It was nightfall[1] when they left the room.[2] Jesus, according to his custom, passed through the valley of Kedron; and, accompanied by his disciples, went to the garden of Gethsemane, at the foot of the Mount of Olives,[3] and sat down there.  Overawing his friends by his inherent greatness, he watched and prayed.  They were sleeping near him, when all at once an armed troop appeared bearing lighted torches.  It was the guards of the temple, armed with staves, a kind of police under the control of the priests.  They were supported by a detachment of Roman soldiers with their swords.  The order for the arrest emanated from the high priest and the Sanhedrim.[4] Judas, knowing the habits of Jesus, had indicated this place as the one where he might most easily be surprised.  Judas, according to the unanimous tradition of the earliest times, accompanied the detachment himself;[5] and according to some,[6] he carried his hateful conduct even to betraying him by a kiss.  However this may be, it is certain that there was some show of resistance on the part of the disciples.[7] One of them (Peter, according to eye-witnesses[8]) drew his sword, and wounded the ear of one of the servants of the high priest, named Malchus.  Jesus restrained this opposition, and gave himself up to the soldiers.  Weak and incapable of effectual resistance, especially against authorities who had so much prestige, the disciples took flight, and became dispersed; Peter and John alone did not lose sight of their Master.  Another unknown young man followed him, covered with a light garment.  They sought to arrest him, but the young man fled, leaving his tunic in the hands of the guards.[9]

[Footnote 1:  John xiii. 30.]

[Footnote 2:  The singing of a religious hymn, related by Matt. xxvi. 30, and Mark xiv. 26, proceeds from the opinion entertained by these two evangelists that the last repast of Jesus was the Paschal feast.  Before and after the Paschal feast, psalms were sung.  Talm. of Bab., Pesachim, cap. ix. hal. 3, and fol. 118 a, etc.]

[Footnote 3:  Matt. xxvi. 36; Mark xiv. 32; Luke xxii. 39; John xviii. 1, 2.]

[Footnote 4:  Matt. xxvi. 47; Mark xiv. 43; John xviii. 3, 12.]

[Footnote 5:  Matt. xxvi. 47; Mark xiv. 43; Luke xxii. 47; John xviii. 3; Acts i. 16.]

[Footnote 6:  This is the tradition of the synoptics.  In the narrative of John, Jesus declares himself.]

[Footnote 7:  The two traditions are agreed on this point.]

[Footnote 8:  John xviii. 10.]

[Footnote 9:  Mark xiv. 51, 52.]