WHEN JESUS HAD SPOKEN THESE WORDS,.... Referring either to his discourses in John 14:1, in which he acquaints his disciples with his approaching death; comforts them under the sorrowful apprehension of his departure from them; gives them many excellent promises for their relief, and very wholesome a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JUDAS ALSO WHICH BETRAYED HIM, KNEW THE PLACE,.... This character is given of Judas, to distinguish him from another disciple of the same name; and though as yet he had not betrayed him, yet it was determined he should, and Christ knew it, and he was now about to do it: and it is observed, that... [ Continue Reading ]
JUDAS THEN HAVING RECEIVED A BAND OF MEN,.... From the captain of this band, who in John 18:12; is called a "Chiliarch", that is, a commander of a thousand men, one might conclude there were so many in this band; but it seems, that such an officer might have two bands under his command; and if this... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS THEREFORE KNOWING ALL THINGS,.... As being the omniscient God, so his knowledge reaches to all persons and things, without any limitation, and restriction; though here it has a regard to all the things, THAT SHOULD COME UPON HIM; even all the sufferings he should endure, which were all determ... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY ANSWERED HIM, JESUS OF NAZARETH,.... Their answer is not, "thee"; for they knew him not, their eyes were holden, or struck with dimness, or blindness, as the men of Sodom were; or they that answered might be such, who never personally knew him: nor do they say "Christ", for they rejected and de... [ Continue Reading ]
AS SOON THEN AS HE HAD SAID UNTO THEM I AM HE,.... Immediately upon his speaking these words, which were delivered with so much majesty and authority, and were attended with such a divine power: THEY WENT BACKWARD, AND FELL TO THE GROUND; they were confounded, surprised, and intimidated, and seemed... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN ASKED HE THEM AGAIN, WHOM SEEK YE?.... This supposes them to be risen up again and on their feet; no hurt being done to them; for Christ always did good, and not hurt, to the bodies of men; he never disabled any, or took away life, or limb: he only did this to show his power, and not to do them... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS ANSWERED, I HAVE TOLD YOU THAT I AM HE,.... This he said, upbraiding them with their stupidity; signifying he was ready to deliver himself up into their hands; and which he did with intrepidity and calmness, only on this condition, with this proviso for his disciples; IF THEREFORE YE SEEK ME,... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THE SAYING MIGHT BE FULFILLED WHICH HE SPAKE,.... John 17:12; OF THEM WHICH THOU GAVEST ME HAVE I LOST NONE; which though it has a peculiar respect to the apostles, is true of all the elect of God; who are given to Christ, and shall none of them be lost, neither their souls nor bodies; for Ch... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SIMON PETER HAVING A SWORD,.... Girt about him, which he either wore in common, or particularly at the feast, as the Galilaeans are said to do, to preserve them from thieves and wild beasts by the way; or was one of the two the disciples had with them in the garden; or what Peter purposely furn... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SAID JESUS UNTO PETER,.... By way of rebuke, and to prevent his repeating the blow, and that further mischief might not ensue; for such a bold imprudent action risked the lives of all the disciples, who, in all probability, would have fallen a sacrifice to the fury and resentment of these men,... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 12 THEN THE BAND, AND THE CAPTAIN, AND THE OFFICERS OF THE JEWS,.... Which Judas received, and which came along with him, John 18:3. When Jesus had rebuked Peter, and healed the servant's ear, and showed such a willingness to surrender himself to them; THEY TOOK JESUS AND BOUND HIM. This they... [ Continue Reading ]
AND LED HIM AWAY TO ANNAS FIRST,.... Who is elsewhere mentioned with Caiaphas as an high priest also, Luke 3:2. He was the "sagan" of the high priest; he and Caiaphas seem to have had the high priesthood alternately; and either now, because his house lay first in the way, or rather, because he was a... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW CAIAPHAS WAS HE WHICH GAVE COUNCIL TO THE JEWS,.... The chief priests and Pharisees, who met in council about Jesus, John 11:47, the counsel he gave was, THAT IT WAS EXPEDIENT THAT ONE MAN SHOULD DIE FOR THE PEOPLE; and which advice was given out of ill will and malice to Christ, and to preven... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SIMON PETER FOLLOWED JESUS,.... It is certain, he first fled with the rest, and forsook him, as they all did, notwithstanding his resolution to abide by him; however, he was very desirous to know what would become of Jesus, and what would be the issue of things; with this view he followed him, a... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT PETER STOOD AT THE DOOR WITHOUT,.... It being difficult to get in; and perhaps he might be fearful too of going in, lest he should be known; however, he waited, if he could hear or see anything, and for a proper opportunity of entrance: it would have been well if he had took the hint of providen... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SAITH THE DAMSEL THAT KEPT THE DOOR UNTO PETER,.... She being relieved, either by her father, if porter, or by a fellow servant, had the opportunity of coming into the hall, where Peter was, and was curious to observe him, who he should be, that that person of note should order him to be admitt... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SERVANTS AND OFFICERS STOOD THERE,.... In a certain part of the hall, the middle of it; the Vulgate Latin reads, "by the coals": it follows, WHO HAD MADE A FIRE OF COALS, FOR IT WAS COLD; though it was the passover, and harvest near. Dr. Lightfoot has observed from our countryman Biddulph,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HIGH PRIEST THEN ASKED JESUS,.... Being now brought from Annas to Caiaphas, who was the high priest and mouth of the sanhedrim, and to whom it appertained to hear and try a cause relating to doctrine. And what he did was by putting questions to him, instead of opening the charge against him, and... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS ANSWERED HIM,.... Not to the first of these questions, concerning his disciples; not because they had all now forsaken him, and one was denying him; nor because he would not betray them; nor because he would suffer alone; but because if his doctrine was good; it could not be blameworthy to hav... [ Continue Reading ]
WHY ASKEST THOU ME?.... He seems surprised at the high priest's conduct, that he should put such questions to him, who stood bound before him; was brought there as a criminal, and was the defendant, and not obliged to accuse himself; nor could it be thought, that whatever evidence or testimony he sh... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE HAD THUS SPOKEN,.... What was so right and reasonable, in so becoming a manner, without heat or passion: ONE OF THE OFFICERS WHICH STOOD BY; it may be one of those who had been sent to him and had been a hearer of him, whom Jesus might look wistfully at, or point unto, when he said the... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS ANSWERED HIM,.... For the high priest took no notice of him, nor any of the sanhedrim, though the action was so insolent and indecent, both as to the manner in which it was done, and the person, an officer, by whom it was done; and considering the circumstances of it, in the palace of the high... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW ANNAS HAD SENT HIM BOUND,.... As he found him, when the captain, band, and officers brought him to him; who having pleased himself with so agreeable a sight, and had asked him some few questions, and perhaps insulted him, sent him away in this manner, UNTO CAIAPHAS THE HIGH PRIEST: his son-in-l... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SIMON PETER STOOD AND WARMED HIMSELF,.... This is repeated from John 18:18 to connect the history, and carry on the thread of the account of Peter's denial of Christ, which is interrupted by inserting the examination of Christ before the high priest, which was made at the same time. Peter stood... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE OF THE SERVANTS OF THE HIGH PRIEST,.... Hearing him so stiffly deny that he was a disciple of Jesus, when he had great reason to believe he was: BEING HIS KINSMAN, WHOSE EAR PETER CUT OFF; a near relation of Malchus, to whom Peter had done this injury; and who was present at the same time, and... [ Continue Reading ]
PETER THEN DENIED AGAIN,.... A third time, as the Ethiopic version renders it; and that, according to other evangelists, with cursing and swearing; for now he was more affrighted than before, lest should he be taken up, and it be proved upon him, that he was the person that cut off Malchus's ear, he... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN LED THEY JESUS FROM CAIAPHAS,.... When Peter had denied him, one of the officers had smote him, the high priest had examined him, and they thought they had enough, out of his own mouth, to condemn him; they, the chief priests, elders, Scribes, and the whole multitude, led him bound as he was, f... [ Continue Reading ]
PILATE THEN WENT OUT UNTO THEM,.... Either into the street, or rather into the place called the pavement, and in Hebrew Gabbatha; see John 19:13 the place where the Jewish sanhedrim used to sit; wherefore in complaisance to them, since they would not come into his court of judicature, he condescends... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO HIM,.... Offended at the question put to them, and filled with indignation that they should be so interrogated, with an air of haughtiness and insolence reply to him: IF HE WERE NOT A MALEFACTOR, WE WOULD NOT HAVE DELIVERED HIM UP UNTO THEE; insinuating, that he was guil... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SAID PILATE UNTO THEM,.... Either ironically, knowing that they did not, or it was not in their power, to judge in capital causes; or seriously, and with some indignation, abhorring such a method of procedure they would have had him gone into, to condemn a man without knowing his crime, and hav... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THE SAYING OF JESUS MIGHT BE FULFILLED,.... That he should be delivered by the Jews to the Gentiles, to crucify him; and that he should be lifted up from the earth, and as the serpent upon the pole: WHICH HE SPAKE, SIGNIFYING WHAT DEATH HE SHOULD DIE; Matthew 20:19 and which was brought about... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN PILATE ENTERED INTO THE JUDGMENT HALL AGAIN,.... Where he went at first, but the Jews refusing to come in thither to him, he came out to them; and now they speaking out more plainly, that he was guilty of a crime deserving of death; as that he set up himself as a king, in opposition to Caesar,... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS ANSWERED HIM, SAYEST THOU THIS THING OF THYSELF,.... That he was the king of the Jews: Christ's meaning is, whether he asserted this from the sentiments of his own mind; or moved the question from anything he himself had observed, which might give him just ground to suspect that he had, or int... [ Continue Reading ]
PILATE ANSWERED, AM I A JEW?.... This he said, in a sort of derision and contempt; who was not a Jew, neither by birth, nor by religion, and so had never imbibed any notions of their King Messiah, nor read anything about him; and knew nothing of his distinguishing characters and properties, by which... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS ANSWERED, MY KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD,.... By saying which, he tacitly owns he was a king: as such he was set up, and anointed by his Father from everlasting; was prophesied of in the Old Testament; declared by the angel, both when he brought the news of his conception, and of his birth; w... [ Continue Reading ]
PILATE THEREFORE SAID UNTO HIM,.... Upon this free and full declaration of Christ, concerning his kingly office, and the nature of his kingdom: ART THOU A KING THEN? or thou art a king then: for, from his having a kingdom, it might be very justly inferred that he was a king: JESUS ANSWERED, THOU S... [ Continue Reading ]
PILATE SAITH UNTO HIM, WHAT IS TRUTH?.... That is, in general, or that which Christ then particularly spoke of: many things might be observed in answer to this question, as that there is the truth and faithfulness of God in his word and promises; the truth of grace in the hearts of his people; Jesus... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT YE HAVE A CUSTOM,.... Not a law, either of God or man's, but a custom; and which was not originally observed at the feast of the passover, and perhaps was not of any long standing; but what the Roman governors, by the order of Caesar, or of their own pleasure, had introduced to ingratiate themse... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN CRIED THEY ALL AGAIN,.... For it seems that Pilate had made this proposal once before, and that this was the second time, though not mentioned; yet some copies, and the Syriac, Arabic, Persic, and Ethiopic versions, leave out the word "again": they all, priests and people, in a very clamorous m... [ Continue Reading ]