45 When he rose up from his prayer, he came to the disciples, and found them sleeping because of grief,
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
Sleeping for sorrow - On account of the greatness of their sorrow. See the notes at Matthew 26:40.
(15) And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,
(15) Men are utterly sluggish, even in their greatest dangers.
And when he rose from prayer,.... The Syriac version reads, "from his prayer", having finished it; and the Persic and Ethiopic versions read, "from the place of prayer", or where he prayed:
and was come to his disciples; to the three, which he had left about the distance of a stone's cast:
he found them sleeping for sorrow; on his account; for he had signified unto them, how exceeding sorrowful he was; and they might perceive by his looks and gestures, the anxiety and distress of mind he was in, which must needs affect them; and besides, he had given them some intimations of his being to be betrayed by one of them, and of his sufferings and death, and speedy departure from them; and because of these things, sorrow had filled their hearts, and this had induced heaviness and sleep upon them; See Gill on Matthew 26:40.
*More commentary available at chapter level.