<p>18:12 <em>So the detachment of temple guards and their chief captain and the magistrates' attendants of the Jews seized Jesus and bound him</em>- The word for &quot;detachment&quot; could mean there were a few hundred armed men present; so Peter's attempt to murder Malchus was futile. But he may well have know Malchus, for John knew the high priest, whose personal servant Malchus was. It is not impossible that Peter aimed for him in particular to settle some old perceived score.</p>