14:48–49

Verses 14:48–49 contain the words that Jesus spoke while he was being arrested. He began with a rhetorical question that he used to rebuke those who came to arrest him. He ended by focusing the men’s attention on the fact that the way he was arrested fulfilled Scripture. In other words, the way he was arrested was exactly the way words of Scripture from the Old Testament had said it would happen.

14:48a–c

Jesus asked the crowd, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would an outlaw?: This is a rhetorical question. Jesus asked this question to rebuke those who had come to arrest him. He rebuked them because they came to capture him with swords and clubs as if he were a dangerous criminal. There are at least two ways to translate this rebuke:

• Use a rhetorical question. For example:

Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as if I were a criminal? (God’s Word)
-or-
Am I some dangerous criminal, that you come armed with swords and clubs to arrest me? (New Living Translation, 1996 edition)

• Use a statement. For example:

You came to get me with swords and clubs as if I were a criminal. (New Century Version)
-or-
I am not a bandit. You did not need to come armed with swords and clubs to capture me.

Use whichever form is most natural to express a rebuke in your language.

14:48b

Have you come out with swords and clubs: The clause Have you come out with swords and clubs continues to describe the manner in which the men arrested Jesus. They were acting as though he was violent and dangerous.

with swords and clubs: The phrase with swords and clubs means “carrying swords and clubs.”

Here is another way to translate this:

armed with swords and clubs.

See the notes on 14:43c, where the same Greek phrase occurs.

14:48c

to arrest: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as arrest can also mean “seize” or “capture.” Here it is a synonym of the word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as “arrest” in 14:44c and “arrested” in 14:46.

as you would an outlaw: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as as you would an outlaw is literally “as against a criminal.” This phrase indicates the manner in which the mob was arresting Jesus. They came to him to arrest him as if he were a dangerous criminal.

an outlaw: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as an outlaw:

(1) It means “robber, bandit, or criminal.” This refers to someone who breaks the law. For example:

Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as if I were a criminal? (God’s Word)
-or-
“Am I a bandit,” he said, “that you had to set out to capture me with swords and clubs?” (New Jerusalem Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, Good News Bible, Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, NET Bible, English Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, God’s Word, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, New Century Version, Revised English Bible, New Living Translation, 1996 edition)

(2) It means “rebel or revolutionary.” This refers to someone who fights against the rulers of his country. For example:

Have you come with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a rebel?
-or-
Am I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? (New Living Translation)

(New International Version, New Living Translation)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) and the majority of English versions.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

Have you come carrying swords and clubs because you think that I am a criminal?
-or-
Have you come carrying swords and clubs to arrest me like you would arrest a bandit?

Remember that this rhetorical question can also be translated as a statement, if that is more natural in your language. See the examples in the note on 14:48a–c.

General Comment on 14:48a–c

The Berean Standard Bible has changed the Greek order of the verse parts in order to make a more natural English sentence.

The Revised Standard Version has followed the Greek order. The raised numbers show the Berean Standard Bible order that corresponds to lines in the Display:

48aAnd Jesus said to them, 48b“Have you come out 48cas against a robber, 48bwith swords and clubs 48cto capture me?” (Revised Standard Version)

The New International Version has reordered this verse in another way. Again, the raised numbers show the Berean Standard Bible order:

48c“Am I leading a rebellion,” 48asaid Jesus, 48b“that you have come out with swords and clubs 48c to capture me?”

Use whatever order is the most natural in your language.

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