<p>14:47 <i>But one of the disciples that was standing nearby drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear</i>- Perhaps the detail is provided as backdrop for the Lord&rsquo;s response- that whoever&nbsp;<i>takes</i>&nbsp;the sword shall perish by it (Mt. 26:52). Peter did indeed take the sword- but by grace was saved from the consequence. He clearly aimed to strike off the man's head, but he ducked and Peter only caught his ear.</p><p>The material from Mark is about the same as in Matthew, but Luke and John add various details. Here is Matthew&rsquo;s account of the arrest in the Garden, with the details from Luke 22 and John 18 (on which see commentary) added in square brackets:</p><p>&ldquo;The hour is at hand and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Arise Let us be going. He that betrays me is nearby. And while he yet spoke, Judas, one of the twelve, came; and with him a great crowd with swords and staves, from the chief priest and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying: Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he. Take him. Lk. 22:47,48 He drew near to Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus said to him: Judas, do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss? And immediately he came to Jesus, and said, Greetings, Rabbi; and kissed him. And Jesus said to him: Friend, do what you came to do. Lk. 22 And when they that were about him saw what would follow, they said: Lord, shall we strike with the sword?. Then they came. Jn. 18:4-9&nbsp;Jesus knowing all the things that must come upon him, went forward and said to them: Whom do you seek? They answered him: Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus said to them: I am he (Judas, the one who betrayed him, was standing with them). When he said to them: I am he, they drew back and fell to the ground. Again he asked them: Whom do you seek? And they said: Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered: I told you that I am he. If therefore you seek me, let these go their way- that the word might be fulfilled which he spoke: Of those whom you have given me I lost not one. then they laid hands on Jesus and took him. And one of those with Jesus Jn. 18 Simon Peter stretched out his hand and drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear Jn. 18 his right ear. Now the servant's name was Malchus. Then said Jesus to him: No more of this Lk. 22:51 Put away your sword into its place, into its sheath, Jn. 18 for all that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Do you think I cannot ask my Father and He shall, even now, send me more than twelve legions of Angels? Jn. 18:11 The cup which the Father has given me, shall I not drink it? Lk. 22:51 And he touched his ear and healed him. But how then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way? In that hour Jesus said to the mob: Have you come out as against a robber with swords and staves to seize me? I sat daily in the temple teaching and you did not take me. Lk. 22 But this is your hour, and the power of darkness. But all this is happening so that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples left him and fled. Lk. 22 And they seized him and led him away, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed from a distance&rdquo;.</p>