“Friend,” Jesus replied, “do what you came for.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus, and arrested Him.
Parallel translations
- WEB Jesus said to him, “Friend, why are you here?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
- KJV And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
- NKJV But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.
- NASB But Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested Him.
- NLT Jesus said, “My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.” Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him.
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 addresses Judas as 'friend' and allows Himself to be seized. He submits willingly to arrest while still showing astonishing grace.
Overview
Even toward His betrayer Jesus speaks with restraint, calling him 'friend' and giving him a final moment of self-awareness. Then He permits the crowd to lay hands on Him, choosing not to resist. His willing surrender confirms that no one takes His life from Him; He lays it down for sinners.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Matt 20:13But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Did you not agree with me on one denarius?
- Matt 22:12‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ But the man was speechless.
- Ps 41:9Even my close friend whom I trusted, the one who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.
- Luke 22:48But Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
- 2 Sam 16:17“Is this the loyalty you show your friend?” Absalom replied. “Why did you not go with your friend?”
- Ps 55:13–14But it is you, a man like myself, my companion and close friend.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 26:50 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.