arrestatie 1

James Tissot

When Jesus with the three Apostles went out... 

upon the road between Gethsemani and the Garden of Olives... 

there appeared at the entrance, about twenty paces ahead, Judas and the band of soldiers, between whom a quarrel had arisen. Judas wanted to sepa­rate from the soldiers and go forward alone to Jesus, as if he were a friend returning after an absence. They were to follow, and act in such a way as to make it appear that their coming was altogether unknown to him. 

But they would not agree to his proposal. They held him fast, exclaiming: "Not so, friend! Thou shalt not escape us, until we have the Galilean!" And when they caught sight of the eight Apostles, who at sound of the noise came forth from the Garden of Gethsemani, they called up four of the archers to their assistance. But this Judas by no means assented to, and a lively dispute arose between him and the soldiers. 

When Jesus and the three Apostles, by the light of the torches, distin­guished the armed and wrangling band, Peter wished to repel them by force. He exclaimed: "Lord, The Eight from Gethsemani are close at hand. Let us make an attack on the archers!" But Jesus told him to hold his peace, and took a few steps with them back on the road to a green plot. 

Judas, seeing his plans quite upset... 

was filled with rage and spite [wrok]. 

-

Just at this moment... 

four of the disciples issued from the Garden of Gethsemani... 

and inquired what was going on. Judas began to exchange words with them, and would fain have cleared himself by a lie, but the guards would not allow him to go on. These four last-comers were James the Less, Philip, Thomas, and Nathanael. 

The last-named, who was a son of the aged Simeon, had along with several others been sent by Jesus' friends to the eight Apos­tles in the Garden of Gethsemani to find out what was going on. They were actuated [gedreven] as much by anx­iety as by curiosity. 

With the exception of these four... 

all the disciples were straggling around in the dis­tance... 

furtively [heimelijk] on the lookout to discover what they could.

-

Jesus took some steps toward the band... 

and said in a loud, distinct voice: "Whom seek ye?" 

The lead­ers answered: "Jesus of Nazareth," 

whereupon Jesus replied: "I am He." 

But scarcely had He uttered the words when... 

as if suddenly attacked by convulsions... 

they crowded back and fell to the ground one upon another. 

Judas, who was still standing by them, became more and more embarrassed. 

He looked as if desirous of approaching Jesus. 

Consequently the Lord extended His hand, saying: "Friend, whereto art thou come?" 

Judas, confused and perplexed, stammered out something about a commission he had executed. 

Jesus in reply uttered some words like the following: "Oh, how much better it would have been for thee hadst thou never been born!"­—I cannot remember the words distinctly. 

-

Meanwhile the soldiers had risen... 

and approached the Lord and His Apostles... 

awaiting the traitor's sign, the kiss.

Peter and the other disciples gathered around Judas... 

calling him a thief and a traitor. 

He tried to free himself by all kinds of excuses. 

But just at that moment up came the soldiers with offers of protec­tion... 

thus openly witnessing against him.

Jesus again inquired: "Whom seek ye?" 

Turning toward Him, they again answered: "Jesus of Naza­reth." 

Jesus again replied: "I am He. I have already told you that I am He. If you seek Me, let these go." 

At the words, "I am He"... 

the soldiers fell to the ground a second time. 

They writhed as if struck with epilepsy.

And Judas was again surrounded by the other Apostles... 

for they were exasperated to a degree against him. 

Jesus now called out to the soldiers: "Arise."

And they arose, full of terror. 

Judas was still struggling with the Apostles... 

who were pressing up against the guards. 

The latter turned upon them and freed the traitor... 

urging him anew to give them the sign agreed upon. 

They had been ordered to seize no one but Him whom Judas would kiss. 

-

Judas now approached Jesus, embraced Him and kissed Him with the words: "Hail, Rabbi!" 

Jesus said: "Judas, dost thou betray the Son of Man with a kiss?" 

The soldiers instantly formed a circle around Jesus... 

and the archers, drawing near, laid hands upon Him. 

Judas wanted at once to flee... 

but the Apostles would not allow him. 

They rushed upon the soldiers, cry­ing out: 

"Lord, shall we strike with the sword?" 

[emmerich]