Jesus Is Arrested^(A)

18 When Jesus finished ·praying [^Lsaying these things], he went with his ·followers [disciples] across the Kidron Valley [^Ca deep wadi or ravine separating Jerusalem on the east from the Mount of Olives]. On the other side there was a garden [or grove; ^CGethsemane; Matt. 26:36; Mark 14:32], and Jesus and his ·followers [disciples] went into it.

² Judas knew where this place was, because Jesus met there often with his ·followers [disciples]. Judas was the one who ·turned against [betrayed] Jesus. ³ So Judas came there with a group of soldiers [^CRoman] and some guards [^CJewish temple police] from the ·leading [^Tchief] priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns, and weapons.

⁴ Knowing everything that would happen to him, Jesus went out and asked, “Who is it you are looking for?”

⁵ They answered him, “Jesus ·from Nazareth [^Lthe Nazarene].”

“·I am he [^LI am; ^Cthis may be an allusion to God’s (Yahweh’s) self identification as “I AM” in Ex. 3:14 or to God’s repeated claim that “I am he” throughout Is. 40—55; see John 8:24, 28, 58],” Jesus said. (Judas, the one who ·turned against [betrayed] Jesus, was standing there with them.) ⁶ When Jesus said, “·I am he [^LI am; see 18:5],” they moved back and fell to the ground.

⁷ Jesus asked them again, “Who is it you are looking for?”

They said, “Jesus ·of Nazareth [^Lthe Nazarene].”

⁸ “I told you that I am he [see 18:5],” Jesus ·said [answered]. “So if you are looking for me, let the others go.” ⁹ This happened so that the words Jesus said before would ·come true [^Lbe fulfilled]: “I have not lost any of the ones you gave me [6:39; 17:12].”

¹⁰ [^LThen] Simon Peter, who had a sword, pulled it out and struck the ·servant [slave; bond-servant] of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. (The ·servant’s [slave’s; bond-servant’s] name was Malchus.) ¹¹ Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back [^Linto its sheath]. Shouldn’t I drink the cup the Father gave me?” [^CThe prophets spoke of a cup of judgment; by dying on the cross Jesus drinks it on our behalf; Jer. 25:15–29.]

Jesus Prays Alone^(A)

³⁶ Then Jesus went with his ·followers [disciples] to a place called Gethsemane. He said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” ³⁷ He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with him, and he began to be very ·sad [sorrowful] and ·troubled [anguished; distressed]. ³⁸ He said to them, “My ·heart [soul] is ·full of sorrow [overwhelmed with grief], to the point of death. Stay here and ·watch [stay awake; be alert] with me.”

³⁹ After walking a little farther away from them, Jesus fell [with his face] to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, ·do not give me [^Llet pass from me] this ·cup of suffering [^Lcup; ^Csuffering is metaphorically portrayed as something bitter to drink]. But do ·what you want [your will], not ·what I want [my will].” ⁴⁰ Then Jesus went back to his ·followers [disciples] and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “You men could not ·stay awake [watch] with me for one hour? ⁴¹ ·Stay awake [Keep watch] and pray for strength ·against temptation [or not to fail the test]. The spirit ·wants to do what is right [is willing], but ·the body [or human nature; ^Tthe flesh] is weak.”

⁴² Then Jesus went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for ·this painful thing [^Lthis thing; ^Cthe cup of suffering; v. 39] to be taken from me, and if I must ·do [drink] it, ·I pray that what you want [^Lmay your] will be done.”

⁴³ Then he went back to his ·followers [disciples], and again he found them asleep, because their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴ So Jesus left them and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing.

⁴⁵ Then Jesus went back to his ·followers [disciples] and said, “·Are you still sleeping and resting? [or Go ahead, sleep and have your rest!] The time has come for the Son of Man to be ·handed over to [^Lbetrayed/delivered into the hands of] sinful people. ⁴⁶ Get up, we must go. Look, here comes ·the man who has turned against me [my betrayer].”

Jesus Is Arrested^(B)

⁴⁷ While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of ·the twelve apostles [the Twelve], came up. With him were many people carrying swords and clubs who had been sent from the ·leading [^Tchief] priests and the Jewish elders of the people. ⁴⁸ Judas had planned to give them a ·signal [sign], saying, “The man I kiss is ·Jesus [the one]. ·Arrest [Seize] him.” ⁴⁹ At once Judas went to Jesus and said, “Greetings, ·Teacher [^LRabbi]!” and kissed him.

⁵⁰ Jesus answered, “Friend, do what you came to do.”

Then the people came and grabbed Jesus and arrested him. ⁵¹ ·When that happened [^LAnd look/^Tbehold], one of ·Jesus’ followers [^Lthose with Jesus] reached for his sword and pulled it out. He struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.

⁵² Jesus said to the man, “Put your sword back in its place. [^LFor] All who ·use swords [^Ltake the sword] will ·be killed with swords [^Ldie/perish by the sword]. ⁵³ ·Surely [^LDon’t…?] you know I could ask my Father, and he would give me more than twelve ·armies [legions] of angels. ⁵⁴ But ·it must happen this way to bring about what the Scriptures say [^Lhow, then, could the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?].”

⁵⁵ Then Jesus said to the crowd, “You came to get me with swords and clubs as if I were a ·criminal [revolutionary; rebel; ^Lrobber; ^Cthe term “robber” was used by the Romans of insurrectionists]. Every day I sat in the Temple teaching, and you did not arrest me there. ⁵⁶ But all these things have happened ·so that it will come about as the prophets wrote [^Lto fulfill the writings/scriptures of the prophets].” Then all of Jesus’ ·followers [disciples] ·left [deserted] him and ·ran away [fled].

Jesus Prays Alone^(A)

³² Jesus and his ·followers [disciples] went to a place called Gethsemane. He said to them, “Sit here while I pray.” ³³ Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him, and he began to be very ·sad [distressed] and ·troubled [anguished]. ³⁴ He said to them, “My ·heart [soul] is ·full of sorrow [overwhelmed with grief], to the point of death. Stay here and ·watch [stay awake; be alert].”

³⁵ After walking a little farther away from them, Jesus fell [with his face] to the ground and prayed that, if possible, ·he would not have this time of suffering [^Lthe hour might pass him by]. ³⁶ He prayed, “Abba [^CAramaic for “father”], Father! You can do all things. ·Take away this cup of suffering [^LTake this cup from me; ^Csuffering is metaphorically portrayed as something bitter to drink; see 10:38]. But do ·what you want [your will], not ·what I want [my will].”

³⁷ Then Jesus went back to his ·followers [disciples] and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn’t you ·stay awake [watch] with me for one hour? ³⁸ ·Stay awake [Keep watch] and pray for strength ·against temptation [or not to fail the test]. The spirit ·wants to do what is right [is willing], but ·the body [human nature; ^Tthe flesh] is weak.”

³⁹ Again Jesus went away and prayed the same thing. ⁴⁰ Then he went back to his ·followers [disciples], and again he found them asleep, because their eyes were very heavy. And they did not know what to say to him.

⁴¹ After Jesus prayed a third time, he went back to his ·followers [disciples] and said to them, “·Are you still sleeping and resting? [or Go ahead, sleep and have your rest!] ·That’s enough [It’s all over; The account is settled; ^Cthe meaning of this phrase is uncertain]. The time has come for the Son of Man to be ·handed over to [^Lbetrayed/delivered into the hands of] sinful people. ⁴² Get up, we must go. Look, here comes ·the man who has turned against me [my betrayer].”

Jesus Is Arrested^(B)

⁴³ At once, while Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of ·the twelve apostles [the Twelve], came up. With him were many people carrying swords and clubs who had been sent from the ·leading [^Tchief] priests, the ·teachers of the law [scribes], and the Jewish elders.

⁴⁴ ·Judas [^LThe betrayer] had planned a signal for them, saying, “The man I kiss is Jesus. ·Arrest [Seize] him and guard him while you lead him away.” ⁴⁵ So Judas went straight to Jesus and said, “·Teacher [^LRabbi]!” and kissed him. ⁴⁶ Then the people grabbed Jesus and arrested him. ⁴⁷ One of ·his followers [^Lthose] standing nearby pulled out his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.

⁴⁸ Then Jesus said, “You came to get me with swords and clubs as if I were a ·criminal [revolutionary; rebel; ^Lrobber; ^Cthe term “robber” was used by the Romans of insurrectionists]. ⁴⁹ Every day I was with you teaching in the Temple, and you did not arrest me there. But all these things have happened to ·make the Scriptures come true [fulfill the Scriptures].” ⁵⁰ Then ·all of Jesus’ followers [^Leveryone] ·left [deserted] him and ·ran away [fled].

⁵¹ A young man [^Cperhaps the author Mark himself], wearing only a linen ·cloth [sheet; shirt], was following Jesus, and the people also grabbed him. ⁵² But the cloth [sheet; shirt] he was wearing came off, and he ran away naked.

Jesus Prays Alone^(A)

³⁹ Jesus left the city and went to the Mount of Olives, as he often did, and his ·followers [disciples] ·went with [followed] him. ⁴⁰ When he reached the place, he said to them, “Pray for strength ·against temptation [or not to fail the test].”

⁴¹ Then Jesus went about a stone’s throw away from them. He kneeled down and prayed, ⁴² “Father, if you are willing, take away this ·cup of suffering [^Lcup; ^Csuffering or punishment is metaphorically portrayed as something bitter to drink]. But do ·what you want [^Lyour will], not ·what I want [^Lmy will].” ⁴³ Then an angel from heaven appeared to him to strengthen him. ⁴⁴ Being ·full of pain [in agony/anguish], Jesus prayed even harder. His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. ⁴⁵ When he ·finished praying [^Lrose from prayer], he went to his ·followers [disciples] and found them asleep ·because of their sadness [exhausted from grief]. ⁴⁶ Jesus said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray ·for strength against temptation [that you won’t give in to temptation; or that you won’t be tempted/tested].”