (the name assigned to the olive grove on the side of the mountain, meaning “oil press”). Jesus often used this place to meet with his disciples (cf. Lk 22:39). The city was filled with visitors at the Passover season and would have had little room for lodging within its walls. Neither Jesus nor the disciples were wealthy; so they probably camped outdoors during their visit to the temple for the Passover Week. Judas, probably having attempted to find Jesus at the house where he and the others ate the Last Supper, went to Gethsemane, expecting to locate him there.

Jesus and the disciples left the room where they had convened, descended from the city, crossed the Kidron Valley, and made their way up the lower slope of the Mount of Olives, to the Garden of Gethsemane (the name assigned to the olive grove on the side of the mountain, meaning “oil press”). Jesus often used this place to meet with his disciples (cf. Lk 22:39). The city was filled with visitors at the Passover season and would have had little room for lodging within its walls. Neither Jesus nor the disciples were wealthy; so they probably camped outdoors during their visit to the temple for the Passover Week. Judas, probably having attempted to find Jesus at the house where he and the others ate the Last Supper, went to Gethsemane, expecting to locate him there.

The Greek word for “detachment of soldiers” technically denotes a tenth of a legion, or about six hundred men—probably the detachment of soldiers connected with the Castle of Antonia, the Roman barracks in Jerusalem (Mark 14:43). Possibly the hysterical alarm of the priests caused them to ask aid from Pilate in arresting Jesus, since the temple police had failed on a previous occasion (Jn 7:32, 45-47). The torches and the lanterns were needed, since the arrest took place at night and required a search in the darkness of the olive grove.

The author has emphasized Jesus’ consciousness of surrounding circumstances and his own destiny (cf. Jn 6:64; 13:1, 3, 11, 18). He was not taken unwillingly or by surprise. For a long time he had been aware of the plot against his life and, had he wished, he could have escaped (cf. 10:40; 11:54). Now “the time” had come (cf. 17:1). He did not wait to be apprehended but voluntarily confronted his enemies.

In the darkness of the garden they were not sure which man they wanted. So in answer to his question they replied, “Jesus of Nazareth.” John omits the signal of Judas and mentions only Jesus’ own statement for the identification. That reply startled the arresting party by its openness and readiness and possibly because it was like the claim he had made previously: “I am” (8:24, 28, 58). If it were intended as an assertion of deity, his calm demeanor and commanding presence temporarily unnerved his captors.

The author has emphasized Jesus’ consciousness of surrounding circumstances and his own destiny (cf. Jn 6:64; 13:1, 3, 11, 18). He was not taken unwillingly or by surprise. For a long time he had been aware of the plot against his life and, had he wished, he could have escaped (cf. 10:40; 11:54). Now “the time” had come (cf. 17:1). He did not wait to be apprehended but voluntarily confronted his enemies.

In the darkness of the garden they were not sure which man they wanted. So in answer to his question they replied, “Jesus of Nazareth.” John omits the signal of Judas and mentions only Jesus’ own statement for the identification. That reply startled the arresting party by its openness and readiness and possibly because it was like the claim he had made previously: “I am” (8:24, 28, 58). If it were intended as an assertion of deity, his calm demeanor and commanding presence temporarily unnerved his captors.