Chapter IV.—Of What Took Place in the Piece of Ground or Garden to Which They
Came on Leaving the House After the Supper; And of the Method in Which, in John’s Silence
on the Subject, a Real Harmony Can Be Demonstrated Between the Other Three Evangel-
ists—Namely, Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
10. Matthew then proceeds with his narrative in the same connection as follows: “Then
cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane.”1266 This is mentioned also by
Mark.1267 Luke, too, refers to it, although he does not notice the piece of ground by name.
For he says: “And He came out, and went, as was His wont, to the Mount of Olives; and His
disciples also followed Him. And when He was at the place, He said unto them, Pray that
ye enter not into temptation.”1268 That is the place which the other two have instanced
under the name of Gethsemane. There, we understand, was the garden which John brings
into notice when he gives the following narration: “When Jesus had spoken these words,
He went forth with His disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which
He entered, and His disciples.”1269 Then taking Matthew’s record, we get this statement
next in order: “He said unto His disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.1270 And
He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very
heavy. Then saith He unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye
here, and watch with me. And He went a little farther, and fell on His face, and prayed,
saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will,
but as Thou wilt. And He cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith
unto Peter, What! could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not
into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the
second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me except
I drink it, Thy will be done. And He came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were
heavy. And He left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same
words. Then cometh He to His disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your
rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of
sinners. Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that shall betray me.”1271
1266 Matt. xxvi. 36–46.
1267 Mark xiv. 32–42.
1268 Luke xxii. 39–46.
1269 John xviii. 1.
1270 [“Go yonder and pray;” so the Latin, as well as the Greek text. Comp. Revised Version, which in some
other instances, in the passage here cited, agrees more closely with Augustin’s text than does the Authorized
Version.—R.]
1271 Matt. xxvi. 36–46.
Of What Took Place in the Piece of Ground or Garden to Which They Came on Leaving the House After the Supper; And of the Method in Which, in John’s Silence on the Subject, a Real Harmony Can Be Demonstrated Between the Other Three Evangelists—Namely, Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
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Of What Took Place in the Piece of Ground or Garden to Which They Came on…