Note 3 at Joh 18:3: The other Gospel writers described Judas as coming with a great multitude, but John used the term "band" in describing these men. The Greek word used for "band" is "SPEIRA," and it denotes "a larger body of men, a cohort, about 600 infantry, commanded by a tribune" (Vine's Expository Dictionary). There were also others with this band such as Malchus, the servant of the high priest (Joh 18:10), and the chief priests themselves (Lu 22:52).