Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, who were come to him,
Do you come out, as against a thief, with swords and clubs?
Read Chapter 22
Ambrose of Milan
AD 397
They came and they seized him. They would die a more dreadful death as a fruit of their zeal. These wretches did not understand the mystery nor revere such compassion of piety, because Christ did not let even his enemies be wounded. They inflicted death on the righteous One, and he healed the wounds of his persecutors.
“You have one hour against me.” That is a very short and limited time, between the precious cross and the resurrection from the dead. This also is the power given to darkness. Darkness is the name of Satan, for he is total night and darkness. Blessed Paul says that the God of this world has blinded the minds of those that do not believe, or else, the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ should shine on them. God granted power to Satan and the Jews to rise up against Christ. They, however, dug for themselves the pitfall of destruction. He certainly saved all under heaven by means of his passion and rose the third day, having trampled under foot the empire of death. They brought down inevitable condemnation on their own heads in company with that traitorous disciple. Commentary on Luke, Homily
