And when he had said these things, one £ of the officers standing by, anxious to win with his officious zeal the approval of his master, gave Jesus a ῥάπισμα. (Meyer says it cannot be settled whether this word means a stroke with a rod (as Godet, Bengel) or a blow on the cheek or ear, which was the current punishment for a word supposed to be insolent; but δέρεις of John 18:23, which means "to flay," implies a more severe punishment than a blow on the face with the hand.
) This is the beginning of the coarse and terrible mockery which was the lot of the sublime Sufferer through the remaining hours of the awful day which is now dawning on him. Saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?