Matthew 26:53-56

26:53 Or do you think that I cannot call on my Father, and that he would send me more than twelve legions ¹  of angels right now? 26:54 How then would the scriptures that say it must happen this way be fulfilled?” 26:55 At that moment Jesus said to the crowd, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me like you would an outlaw? ²  Day after day I sat teaching in the temple courts, yet ³  you did not arrest me. 26:56 But this has happened so that ⁴  the scriptures of the prophets would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.

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¹ sn A legion was a Roman army unit of about 6,000 soldiers, so twelve legions would be 72,000.

² tn Or “a revolutionary.” This term can refer to one who stirs up rebellion: BDAG 594 s.v. λῃστής 2 has “revolutionary, insurrectionist, guerrilla” citing evidence from Josephus (J. W. 2.13.2-3 [2.253-254]). However, this usage generally postdates Jesus’ time. It does refer to a figure of violence. Luke uses the same term for the highwaymen who attack the traveler in the parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:30).

³ tn Grk “and” (καί, kai), a conjunction that is elastic enough to be used to indicate a contrast, as here.

⁴ tn Grk “But so that”; the verb “has happened” is implied.