Matthew 26:50
New International Version
Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.

New Living Translation
Jesus said, “My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.” Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him.

English Standard Version
Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him.

Berean Standard Bible
“Friend,” Jesus replied, “do what you came for.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus, and arrested Him.

Berean Literal Bible
And Jesus said to him, "Friend, for what are you come?" Then having approached, they laid hands on Jesus and seized Him.

King James Bible
And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

New King James Version
But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.

New American Standard Bible
But Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested Him.

NASB 1995
And Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him.

NASB 1977
And Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him.

Legacy Standard Bible
And Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him.

Amplified Bible
Jesus said to Judas, “Friend, do what you came for.” Then they came and seized Jesus and arrested Him.

Christian Standard Bible
“Friend,” Jesus asked him, “why have you come? ” Then they came up, took hold of Jesus, and arrested him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
“Friend,” Jesus asked him, “why have you come?” Then they came up, took hold of Jesus, and arrested Him.

American Standard Version
And Jesus said unto him, Friend, do that for which thou art come. Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

Contemporary English Version
Jesus replied, "My friend, do what you came for." The men grabbed Jesus and arrested him.

English Revised Version
And Jesus said unto him, Friend, do that for which thou art come. Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Jesus said to him, "Friend, why are you here?" Then some men came forward, took hold of Jesus, and arrested him.

Good News Translation
Jesus answered, "Be quick about it, friend!" Then they came up, arrested Jesus, and held him tight.

International Standard Version
Jesus asked him, "Friend, why are you here?" Then the other men surged forward, took hold of Jesus, and arrested him.

Majority Standard Bible
?Friend,? Jesus replied, ?why have you come?? Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus, and arrested Him.

NET Bible
Jesus said to him, "Friend, do what you are here to do." Then they came and took hold of Jesus and arrested him.

New Heart English Bible
Jesus said to him, "Friend, why are you here?" Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Jesus said to him, Friend, Why art thou come? Then they came, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

Weymouth New Testament
"Friend," said Jesus, "carry out your intention." Then they came and laid their hands on Jesus and seized Him firmly.

World English Bible
Jesus said to him, “Friend, why are you here?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and Jesus said to him, “Friend, for what are you present?” Then having come near, they laid hands on Jesus, and took hold on Him.

Berean Literal Bible
And Jesus said to him, "Friend, for what are you come?" Then having approached, they laid hands on Jesus and seized Him.

Young's Literal Translation
and Jesus said to him, 'Comrade, for what art thou present?' Then having come near, they laid hands on Jesus, and took hold on him.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jesus said to him, Friend, for what comest thou? Then having come near, they put hands upon Jesus, and held him firmly.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Jesus said to him: Friend, whereto art thou come? Then they came up, and laid hands on Jesus, and held him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Jesus said to him, “Friend, for what purpose have you come?” Then they approached, and they put their hands on Jesus, and they held him.

New American Bible
Jesus answered him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then stepping forward they laid hands on Jesus and arrested him.

New Revised Standard Version
Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Jesus said to him, Is it for this that you have come, my friend? Then they came near and laid hands on Jesus, and arrested him.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Then Yeshua said to him, “Have you come to this my friend?” Then they came and they laid their hands on Yeshua, and they took him.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Jesus said to him: Friend, for what purpose have you come? Then they came, and laid hands on Jesus, and held him fast.

Godbey New Testament
And Jesus said to him, Comrade, unto what do you come? Then having come forward they laid hands on Him, and bound Him.

Haweis New Testament
Then spake Jesus to him, Friend, for what purpose art thou here? Then approaching they laid hands on Jesus, and seized him.

Mace New Testament
Jesus said to him, friend, what are you come about? when the others advancing, seized upon Jesus, and secur'd him.

Weymouth New Testament
"Friend," said Jesus, "carry out your intention." Then they came and laid their hands on Jesus and seized Him firmly.

Worrell New Testament
But Jesus said to him, "Comrade, do that for which you are present!" Then, coming near, they laid hands on Jesus, and took Him.

Worsley New Testament
And Jesus said to him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? then they came up and laid hands on Jesus, and apprehended Him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Betrayal of Jesus
49Going directly to Jesus, he said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. 50“Friend,” Jesus replied, “do what you came for.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus, and arrested Him. 51At this, one of Jesus’ companions drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.…

Cross References
John 18:4-6
Jesus, knowing all that was coming upon Him, stepped forward and asked them, “Whom are you seeking?” / “Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. Jesus said, “I am He.” And Judas His betrayer was standing there with them. / When Jesus said, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

Luke 22:48
But Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

Mark 14:45-46
Going directly to Jesus, he said, “Rabbi!” and kissed Him. / Then the men seized Jesus and arrested Him.

John 13:27
And when Judas had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said to Judas, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”

Psalm 41:9
Even my close friend whom I trusted, the one who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.

Zechariah 11:12-13
Then I told them, “If it seems right to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” So they weighed out my wages, thirty pieces of silver. / And the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—this magnificent price at which they valued me. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter in the house of the LORD.

John 18:2-3
Now Judas His betrayer also knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with His disciples. / So Judas brought a band of soldiers and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees. They arrived at the garden carrying lanterns, torches, and weapons.

Acts 1:16
“Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit foretold through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus.

John 6:70-71
Jesus answered them, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” / He was speaking about Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. For although Judas was one of the Twelve, he was later to betray Jesus.

Proverbs 27:6
The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Psalm 55:12-14
For it is not an enemy who insults me; that I could endure. It is not a foe who rises against me; from him I could hide. / But it is you, a man like myself, my companion and close friend. / We shared sweet fellowship together; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.

John 18:10-11
Then Simon Peter drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. / “Put your sword back in its sheath!” Jesus said to Peter. “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given Me?”

Matthew 20:18
“Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn Him to death

Isaiah 53:3
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.

John 12:4-6
But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was going to betray Him, asked, / “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” / Judas did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money bag, he used to take from what was put into it.


Treasury of Scripture

And Jesus said to him, Friend, why are you come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus and took him.

Friend.

Matthew 20:13
But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?

2 Samuel 16:17
And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?

Psalm 41:9
Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

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Arrested Carry Comrade Firmly Forward Friend Hands Hold Intention Jesus Laid Present Purpose Seized Stepped Wherefore
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Matthew 26
1. Jesus foretells his own death.
3. The rulers conspire against him.
6. The woman anoints his feet.
14. Judas bargains to betray him.
17. Jesus eats the Passover;
26. institutes his holy supper;
30. foretells the desertion of his disciples, and Peter's denial;
36. prays in the garden;
47. and being betrayed by a kiss,
57. is carried to Caiaphas,
69. and denied by Peter.














“Friend,” Jesus replied,
In addressing Judas as "Friend," Jesus uses a term that conveys a sense of closeness or companionship, highlighting the personal betrayal by one of His own disciples. This term is used in other parts of the New Testament to denote a relationship that should be marked by trust and loyalty. The use of "Friend" here is poignant, as it underscores the gravity of Judas's betrayal. It also reflects Jesus' consistent approach of love and grace, even towards those who wrong Him.

“do what you came for.”
This phrase indicates Jesus' awareness of the events that are unfolding and His submission to the Father's will. It reflects His foreknowledge of Judas's intentions, as He had previously predicted His betrayal during the Last Supper (Matthew 26:21-25). Jesus' command to Judas to proceed with his actions demonstrates His willingness to fulfill the Scriptures and the divine plan of salvation. This moment is a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, such as Psalm 41:9, which speaks of betrayal by a close friend.

Then the men stepped forward,
The men who step forward are likely a combination of Roman soldiers and temple guards, as indicated in other Gospel accounts (John 18:3). This detail highlights the collaboration between Jewish religious leaders and Roman authorities in the arrest of Jesus. The presence of a large group suggests the perceived threat Jesus posed to both religious and political establishments.

seized Jesus,
The act of seizing Jesus marks the beginning of His physical suffering and the fulfillment of His mission to be the sacrificial Lamb. This moment is significant in the narrative of the Passion, as it sets in motion the events leading to the crucifixion. The use of force contrasts with Jesus' peaceful demeanor and His earlier teachings on non-violence and love for enemies (Matthew 5:39-44).

and arrested Him.
The arrest of Jesus is a pivotal moment in the Gospel narrative, signifying the transition from His public ministry to His passion and crucifixion. It fulfills the prophecies of the suffering servant found in Isaiah 53, where the Messiah is described as being "oppressed and afflicted." The arrest also highlights the fulfillment of Jesus' own predictions about His death and resurrection, as He had repeatedly told His disciples that He would be handed over to the authorities, suffer, and rise again on the third day (Matthew 16:21).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus
The central figure of the New Testament, the Son of God, who is about to be betrayed and arrested.

2. Judas Iscariot
One of the twelve disciples, who betrays Jesus with a kiss, leading to His arrest.

3. The Arresting Party
A group of men, including soldiers and officials from the chief priests and elders, who come to arrest Jesus.

4. Garden of Gethsemane
The place where Jesus is praying and where the arrest takes place, located on the Mount of Olives.

5. The Betrayal
The act of Judas identifying Jesus to the arresting party with a kiss, fulfilling the prophecy of betrayal.
Teaching Points
The Nature of Betrayal
Betrayal often comes from those closest to us, as seen in Judas's actions. Reflect on the importance of trust and loyalty in relationships.

Jesus' Response to Betrayal
Jesus addresses Judas as "Friend," showing grace and composure even in the face of betrayal. Consider how we can respond with grace when wronged.

Fulfillment of Prophecy
The events of Jesus' arrest fulfill Old Testament prophecies, demonstrating God's sovereign plan. Trust in God's control over circumstances, even when they seem dire.

The Cost of Discipleship
Judas's betrayal for monetary gain contrasts with the call to self-denial and sacrifice in following Christ. Evaluate what we value most in our lives.

Divine Purpose in Suffering
Jesus' arrest leads to His crucifixion, which is central to God's redemptive plan. Reflect on how God can use suffering for a greater purpose.(50) Friend, wherefore art thou come?--The word is the same as in Matthew 20:13; Matthew 22:12; and "comrade," and the old and not yet obsolete English "mate," come nearer to its meaning. In classical Greek it was used by fellow-soldiers, or sailors, of each other. Socrates used it in conversing with his scholars (Plato, Repub. i., p. 334). It is probably immediately after the kiss had thus been given that we must insert the short dialogue between our Lord and the officers recorded in John 18:2-8.

Verse 50. - Friend; ἑταῖρε: companion (see Matthew 20:13; Matthew 22:12). The word seems, in the New Testament, to be always addressed to the evil, though in itself an expression of affection. Here Christ uses no reproach; to the last he endeavours by kindness andlove to win the traitor to a better mind. St. Luke narrates that Jesus called him by name, saying, "Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?" Wherefore art thou come? Ἐφ ο{ πάρει. The Received Text gives ἐφ ῷ, which has very inferior authority. There is great difficulty in giving an exact interpretation of this clause. The Authorized Version, as the Vulgate (Ad quid venisti?), takes it interrogatively; but such a use of the relative ο{ς is unknown. If it is interrogative, we must understand, "Is it this for which thou art come?" But Christ knew too well the purport of Judas's arrival to put such an unnecessary question. Others explain, "Do that, or, I know that for which thou art come." Alford, Farrar, and others consider the sentence as unfinished, the concluding member being suppressed by an aposiopesis consequent on the agitation of the Speaker, "That errand on which thou hast come - complete." More probably the clause is an exclamation, ο{ being equivalent to οῖον, as in later Greek, "For what a purpose art thou here!" It is, indeed, a last remonstrance and appeal to the conscience of the traitor. Took him. They seized him with their hands, but did not bind him till afterwards (John 18:2). Whether Judas had any latent hope or expectation that Jesus at this supreme moment would assert and justify his Messiahship, we know not. The histories give no hint of any such idea, and it is most improbable that the apostate was thus influenced (see on ver. 14). We must here introduce the incident recorded by St. John (John 18:4-9).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
“Friend,”
Ἑταῖρε (Hetaire)
Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2083: A companion, comrade, friend. From etes; a comrade.

Jesus
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424: Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.

replied,
εἶπεν (eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

“[do] what
(ho)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

you came
πάρει (parei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 3918: From para and eimi; to be near, i.e. At hand; neuter present participle time being, or property.

for.”
ἐφ’ (eph’)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

Then
Τότε (Tote)
Adverb
Strong's 5119: Then, at that time. From ho and hote; the when, i.e. At the time that.

[the men] stepped forward,
προσελθόντες (proselthontes)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4334: From pros and erchomai; to approach, i.e. come near, visit, or worship, assent to.

seized
ἐπέβαλον (epebalon)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1911: From epi and ballo; to throw upon; specially to reflect; impersonally, to belong to.

Jesus,
Ἰησοῦν (Iēsoun)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424: Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

arrested
ἐκράτησαν (ekratēsan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2902: From kratos; to use strength, i.e. Seize or retain.

Him.
αὐτόν (auton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.


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