And He *came to the disciples and *found them sleeping, and He *said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour?
Parallel translations
- WEB He came to the disciples, and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What, couldn’t you watch with me for one hour?
- KJV And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
- BSB Then Jesus returned to the disciples and found them sleeping. “Were you not able to keep watch with Me for one hour?” He asked Peter.
- NKJV Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?
- NLT Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour?
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus finds the disciples sleeping and asks Peter if he could not watch one hour. Their weakness contrasts with His earnest prayer.
Overview
Despite their earlier vows, the disciples fail even to stay awake during Jesus's agony. His gentle rebuke to Peter, who had boasted so confidently, highlights human frailty. The scene calls believers to spiritual vigilance and reminds us that Christ remained faithful in the very hour His friends could not.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Luke 22:45When he rose up from his prayer, he came to the disciples, and found them sleeping because of grief,
- Mark 14:37He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn’t you watch one hour?
- Matt 26:43He came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.
- Luke 9:32Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they were fully awake, they saw his glory, and the two men who stood with him.
- Matt 25:5Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
- Matt 26:38Then he said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch with me.”
- Matt 26:35Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you.” All of the disciples also said likewise.
- 1 Kgs 20:11The king of Israel answered, “Tell him, ‘Don’t let him who puts on his armor brag like he who takes it off.’”
- Judg 9:33It shall be that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, you shall rise early, and rush on the city. Behold, when he and the people who are with him come out against you, then may you do to them as you shall find occasion.”
- Song 5:2I was asleep, but my heart was awake. It is the voice of my beloved who knocks: “Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled; for my head is filled with dew, and my hair with the dampness of the night.”
- 1 Sam 26:15–16David said to Abner, “Aren’t you a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your lord, the king? For one of the people came in to destroy the king your lord.
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 26:40 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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