soldiers at
Jerusalem had whiskers only, and shaved their chins and upper lips.
They all had swords, some of them being also armed with spears, and
they carried sticks with lanterns and torches; but when they set off
they only lighted one. It had at first been intended that Judas should
be accompanied by a more numerous escort, but he drew their attention
to the fact that so large a number of men would be too easily seen,
because Mount Olivet commanded a view of the whole valley. Most of the
soldiers remained, therefore, at Ophel, and sentinels were stationed on
all sides to put down any attempt which might be made to release Jesus.
Judas set off with the twenty soldiers, but he was followed at some
distance by four archers, who were only common bailiffs, carrying cords
and chains, and after them came the six agents with whom Judas had been
in communication for some time. One of these was a priest and a
confidant of Annas, a second was devoted to Caiphas, the third and
fourth were Pharisees, and the other two Sadducees and Herodians. These
six men were courtiers of Annas and Caiphas, acting in the capacity of
spies, and most bitter enemies of Jesus.

The soldiers remained on friendly terms with Judas until they
reached the spot where the road divides the Garden of Olives from the
Garden of Gethsemani, but there they refused to allow him to advance
alone, and entirely changed their manner, treating him with much
insolence and harshness.

CHAPTER III.

Jesus is arrested.

Jesus was standing with his three Apostles on the road between
Gethsemani, and the Garden of Olives, when Judas and the band who
accompanied him made their appearance. A warm dispute arose between
Judas and the soldiers, because he wished to approach first and speak
to Jesus quietly as if nothing was the matter, and then for them to
come up and seize our Saviour, thus letting him suppose that he had no
connection with the affair. But the men answered rudely, 'Not so, friend,
thou shalt not escape from our hands until we have the Galilean safely
bound,' and seeing the eight Apostles who hastened to rejoin Jesus when
they heard the dispute which was going on, they (notwithstanding the
opposition of Judas) called up four archers, whom they had left at a
little distance, to assist. When by the light of the moon Jesus and the
three Apostles first saw the band of armed men, Peter wished to repel
them by force of arms, and said: 'Lord, the other