John 18 - Introduction
XVIII. [5. The Climax of Unbelief. Voluntary Surrender and Crucifixion of Jesus (John 18:1 to John 19:42).... [ Continue Reading ]
XVIII. [5. The Climax of Unbelief. Voluntary Surrender and Crucifixion of Jesus (John 18:1 to John 19:42).... [ Continue Reading ]
(1) THE BETRAYAL AND APPREHENSION (John 18:1). (2) THE TRIALS BEFORE THE JEWISH AUTHORITIES (John 18:12); (_a_) _Before Annas_ (John 18:12); (_b_) _Before Caiaphas_ (John 18:24). (_c_) _Denied by St. Peter_ (John 18:17; John 18:25; John 18:27). (3) THE TRIALS BEFORE THE ROMAN PRO CONSUL ... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JUDAS ALSO, WHICH BETRAYED. — Better,... _who was betraying Him._ The original word is a present participle, and marks the Betrayal as actually in progress. FOR JESUS OFTTIMES RESORTED THITHER WITH HIS DISCIPLES. — This is one of the instances of St. John’s exact knowledge of the incidents whic... [ Continue Reading ]
A BAND OF MEN AND OFFICERS FROM THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND PHARISEES. — Better, _the band, and officers from the chief priests and Pharieess._ The other Gospels tell us of a “great multitude” (Matt.), or a “multitude” (Mark and Luke). St. John uses the technical word for the Roman cohort. It was the garr... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS THEREFORE, KNOWING ALL THINGS THAT SHOULD COME (better, _were coming_) UPON HIM. — Comp. Matthew 26:45. WENT FORTH, AND SAID UNTO THEM, WHOM SEEK YE? — _i.e.,_ probably, went forth from the garden itself. (Comp. Note on John 18:26.) Other possible interpretations are, “went forth from the dep... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY ANSWERED HIM, JESUS OF NAZARETH. — He was known to many of them (John 7:32; John 7:46; Matthew 26:55); but this is probably an official declaration of the person with whose apprehension they are charged. I AM HE. — Comp. Notes on John 8:28; John 8:58. AND JUDAS ALSO, WHICH BETRAYED HIM, STOOD... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WENT BACKWARD, AND FELL TO THE GROUND. — There is nothing in the narrative to suggest that our Lord put forth miraculous power to cause this terror. The impression is rather that it was produced by the majesty of His person, and by the answer which to Jewish ears conveyed the unutterable name,... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN ASKED HE THEM AGAIN. — Their fear has passed away, so that we are not to think, as men sometimes do, that they were struck to the ground helpless. His thought is still of saving those who are with Him. The question brings the same formal answer. They have no warrant to take any of those who are... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THEREFORE YE SEEK ME, LET THESE GO THEIR WAY. — It may be that some of the Roman cohort, not knowing Jesus, were already laying hands on the disciples. In any case, they are exposed to this danger, and the Good Shepherd, who Himself goes forth to meet the danger, will shield the flock from it.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THE SAYING MIGHT BE FULFILLED, WHICH HE SPAKE. — Comp. John 17:12. The quotation is in many ways suggestive. (1) It is not verbally accurate, _i.e.,_ St. John, quoting the words of Christ, which he has himself recorded a few verses before, is at no pains to reproduce it word for word, but is sa... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SIMON PETER HAVING A SWORD DREW IT.... — Comp. Note on Matthew 26:51. The fact is recorded by all the Evangelists. St. John only tells us that it was done by Peter, and that the servant’s name was Malchus. He is also careful to note, as St. Luke does too, that it was the “right ear.”... [ Continue Reading ]
PUT UP THY SWORD INTO THE SHEATH. — Comp. Note on Matthew 26:52. Here again St. John’s narrative is more vivid and exact. St. Matthew has “place” for “sheath.” THE CUP WHICH MY FATHER HATH GIVEN ME, SHALL I NOT DRINK IT? — Comp. Notes _on_ Matthew 20:22; Matthew 26:39. This is the only instance of t... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE BAND AND THE CAPTAIN AND OFFICERS OF THE JEWS. — A stop should be placed after “captain.” The “band and the captain” were the Roman cohort (comp. Note on John 18:3) and their tribune (_Chiliarch;_ comp. Mark 6:21). The “officers of the Jews” were, as before, the Temple servants (see above,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND LED HIM AWAY TO ANNAS FIRST. — Comp. for account of Annas Note on Luke 3:2, and Acts 4:6. This trial before Annas was probably a preliminary investigation, distinct from the formal trial before Caiaphas, narrated in the earlier Gospels. (Comp. John 18:19; John 18:24.) FOR HE WAS FATHER IN LAW TO... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SIMON PETER FOLLOWED JESUS. — Better, _And Simon Peter was following Jesus._ (Comp. Matthew 26:58.) ANOTHER DISCIPLE. — The reading is not certain, but the majority of the better MSS. support the text of the Authorised version. Others have, “_The_ other disciple,” which would mean, “The well-kno... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT PETER STOOD AT THE DOOR WITHOUT. — _i.e.,_ at the door of the court. He remained here with the crowd. Jesus as a prisoner, and the other disciple as a friend of the high priest, went into the court. UNTO HER THAT KEPT THE DOOR. — Comp. Acts 12:13 and 2 Samuel 4:6 (LXX.). That women “kept the do... [ Continue Reading ]
On Peter’s denials, comp. Notes on Matthew 26:69, and see in this Gospel John 13:38. ART NOT THOU ALSO ONE OF THIS MAN’S DISCIPLES? — _i.e.,_ “Thou as well as thy friend, whom I know.” There is no charge brought against him. The words are apparently simply words of recognition, or as furnishing a r... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SERVANTS AND OFFICERS STOOD THERE. — _i.e.,_ in the quadrangular court. The “servants” “are the household servants or slaves of the high priest. The officers are the Temple servants. (Comp. Note on John 18:3.) A FIRE OF COALS. — In the Greek this phrase is expressed by one word which occurs... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HIGH PRIEST THEN ASKED JESUS. — Comp. Notes on John 18:15. By the “high priest” is probably-meant Caiaphas, though this preliminary investigation was held before Annas, and in his house, or that part of the high priest’s palace occupied by him. OF HIS DISCIPLES, AND OF HIS DOCTRINE. — This was... [ Continue Reading ]
I SPAKE OPENLY TO THE WORLD. — He does not distinctly answer the question about His disciples, but His words imply that all may have been His disciples. The pronoun is strongly emphatic; “I am one,” His words mean, “who spake plainly and to all men.” “My followers have not been initiated into secret... [ Continue Reading ]
WHY ASKEST THOU ME? — Comp. John 5:31. The pronoun “Me” is not the emphatic word as it is generally taken to be. The stress is on the interrogative, “_Why,_ for what purpose, dost thou ask Me? If you want witnesses, ask them which heard Me.” BEHOLD, THEY KNOW WHAT I SAID. — Better, _behold, these k... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH THE PALM OF HIS HAND. — The Greek word occurs again in the New Testament only in John 19:3, and Mark 14:65 (see Note there, and on Matthew 26:67). It is uncertain whether it means here a blow with the hand or, as the margin renders it, _“_with a rod.” The word originally means a stroke with a r... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS ANSWERED HIM, IF I HAVE SPOKEN EVIL. — Comp. Note on Matthew 5:39. BEAR WITNESS OF THE EVIL. — That is,” Produce the evidence which the law requires.”... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW ANNAS HAD SENT HIM BOUND.... — Better, _Annas therefore sent Him bound_.... The reading is uncertain; some MSS. read “Therefore;_”_ some read “Now;” some omit the word altogether. On the whole, the evidence is in favour of “therefore.” The tense is an aorist, and cannot properly have a pluperfec... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SIMON PETER STOOD AND WARMED HIMSELF. — Better, _And Simon Peter was standing and warming himself._ (Comp. John 18:18.) The words are repeated to draw attention to the fact that he was standing in the court at the time when Jesus was sent from Annas unto Caiaphas, that is, from one wing of the q... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE OF THE SERVANTS OF THE HIGH PRIEST. — Comp. Luke 22:59. DID NOT I SEE THEE IN THE GARDEN WITH HIM? — This kinsman of Malchus, who had probably gone with him to the arrest, is not to be silenced by a simple denial. He asks emphatically, “Did not _I_ see thee in the garden with Him?” He feels cer... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IMMEDIATELY THE COCK CREW. — Better,... a _cock crew._ (Comp. Matthew 26:74, and (on the whole question of the denial, Notes to Matthew 26:69.)... [ Continue Reading ]
On the accusation before Pilate (John 18:28), comp. Notes on the parallels in Matthew 27:11; Mark 15:2; Luke 23:2. THE HALL OF JUDGMENT. — Literally, _the Prœtorium._ Comp. Note on Matthew 27:27. It is interesting to observe the various renderings which our translators have given for this one word.... [ Continue Reading ]
PILATE THEN WENT OUT UNTO THEM. — Better, _Pilate therefore went out unto them_ — _i.e.,_ because of their religious scruples they would not enter into the palace. WHAT ACCUSATION BRING YE AGAINST THIS MAN? — Comp. John 18:33. They expected that he would have at once ordered His execution; but he a... [ Continue Reading ]
IF HE WERE NOT A MALEFACTOR, WE WOULD NOT HAVE DELIVERED HIM UP UNTO THEE. — They take the position that the Roman is the executive, and their own the judicial power. They bring no legal charge against Jesus, but assert, in effect that they themselves, who understood and had investigated the whole m... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE YE HIM, AND JUDGE HIM ACCORDING TO YOUR LAW. — Pilate takes them at their word. They claim the judicial right; let them exercise it. Their law gave them power to punish, but not the right of capital punishment. If they claim that the matter is wholly within their own power of judgment, then the... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THE SAYING OF JESUS MIGHT BE FULFILLED. — Comp. Note on John 18:9. SIGNIFYING WHAT DEATH HE SHOULD DIE. — Better, _signifying by what manner of death He should die._ (Comp. Note on John 10:32.) For the prediction of the manner of death, comp. John 3:14; John 12:32; and Note on Matthew 20:19. If... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN PILATE ENTERED INTO THE JUDGMENT HALL AGAIN, AND CALLED JESUS. — Better, _Pilate therefore entered into the Prœtorium_ (or _palace_)_ again, and called Jesus._ (Comp. John 18:28.) This was practically a private investigation, for the Jews could not enter the palace (John 18:28). (Comp. John 19:... [ Continue Reading ]
SAYEST THOU THIS THING OF THYSELF, OR DID OTHERS TELL IT THEE OF ME? — The most probable interpretation of the question is that which regards it as establishing a distinction between the title “King of the Jews” as spoken by Pilate and the same title as spoken by Jesus. In the political sense in whi... [ Continue Reading ]
PILATE ANSWERED, AM I A JEW_? — _His question would say, “You surely do not suppose that _I_ am a _Jew?”_ The procurator’s Roman pride is fired at the very thought. He was the governor of the subject race. What did He know, or care to know, of their subtleties and distinctions? THINE OWN NATION AND... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS ANSWERED, MY KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD. — The answer of Jesus is two-fold, declaring (1) in this verse, that He is not a King in the political sense; and (2) in John 18:37, that He is a King in the moral sense. By “of this world” we are to understand that the nature and origin of His kingdo... [ Continue Reading ]
ART THOU A KING THEN? — The sentence is both a question and an inference from the word “kingdom” of the previous verse. There is a strong emphasis, and it may be sarcasm, expressed in the pronoun, “Does it not follow then that _Thou_ art a king?” THOU SAYEST THAT I AM A KING. — Or, perhaps, _Thou s... [ Continue Reading ]
PILATE SAITH UNTO HIM, WHAT IS TRUTH? — “‘What is truth?’ said jesting Pilate, and would not stay for an answer.” Such is Lord Bacon’s well-known interpretation of Pilate’s well-known question. Others have seen in it the bitterness of a mind that had been tossed to and fro in the troubled sea of con... [ Continue Reading ]
AT THE PASSOVER. — Comp. _Excursus F: The Day of the Crucifixion of our Lord._ THE KING OF THE JEWS. — These words are of course said in mockery, but not at Jesus who was still in the palace. They seem to mean, “This is your king; Such is your national subjection, that He is bound in the Prætorium... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN CRIED THEY ALL AGAIN. — St. John has not recorded any clamour before, but implies that of Mark 15:8, and Luke 23:5. NOW BARABBAS WAS A ROBBER. — Comp. Note on John 10:1. The word includes the meaning of unrestrained violence, which often leads to bloodshed (Mark 15:7; Luke 23:19), and is thus... [ Continue Reading ]