18:10
John is the only gospel writer to record that it was Peter who struck off the ear of the guard, and that the guard’s name was Malchus. If we accept that John’s gospel was written at a later date, then Peter would be dead by now. Prior to that, there may have been a wish to either ensure that Peter did not become a hero, or to give any idea that violence was a part of gospel ministry. Now John can safely give the full details. He also names the soldier. All the people mattered. The Bible records the names of many people, whom we would not bother recording.
18:11
Peter, as was often the case, was not acting out of wisdom. Given his earlier protestations that he would stand by Jesus to the end, never denying Him, and Jesus then telling Peter that he would actually do the exact opposite. Given all this maybe Peter was trying to prove his absolute devotion. Jesus calmly tells Peter to put his sword away. The “sword” by the way, may have been little more than a dagger. Anyway, the reason Jesus tells him to put it away was that the cross, the events that were now unfolding, was the very reason that He had come to earth in the first place. Jesus had come to drink the cup that the Father had given Him.
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