Then Jesus said to the chief priests, temple officers, and elders who had come for Him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against an outlaw?
Satan, finding himself baffled in his attempts to terrify our Lord Jesus, and so to put him out of the possession of his own soul, betakes himself (according to his usual method) to force and arms, and brings a party into the field to seize him, and Satan was in them. Here is, I. The marking of him by Judas.
Commenting on Luke 22:47-53
When I was daily with you in the temple,.... As he had been for some days past, teaching the people, and disputing with them, the chief priests, &c. ye stretched forth no hands against me; to lay hold upon him, and kill him; the reason was, because his time was not come, and they had no licence or permission to hurt him, or any power...
Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves? (18) Even the very fear of those who took Christ partly proves their evil conscience, and partly also that all these things were done by God's providence.