In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.
Parallel translations
- WEB In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out as against a robber with swords and clubs to seize me? I sat daily in the temple teaching, and you didn’t arrest me.
- BSB At that time Jesus said to the crowd, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would an outlaw? Every day I sat teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest Me.
- NKJV In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me.
- NASB At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a man inciting a revolt? Every day I used to sit within the temple grounds teaching, and you did not arrest Me.
- NLT Then Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there teaching every day.
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 exposes the cowardice of arresting Him secretly with weapons, having taught openly in the temple. He reveals the injustice of their actions.
Overview
Jesus points out that the armed nighttime arrest is unnecessary and unjust, since He taught publicly every day without being seized. Their stealth confirms the corruption of their cause and fulfills the leaders' earlier plan to act by deceit. Even under arrest, Jesus speaks with authority and clarity.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Mark 12:35And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David?
- John 8:2And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.
- Luke 21:37–38And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives.
- John 7:14Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.
- John 7:28Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.
- John 18:20–21Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.
- Mark 14:48–50And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me?
- Luke 22:52–53Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?
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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 26:55 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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