CHRIST BEFORE ANNAS, CAIAPHAS, AND PILATE 1-14. Christ's arrest and trial before Annas (cp. Matthew 26:30 = Mark 14:26 = Luke 22:39). The narrative is now parallel with the synoptic account, with which, though obviously independent, it closely agrees. Our Lord's agony in the garden is omitted as wel... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BROOK CEDRON] RV 'Kidron,' a deep, precipitous ravine to the E. of Jerusalem, dividing it from the Mount of Olives, and now called the Valley of Jehoshaphat. Both Jews and Moslems hold that the Last Judgment will take place there (see Joel 3:2; Joel 3:12). It is mentioned several times in the OT... [ Continue Reading ]
OFTTIMES RESORTED] cp. Luke 22:39. A statement like this must rest on apostolic testimony.... [ Continue Reading ]
A BAND _of men_] RV 'the band of soldiers,' viz. the Roman garrison which was always stationed in the fortress Antonia, near the Temple. A 'band' or 'cohort' numbered about 600 men. AND OFFICERS] These were either officers of the Sanhedrin, or the band of Levitical police who kept order in the Templ... [ Continue Reading ]
FELL TO THE GROUND] To show that He could not be arrested against His will (see John 10:18), Jesus, before giving Himself up, showed His preternatural power; or perhaps the falling was an effect of superstitious fear.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THE SAYING MIGHT BE FULFILLED] see John 17:2. St. John here gives the sense, not the exact words. HAVE I LOST NONE] The original saying referred to spiritual loss; and, perhaps, the meaning is not different here. Jesus desired the Apostles to escape, lest, if they were arrested, they might be... [ Continue Reading ]
SIMON PETER] Peter's and Malchus's names are mentioned only by St. John. RIGHT EAR] This detail, a mark of intimate knowledge, is also in Lk, who further mentions that our Lord healed the servant's ear.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CUP] This is proof that St. John knew of the agony in the garden: see Matthew 26:39; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BAND] i.e. the Roman cohort. THE CAPTAIN] i.e. the military tribune (Gk. _chiliarch_), was the officer in chief command of the Roman garrison: see Acts 21:31. His presence in person marks the importance and probable danger of the arrest.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO ANNAS FIRST] i.e. before He was taken to Caiaphas. This, though not mentioned in the other Gospels, is intrinsically probable. The authority of Annas was so great that it over shadowed that of the actual high priest Caiaphas. He is mentioned before Caiaphas, Luke 3:2; Acts 4:6. He absolutely cont... [ Continue Reading ]
CAIAPHAS] see John 11:49.... [ Continue Reading ]
ANOTHER DISCIPLE] clearly the same as the unnamed disciple of John 13:23, who is the apostle John. KNOWN UNTO THE HIGH PRIEST] a fact by no means improbable, considering the comparatively good position occupied by St. John's family (Mark 1:20 see on John 19:27). The high priest is Annas: see on John... [ Continue Reading ]
ST. JOHN INTRODUCES ST PETER INTO THE PALACE. FIRST DENIAL. For the interesting but unimportant variations of the four accounts of St. Peter's denials, see on Matthew 26:58; Mark 14:54; Luke 22:54.... [ Continue Reading ]
COALS] i.e. charcoal.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HIGH PRIEST] i.e. Annas: see John 18:24. 20, 21. Annas tried to entrap Jesus into the admission that He had founded a secret society. Jesus repudiated the suggestion, and refused to be drawn into making any statements likely to incriminate His disciples (cp. John 18:8).... [ Continue Reading ]
PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION BEFORE ANNAS (peculiar to this Gospel). The object of Annas's examination, which was irregular and informal, was obviously to induce Jesus to incriminate Himself in view of the approaching trial, the available evidence against Him being weak (Matthew 26:59). It is passed over... [ Continue Reading ]
STRUCK JESUS] This is corroborated by Luke 22:63, which agrees chronologically with St. John.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW ANNAS HAD SENT HIM] The correct translation is, 'Annas, therefore, sent Him bound unto Caiaphas.' Our Lord was led out into the courtyard, and there, as he passed by on His way to the apartments of Caiaphas, which probably lay on the other side of the quadrangular court,' He turned and looked up... [ Continue Reading ]
St. Peter's second and third denials. 26. The knowledge that the servant was a kinsman of Malchus bears out the statement (John 18:15) that 'the disciple' was known to the high priest.... [ Continue Reading ]
CREW] This fixes the time as about 3 a.m.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HALL OF JUDGMENT] RV 'the palace,' lit. 'the prætorium,' here indicates the official residence of Pilate, which was either the castle of Antonia or a palace built by Herod on the W. hill of Jerusalem: see Matthew 27:27. Pilate's judgment-seat was in the open air, but he more than once entered th... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS IS LED TO PILATE (Matthew 27:1; Mark 15:1; Luke 23:1). See especially on St. Matthew. The pathos of this tragic spectacle of the rulers of the chosen people leading their promised Messiah to a Gentile ruler to be put to death, and thereby forfeiting their place in the Kingdom of God and their... [ Continue Reading ]
According to Luke 23:2, they accused Him of sedition, of withholding tribute from Cæsar, and of assuming the royal title. The charge of blasphemy, on which the Sanhedrin condemned Him, would have no weight with Pilate.... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS NOT LAWFUL, etc.] This apparently conflicts with John 8:5; John 8:59; Acts 5:33; Acts 7:57; Acts 21:27. It would seem, (1) that the Sanhedrin could sentence to death, (2) but could not execute the sentence without permission, and (3) that the governor sometimes permitted them to exceed their p... [ Continue Reading ]
Jesus had prophesied not only His death, but His crucifixion, and this could only be fulfilled by His being delivered to the Romans, for the Jewish penalty for blasphemy was stoning (John 8:59; John 10:31; Acts 7:59). 33- 38A. WITHIN THE PRÆTORIUM. PILATE AND CHRIST. With the exception of Pilate's... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SAYEST THAT I AM A KING] RM 'Thou sayest it, because I am a king.' Probably the words are a surprised question: 'Dost thou, a heathen, say that I am a king!' Pilate was impressed with our Lord's personality, and was willing to confess that there was something kingly about Him. TO THIS END] The... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT IS TRUTH?] Rome was infested with a horde of Greek sophists and juggling Oriental theosophists, who all claimed a monopoly of 'the truth,' and hence Pilate had learned to scoff at all mention of the search for it. 38B-40. OUTSIDE THE PRÆTORIUM. BARABBAS IS PREFERRED TO JESUS (see Matthew 27:15... [ Continue Reading ]