22:47-48 All the synoptic evangelists noted the close connection between Jesus' praying and the arrival of the soldiers. It was very important that Jesus pray. Judas preceded the arresting mob (Gr. ochlos, crowd) as Jesus had preceded His disciples, namely as their leader (v. 39). Luke stressed Judas' hypocrisy in betraying Jesus with a kiss, the sign of friendship (cf. Gen. 27:46-47; 2 Sam. 15:5; 20:9; Prov. 7:13; 27:6), plus the fact that Jesus knew Judas' purpose. Disciples of rabbis often greeted their teachers with a kiss on the hand.490Luke described Judas as "one called Judas,"a way of keeping him at a distance while viewing him. "Son of Man"stresses Jesus' identity as the divine ruler whom God had sent. The word order in the Greek text that indicates emphasis is "kiss,""Son of Man,"and "betraying."
22:49-50 The disciples asked Jesus if they should use their swords (v. 38). Still their question was not so much a request for permission as an announcement of the action they intended to take. Jesus had earlier expressed His submission to the Father's will in prayer (vv. 41-44). The disciples had failed to pray and expressed their opposition to Jesus' will here. Luke did not identify the assailant as Peter (John 18:10) probably to keep the emphasis on his act rather than his identity. Interestingly Luke identified Judas clearly, but he did not identify Peter. Perhaps this magnifies the seriousness of Judas' sin while playing down Peter's sin. Doctor Luke and John noted that it was the right ear that Peter severed. Evidently Peter had swung to split the servant's head open and had missed. The sword (Gr. machaira) was small, curved, and commonly used for self-defense.
In Matthew and Mark, Peter's attack follows Jesus' arrest, but in Luke it precedes it. Perhaps the soldiers took hold of Jesus, then Peter flew into action, then Jesus restored the servant's ear, and then the soldiers led Jesus away.
22:51 Jesus rebuked Peter's aggressive defensive measure. This is more probable than that He spoke to the soldiers and requested permission to heal the servant.491Another improbable interpretation is that Jesus meant that the disciples should let the soldiers have their way with Him.492Jesus then reversed the damage done by healing the servant. He did what He had previously told the disciples to do, namely do good to their enemies rather than evil. Again Luke noted Jesus' compassion even for those who sought to kill Him. Jesus did not rely on the sword nor did He base His kingdom on the use of physical force.
22:52-53 By mentioning the representatives of the various groups--religious, military, and political--that had come to arrest Jesus, Luke highlighted the absurdity of their action, which Jesus identified. These were all leaders of the Jews, not common Israelites. They had come prepared for a fight, but Jesus assured them that He would not give them one. If they wanted to arrest Him, it would have been easier to do so in the temple in daylight. They did not do the deed then, of course, because they feared the people (19:48; 20:19; 22:2). By coming when and as they did, they only made the hypocrisy of their action more obvious.
"Hour"designates a time of destiny or opportunity. The power (Gr. exousia, "reigns"NIV, cf. 4:6; 23:7) of darkness is the authority of Satan that God gave him for that time. Coming after dark symbolized the power of darkness that was active behind their action.
