Mark 14:43-50

Betrayal and Arrest

14:43 Right away, while Jesus ¹  was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived. ²  With him came a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests and experts in the law ³  and elders. 14:44 (Now the betrayer ⁴  had given them a sign, saying, “The one I kiss is the man. Arrest him and lead him away under guard.”) ⁵  14:45 When Judas ⁶  arrived, he went up to Jesus ⁷  immediately and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed ⁸  him. 14:46 Then they took hold of him ⁹  and arrested him. 14:47 One of the bystanders drew his sword and struck the high priest’s slave, ¹⁰  cutting off his ear. 14:48 Jesus said to them, “Have you come with swords and clubs to arrest me like you would an outlaw? ¹¹  14:49 Day after day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, yet ¹²  you did not arrest me. But this has happened so that ¹³  the scriptures would be fulfilled.” 14:50 Then ¹⁴  all the disciples ¹⁵  left him and fled.

[14:43]  ¹ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[14:43]  ² tn Or “approached.” This is a different verb than the one translated “arrived” in Matt 26:47 and below in v. 45, although in this context the meanings probably overlap.

[14:43]  ³ tn Or “from the chief priests, scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 1:22.

[14:44]  ⁴ tn Grk “the one who betrays him.”

[14:44]  ⁵ sn This remark is parenthetical within the narrative and has thus been placed in parentheses.

[14:45]  ⁶ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Judas) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[14:45]  ⁷ tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[14:45]  ⁸ sn Judas’ act of betrayal when he kissed Jesus is especially sinister when it is realized that it was common in the culture of the times for a disciple to kiss his master when greeting him.

[14:46]  ⁹ tn Grk “put their hands on him.”

[14:47]  ¹⁰ tn See the note on the word “slave” in 10:44.

[14:48]  ¹¹ tn Or “a revolutionary.” This term can refer to one who stirs up rebellion: BDAG 594 s.v. λῃστής 2 has “revolutionary, insurrectionist,” citing evidence from Josephus (J. W. 2.13.2-3 [2.253-254]). However, this usage generally postdates Jesus’ time. It does refer to a figure of violence. Luke uses the same term for the highwaymen who attack the traveler in the parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:30).

[14:49]  ¹² tn Grk “and”; καί (kai) is elastic enough to be used contrastively on occasion, as here.

[14:49]  ¹³ tn Grk “But so that”; the verb “has happened” is implied.

[14:50]  ¹⁴ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[14:50]  ¹⁵ tn Grk “they”; the referent (Jesus’ disciples) has been specified in the translation for clarity.