Matthew 26:39

μικρὸν, a little space, presumably near enough for them to hear (cf. Luke 22:41). ἐπὶ πρόσωπον, on His face, not on kness, summa demissio (Beng.). πάτερ, Father! Weiss in Markus-Evang. seems to think that the one word Abba was all the three heard, the rest of the prayer being an expansion and interpretation by the evangelist. But if they heard one word they could hear more. The prayer uttered in such a state of distress would be a loud outburst (cf. μετὰ κραυγῆς ἰσχυρᾶς, Hebrews 5:7), at once, therefore before the disciples had time to fall asleep or even get drowsy. τὸ ποτήριον τ., this cup (of death). πλὴν, etc., howbeit not as I wish, but as Thou, expressively elliptical; no doubt spoken in a calmer tone, the subdued accent suggestive of a change of mood even if the very words did not distinctly reach the ear of the three. Grotius, from theological solicitudes, takes θέλω = θέλοιμι, “vellem” (“more Hebraeorum, qui neque potentialem neque optativum modum habent”).