Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

Overview

• Testament: New
• Book: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
• Chapters: Matthew 26:47-56; Mark 14:43-52; Luke 22:47-53; John 18:1-12
• Summary: After the agony in Gethsemane, Judas led an armed band to arrest Jesus, identifying him with a kiss; Jesus surrendered willingly, rebuked an act of violence by his disciples, and was bound and led away as the disciples fled.

Details

Following the Last Supper, Jesus crossed the Kidron with his disciples to the garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives, where he prayed in anguish. While he was still speaking, Judas Iscariot arrived leading a great multitude with swords and staves, sent from the chief priests and elders — John adds a band of Roman soldiers and officers carrying lanterns and torches. Judas had arranged a sign: the one he kissed was the man to seize. He came to Jesus, said “Hail, master,” and kissed him. Jesus answered, “Friend, wherefore art thou come?” — and in John’s account stepped forward and asked “Whom seek ye?”, at which the arresting party drew back and fell to the ground.

As they took hold of Jesus, one of his disciples (John names Peter) drew a sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Jesus rebuked him: “Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword” — and healed the man (Luke 22:51). He reminded them he could call on more than twelve legions of angels, but then the scriptures would not be fulfilled. To the crowd he protested that he had taught daily in the temple and they had not seized him; “but all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples forsook him and fled. Jesus was bound and led first to Caiaphas the high priest.

Key People Involved

• Jesus Christ — Surrendered willingly to fulfill the scriptures
• Judas Iscariot — Betrayed Jesus with a kiss for thirty pieces of silver
• Peter — Drew a sword and struck the high priest’s servant
• Caiaphas — The high priest to whom Jesus was first led

Key Places

• Gethsemane — The garden where Jesus was arrested
• Mount of Olives — The location of Gethsemane, across the Kidron from Jerusalem

Important Verses

“And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.” — Matthew 26:49

“Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” — Matthew 26:52

Cross-References

• Preceded by: Last Supper — the final meal and Gethsemane prayer that lead directly to the arrest
• Leads to: Crucifixion — the trials, condemnation, and death that follow the arrest
• Related: The Dragon — Luke notes this was the hour “and the power of darkness” (Luke 22:53)
• Related books: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

Notes

The arrest scene underscores that Jesus is not a victim of circumstance but the willing Lamb: he steps forward, heals his captors’ servant, forbids violence, and interprets his own seizure as the fulfillment of prophecy. Judas’s kiss — a gesture of intimacy turned into the instrument of betrayal — has become the defining image of treachery. The disciples’ flight fulfills Jesus’ earlier warning that the shepherd would be struck and the sheep scattered (Matthew 26:31; Zechariah 13:7).