Difference between revisions of "Category:Malchus (subject)"

Malchus was, according to Christian tradition, a servant of the High Priest Caiaphas, who was wounded by Peter when Jesus was arrested.

Biography

The Gospels of Mark reports that when Jesus was arrested, "one of those who stood near," being armed with a sword, cut off the ear of the High Priest's servant. The same episode is repeated in the Gospels of Matthew, Luke, and John with additional details. Matthew and John say that Jesus reproached his disciple for what he had done. Luke and John specify that the disciple struck the "right" ear of the servant. Luke only claims that Jesus "healed" the servant's ear. John only reveals that Peter was the disciple with the sword and that the servant's name was Malchus. John also claims that one of the people before whom Peter denied to be a disciple of Jesus, was "a relative" of Malchus.

Malchus in ancient sources

Malchus is mentioned only in Christian tradition.

Gospel of Mark

Mark 14:47 -- One of those who stood near drew his sword and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

Gospel of Matthew

Matthew 26:51-52 -- Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into his place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword."

Gospel of Luke

Luke 22:49-51 -- Those who were around [Jesus]... asked, "Lord, should we strike with the sword?" Then one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, "No more of this!" And he touches his ear and healed him.

Gospel of John

John 18:10-11 -- [10] Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest's slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave's name was Malchus. [11] Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword back into his sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?"

John 18:26-27 -- [26] One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, "Did not I see you in the garden with him?" [27] Again Peter denied it...

=Later Christian tradition

The relic of the "sword of Peter," likely a medieval artefact, is preserved in Poland at the Poznań Archdiocesan Museum.

Malchus in Scholarship

The paucity of evidence and the literary nature of the narrative makes any evaluation of the historicity of the event impossible.

Malchus in Fiction

The episode is present in Christian iconography and in the fictional biographies of Jesus.

External links

• Jesus of Nazareth (subject) / Peter (subject)