The Betrayal and Arrest (Matthew 26:47–56)

The texts below are quoted verbatim from public-domain English translations; nothing is paraphrased.

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St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407)

Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew, Homilies 83–84 (on Matthew 26:47–56) Source: trans. in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 10. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf110/npnf110.iii.lxxix.html

On the traitor's kiss:

Oh! what depravity had the traitor's soul received. For with what kind of eyes did he then look at his Master? with what mouth did he kiss Him? ... He was emboldened by his Master's gentleness, which more than all was sufficient to shame him, and to deprive him of all excuse for that he was betraying one so meek.

On "Friend, wherefore art thou come?" and the reproach recorded by another Evangelist:

But John saith, that even to the very moment He continued to reprove him, saying, "Judas, betrayest thou the Son of Man with a kiss?" ... Nevertheless, forasmuch as not even this checked him, He submitted to be kissed, and gave Himself up willingly

On the two things by which He comforted the disciples, the word against the sword and the prayer to the Father:

And by these two things, He comforted them, both by the punishment of them that are plotting against Him, "For all they," He saith, "that take the sword shall perish with the sword;" and by His not undergoing these things against His will, "For I can pray," He saith, "to my Father."

St. Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376–444)

Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book XI (on John 18:1–12) Source: trans. T. Randell, Library of Fathers, 1885. Public domain. Full text: https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/cyril_on_john_11_book11.htm

On the crowd that came against Him with lanterns and torches:

But, alas for their blindness! The miserable men, in their gross ignorance, did not perceive that they were stumbling on the stone concerning which God the Father says: Behold, I lay in Sion a Stone of stumbling and a Rock of offence.

On the Lord going of His own will to meet His sufferings:

He went of His own Will to meet His sufferings, and was not, by the malice of any man, involved in peril

On "I am he," and the multitude bowed down to the earth:

And that He might show the fruitlessness of numbers, and the utter incapacity of all human power to affect anything against the ineffable power of God, by merely addressing them in mild and courteous language He bows down to the earth the multitude of those who sought Him, that they might be taught how powerless to endure His threatenings is the nature of created beings, unable as it is to bear one word of God, and that spoken in kindness.

Origen of Alexandria (c. 185–254)

Commentary on Matthew (on Matthew 26:47–50) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.xxvi.html

On "Lo, he that shall betray me draweth near":

He says not, Draws near to thee, for indeed the traitor was not near Him, but had removed himself far off through his sins.

On why the traitor chose a kiss for his sign:

But I think that all betrayers of truth love to assume the guise of truth, and to use the sign of a kiss. Like Judas also, all heretics call Jesus Rabbi, and receive from Him mild answer.

Blessed Augustine of Hippo (354–430)

Tractates on the Gospel of John, Tractate 112 (on John 18:1–12) Source: trans. in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 7. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf107/npnf107.iii.cxiii.html

On the single voice that cast the armed crowd to the ground:

Where now were the military cohort, and the servants of the chief men and the Pharisees? where the terror and protection of weapons? His own single voice ... smote, repelled, prostrated that great crowd, with all the ferocity of their hatred and terror of their arms. For God lay hid in that human flesh; and eternal day was so obscured in those human limbs, that with lanterns and torches He was sought for to be slain by the darkness.

On the power shown by Him who came to die:

What will He do when He cometh as judge, who did this when giving Himself up to be judged? What will be His power when He cometh to reign, who had this power when He came to die?

St. Jerome (c. 347–420)

Commentary on Matthew (on Matthew 26:53–55) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.xxvi.html

On the more than twelve legions of angels:

That is to say, I need not the aid of the Apostles, though all the twelve should fight for me, seeing I could have twelve legions of the Angelic army.

On the Scriptures that must be fulfilled:

This speech shews a mind willing to suffer; vainly would the Prophets have prophesied truly, unless the Lord asserts their truth by His suffering.

On seeking with swords and staves Him who taught daily in the temple:

It is folly then to seek with swords and staves Him who offers Himself to your hands, and with a traitor to hunt out, as though lurking under cover of night, one who is daily teaching in the temple.

St. Leo the Great (c. 400–461)

Sermons (on Matthew 26:52) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.xxvi.html

On why the Lord would not refuse to be apprehended:

For it was contrary to the sacrament of our redemption that He, who had come to die for all, should refuse to be apprehended. He gives therefore licence to their fury against Him, lest by putting off the triumph of His glorious Cross, the dominion of the Devil should be made longer, and the captivity of men more enduring.