Bible Strands
John 18:12
Then the band of soldiers, with its commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative records the immediate aftermath of Jesus instructing Peter to sheathe his sword. The Roman cohort, along with its commander and Jewish officers, arrests and binds Jesus before taking Him to Annas.
The words — σπεῖρα (speira) designates a Roman military cohort, and χιλίαρχος (chiliarchos) identifies the commanding officer. These terms specify the official forces executing the physical restraint of Jesus.
The thread — The coordinated arrest matches the group sent by the chief priests in John 18:3 and the leadership that takes Jesus to Caiaphas in Matthew 26:57. The act of binding Jesus parallels Abraham's preparation to bind Isaac in Genesis 22:9.
Why it lands — The text states that Jesus is arrested and bound by official forces following His submission to the Father's cup. This sequence requires the reader to recognize that the physical restraint of Christ operates under divine permission rather than mere human conspiracy.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him,
Cross-references
- Matthew 26:57 Those who had arrested Jesus led Him away to the house of Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and elders had gathered.
- John 18:3 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.
- Genesis 22:9 When they arrived at the place God had designated, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood. He bound his son Isaac and placed him on the altar, atop the wood.
- Judges 16:21 Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, where he was bound with bronze shackles and forced to grind grain in the prison.
- Matthew 27:2 They bound Him, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate the governor.
- Mark 14:53 They led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests, elders, and scribes assembled.
- Mark 15:1 Early in the morning, the chief priests, elders, scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin devised a plan. They bound Jesus, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate.
- Luke 22:54 Then they seized Jesus, led Him away, and took Him into the house of the high priest. And Peter followed at a distance.
- Acts 21:31 While they were trying to kill him, the commander of the Roman regiment received a report that all Jerusalem was in turmoil.
- Acts 21:37 As they were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?” “Do you speak Greek?” he replied.