26:51 One... drew his sword. Peter (Joh 18:26).
Struck a servant of the high priest's. As we learn from John, his name was Malchus (Joh 18:10). The Lord healed his wound (Lu 22:51). Peter asked, Shall we smite with the sword ? and without waiting for an answer, struck the blow (Lu 22:49,50).
26:51 And one of them striking the servant of the high priest - Probably the person that seized Jesus first; Cut off his ear - Aiming, it seems, to cleave his head, but that by a secret providence interposing, he declined the blow. Mark 14:47; Luke 22:49; John 18:10.
26:47-56 No enemies are so much to be abhorred as those professed disciples that betray Christ with a kiss. God has no need of our services, much less of our sins, to bring about his purposes. Though Christ was crucified through weakness, it was voluntary weakness; he submitted to death. If he had not been willing to suffer, they could not conquer him. It was a great sin for those who had left all to follow Jesus; now to leave him for they knew not what. What folly, for fear of death to flee from Him, whom they knew and acknowledged to be the Fountain of life!
