The Betrayal 1. _he went forth_ From the upper room. The same word is used of leaving the room, Matthew 26:30; Mark 14:26; Luke 22:39. Those who suppose that the room is left at John 14:31 (perhaps for the Temple), interpret this of the departure from the city, which of course it may mean in any ca... [ Continue Reading ]
_which betrayed_ Better, _who_ WAS BETRAYING: he was at that moment at work. Comp. John 18:5. _knew the place_ Therefore Christ did not go thither to hide or escape, as Celsus scoffingly asserted. Origen (_Cels._ii. 10) appeals to John 18:4 as proving that Jesus deliberately surrendered Himself. _... [ Continue Reading ]
_Judas then_ Better, _Judas_ THEREFORE; S. John's favourite particle, as in John 18:4; John 18:6; John 18:10; John 18:16; John 18:19; John 18:24; John 18:27; John 18:31; John 18:33;... [ Continue Reading ]
_all things that should come_ Better, ALL THE THINGS THAT WERE COMING. _went forth_ From what? (1) from the shade into the light; (2) from the circle of disciples; (3) from the depth of the garden; (4) from the garden itself. It is impossible to say which of these suggestions is right; the last is n... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jesus of Nazareth_ Or, _Jesus_ THE NAZARENE (Matthew 2:23), a rather more contemptuous expression than -Jesus of Nazareth" (John 1:46; Acts 10:38; comp. Matthew 21:11). -The Nazarene" in a contemptuous sense occurs John 19:19; Matthew 26:71; Mark 14:67. It is sometimes used in a neutral sense (Mark... [ Continue Reading ]
_As soon then as he had said_ Better, WHEN THEREFORE (see on John 18:3) HE SAID. The Evangelist intimates that what followed was the immediate consequence of Christ's words. _went backward, and fell_ Whether this was the natural effect of guilt meeting with absolute innocence, or a supernatural effe... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then asked he them again Again_ THEREFORE (John 18:3) _He asked them_. Their first onset had been baffled; He Himself therefore gives them another opening. They repeat the terms of their warrant; they have been sent to arrest Jesus the Nazarene.... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have told_ Rather, I TOLD. _let these_ At first Jesus had gone forward (John 18:4) from His company, as Judas from his. Judas had fallen back on his followers while the disciples followed up and gathered round Christ. Thus the two bands confronted one another.... [ Continue Reading ]
_thou gavest me have I lost_ Better, _Thou_ HAST GIVEN ME I LOST (see on John 17:4). The reference is to John 17:12, and is a strong, confirmation of the historical truth of chap. 17. If the prayer were the composition of the Evangelist to set forth in an ideal form Christ's mental condition at the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then Simon Peter Simon Peter_ THEREFORE (John 18:3), because he -saw what would follow" (Luke 22:49). All four Evangelists mention this act of violence; S. John alone gives the names. While S. Peter was alive it was only prudent not to mention his name; and probably S. John was the only one who kne... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then said Jesus Jesus_ THEREFORE (John 18:3) _said_. _the cup_ S. John alone gives these words. On the other hand, the Synoptists alone give Christ's prayer in the garden (Matthew 26:39, &c.) to which they obviously refer. Thus the two accounts confirm one another. See on John 2:19. For the metapho... [ Continue Reading ]
The Jewish or Ecclesiastical Trial 12. _Then the band, and the captain_ THEREFORE (John 18:3) _the band_&c., because of this violent attempt at resistance. The captain or _chiliarch_is the tribune or chief officer of the Roman cohort. The representations of the hierarchy to the Romans are confirmed... [ Continue Reading ]
_to Annas first_ Whether Annas was -chief" of the priests (2 Kings 25:18), or president, or vice-president, of the Sanhedrin, we have no information. Certainly he was one of the most influential members of the hierarchy, as is shewn by his securing the high-priesthood for no less than five of his so... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now Caiaphas was he_ See on John 11:50-52. The remark is made here to recall the prophecy now so near fulfilment, and perhaps to intimate that with Caiaphas and his father-in-law to direct the trial it could have but one issue.... [ Continue Reading ]
_followed_ Or, WAS FOLLOWING; the descriptive imperfect. _another disciple_ Some good authorities read - _the_other disciple," but the balance is very decidedly in favour of - _an_other." There is no reason for doubting the almost universal opinion that this -other" was S. John himself; an opinion w... [ Continue Reading ]
_stood_ Or, WAS STANDING; the descriptive imperfect again, Comp. John 18:5_; John 18:15_. The details here also indicate the report of an eyewitness. -At the door _without_" seems to indicate that the -court" was inside rather than in front of the building. _her that kept the door_ Comp. Rhoda, Act... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then saith the damsel_ The damsel THEREFORE (John 18:3) _saith_. _Art not thou also_ Rather, ART THOU ALSO (as well as thy companion) or, _surely thou art not:_S. Peter's denial is thus, as it were, put into his mouth. See on John 4:29 and comp. John 4:33; John 6:67; John 7:47; John 9:40. In all t... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the servants_, &c. Better, NOW _the servants and_ THE _officers, having made …_ WERE STANDING AND WARMING _themselves_. The tribune (John 18:12) having deposited his prisoner in safety, has withdrawn with his men. Only the Jewish officials remain, joined now by the household servants of the hig... [ Continue Reading ]
_The high priest then_ Rather, THEREFORE (John 18:3), connecting what follows with John 18:13. Again we are in doubt as to who is meant by the high-priest (see on John 18:15), but it will be safest to consider that Caiaphas is meant throughout. Neither hypothesis is free from difficulty. If the high... [ Continue Reading ]
_I spake_ The true reading gives, I HAVE SPOKEN. There is a strong emphasis on -I." Christ answers no questions about His disciples; He bears the brunt Himself alone. Moreover He seems to contrast the openness of His proceedings with the secrecy of His enemies. _openly_ See on John 7:4; John 7:26.... [ Continue Reading ]
_which heard_ Better, WHO HAVE HEARD; and -I have said" should again be I SPAKE. _they know_ Or, THESE _know_, as if implying that they were present and ought to be examined. According to Jewish rule witnesses for the defence were heard first. -These" cannot refer to S. Peter and S. John. S. Peter... [ Continue Reading ]
_struck Jesus with the palm of his hand_ Literally, _gave a blow_, and the word for -blow" (elsewhere John 19:3; Mark 14:65 only) etymologically means a -blow with a rod," but is also used for a -blow with the open hand." The word used for -smite" in John 18:23 is slightly in favour of the former: b... [ Continue Reading ]
_If I have spoken_ Rather (as at the end of John 18:20), _If I_ SPAKE (comp. John 13:14; John 15:16). This seems to shew that Christ does not refer, as our version would lead us to suppose, to His answer to the high-priest, but to the teaching about which He is being examined. He here gives His own... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now Annas had sent him bound_ The received text, following important authorities, has no conjunction. The Sinaitic MS. and some minor authorities insert -now" or -but" (δέ). But an overwhelming amount of evidence, including the Vatican MS., gives S. John's favourite particle, THEREFORE (οὖν). Moreo... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself_ Better, NOW _Simon Peter_ WAS STANDING AND WARMING _himself_(John 18:18). _They said therefore_ The movement in taking Jesus from Annas to Caiaphas once more attracted attention to the stranger by the fire. _Art not thou also_ Rather, ART THOU ALSO (see o... [ Continue Reading ]
_his kinsman A kinsman of him_. How natural that an acquaintance of the high-priest (John 18:15) and known to his portress (John 18:16) should know this fact also as well as Malchus" name (John 18:10). This confirms the ordinary view that the -other disciple" (John 18:15) is the Evangelist himself.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Peter then denied again Again_ THEREFORE (John 18:3) _Peter denied_; because he had denied before. S. John, like S. Luke, omits the oaths and curses (Mark 14:71; Matthew 26:73). We may believe that S. Peter himself through S. Mark was the first to include this aggravation of his guilt in the curren... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then led they_ Better, THEY LED THEREFORE (John 18:3). S. John assumes that his readers know the result of Jesus being taken to Caiaphas (John 18:24): He had been condemned to death; and now His enemies (there is no need to name them) take Him to the Roman governor to get the sentence executed. _th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Outside the Praetorium_; the Jews claim the execution of the Sanhedrin's sentence of death, and Pilate refuses it. _early_ The same word, _proï_, is rendered -morning" Matthew 16:3; Mark 1:35; Mark 11:20; Mark 13:35; Mark 15:1; the last passage being partly parallel to this. In Mark 13:35 the word... [ Continue Reading ]
28 19:16. The Roman or Civil Trial As already stated, S. John omits both toe examination before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin at an irregular time and place, at midnight and at -the Booths" (Matthew 26:57-68: Mark 14:53-65), and also the formal meeting of the Sanhedrin after daybreak in the proper pla... [ Continue Reading ]
_Pilate then Pilate_ THEREFORE (John 18:3). Because they would not enter, he went out to them. The Evangelist assumes that his readers know who Pilate is, just as he assumes that they know the Twelve (John 6:67) and Mary Magdalene (John 19:25); all are introduced without explanation. _went out_ The... [ Continue Reading ]
_a malefactor_ Literally, -doing evil" or AN EVIL-DOER; not the same expression as Luke 23:32. The Jews are taken aback at Pilate's evident intention of trying the case himself. They had expected him merely to carry out their sentence, and had not come provided with any definite accusation. Blasphem... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then said Pilate Pilate_ THEREFORE (John 18:3) _said_. If they will not make a specific charge, he will not deal with the case. Pilate, impressed probably by his wife's dream (Matthew 27:19) tries in various ways to avoid sentencing Jesus to death. (1) He would have the Jews deal with the case them... [ Continue Reading ]
_the saying_ Or _word_, John 12:32; Matthew 20:19. _what death_ Rather, BY WHAT manner of _death_, as in John 12:33 and John 21:19. So in John 10:32 the Greek means -for what _kind_of a work," not merely -for which work." Comp. Matthew 21:23; Matthew 22:36; Luke 6:32;... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then Pilate Pilate_ THEREFORE (John 18:3). Because of the importunity of the Jews Pilate is obliged to investigate further; and being only Procurator, although _cum potestate_, has no Quaestor, but conducts the examination himself. _called Jesus_ Probably the Roman guards had already brought Him i... [ Continue Reading ]
_Inside the Praetorium_; Jesus is privately examined by Pilate and makes -a good confession" (1 Timothy 6:13).... [ Continue Reading ]
_answered him_ Omit -him:" the introductions to John 18:34 are alike in form and are solemn in their brevity. The Synoptists give merely a portion of the reply in John 18:37. _tell it thee_ -It" is not in the original and need not be supplied. Jesus claims a right to know the author of the charge.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Am I a Jew?_ -Is it likely that I, a Roman governor, have any interest in these Jewish questions?" _have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?_ Better, DELIVERED _Thee unto me: what_ DIDST THOU DO to make Thine own people turn against Thee?... [ Continue Reading ]
_My kingdom_ There is a strong emphasis on -My" throughout the verse; -the kingdom that is Mine, the servants that are Mine;" i.e. those that are truly such (see on John 14:27). The word for -servants" here is the same as is rendered -officers" in John 18:3_; John 18:12; John 18:18; John 18:33_, Joh... [ Continue Reading ]
_Art thou a king then_ The Greek for -then" (_oukoun_) occurs here only in N.T. The -Thou" is even more emphatic than in John 18:33. The two together give a tone of scorn to the question, which is half an exclamation. -So then, _Thou_art a king!" Comp. John 1:21. _Thou sayest that_, &c. This may be... [ Continue Reading ]
_What is truth?_ Pilate does not ask about - _the_Truth," but truth in any particular case. His question does not indicate any serious wish to know what truth really is, nor yet the despairing scepticism of a baffled thinker; nor, on the other hand, is it uttered in a light spirit of -jesting" (as B... [ Continue Reading ]
_Outside the Praetorium_; Pilate pronounces Him innocent and offers to release Him in honour of the feast: the Jews prefer Barabbas.... [ Continue Reading ]
_ye have a custom_ Nothing is known of this custom beyond what is told us in the Gospels. Prisoners were sometimes released at Rome at certain festivals, and it would be quite in harmony with the conciliatory policy of Rome to honour native festivals in this way in the case of subject nations. In Lu... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then cried they all again_ Better, _They_ CRIED OUT THEREFORE (John 18:3) _again all of them_. S. John has not mentioned any previous shout of the multitude; he once more assumes that his readers know the chief facts. See on John 19:6. _Barabbas_ Or, _Bar-Abbas_, son of Abba (father). The innocent... [ Continue Reading ]