John 18:21

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 18:13-27

We have here an account of Christ's arraignment before the high priest, and some circumstances that occurred therein which were omitted by the other evangelists; and Peter's denying him, which the other evangelists had given the story of entire by itself, is interwoven with the other passages. The crime laid to his charge having relation to religion, the judges of the spiritual court took it to fall directly under their cognizance. Both Jews and Gentiles seized him, and so both Jews and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 18:21

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 should give, would have much weight with the persons before whom he stood. Ask them which heard me, what I said unto them ; he appeals to his hearers, many of whom were then present; and these... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 18:12-24

Jesus before Annas and Caiaphas. The ecclesiastical trial comes first. Owing to the relation between Annas and Caiaphas, they probably dwelt in the same house, and there may have been an informal trial by Annas before the acting high priest, Caiaphas, investigated the case of Jesus. I. THE INQUIRY OF CAIAPHAS . "The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine." 1. The object was to extract from the tips of Jesus some answer that might become the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 18:12-27

(2) The preliminary examination before Annas , interwoven with the weakness and treachery of Peter . This passage describes the first steps taken by the enemies of our Lord to conduct the examination which was to issue in a judicial murder, and therefore to provide the basis on which the charge might be laid before Pilate and that Roman court, which alone could carry into execution the malicious conclusion on which they had already resolved. Moreover, tiffs passage is interwoven with... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 18:15-27

The three denials of Peter. After all the disciples had fled, some, like John and Peter, returned to the scene of our Lord's last trials. This fact must be remembered to Peter's credit. I. THE HISTORICAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF PETER 'S FALL . 1. The first circumstance was his introduction into the court of the high priest by John . This brought him into dangerous association with Christ's enemies. 2. The second was his recognition by those who had seen him in the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 18:21

Why askest thou me? If thou wantest evidence touching my design, my disciples, or my teaching, ask , interrogate , £ those who have heard me, what I have said to them. Lo, these (pointing to numbers in the angry crowd around him) know what I spake unto them (the ἐγώ at the end of this sentence is very emphatic). Christ thus rebukes the craftiness and hypocritical endeavor of his enemies to induce him to inculpate his disciples, or to give his prosecutors matter against him.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 18:21

The right people to ask. I. WHY JESUS COULD REFER TO HIS HEARERS . It is not every teacher that could refer confidently to his hearers, not even to his most attached and trustful ones. If he did, and if an accurate report could be got of all their impressions, the result might not be very complimentary to the teacher. He might find out that as yet he himself was only a learner. He might find out that he himself was only making guesses and dealing with the surface of things.... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 18:21

Why askest thou me? Ask them ... - Jesus here insisted on his rights, and reproves the high priest for his unjust and illegal manner of extorting a confession from him. If he had done wrong, or taught erroneous and seditious doctrines, it was easy to prove it, and the course which he had a right to demand was that they should establish the charge by fair and incontrovertible evidence. We may here learn:That, though Jesus was willing to be reviled and persecuted, yet he also insisted that... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - John 18:19-27

John 18:19-27. The high-priest then asked Jesus As he stood before him; of his disciples, and of his doctrine What it was that he taught, and with what view he had gathered so many followers. In these questions there was a great deal of art. For, as the crime laid to our Lord’s charge was, that he set himself up for the Messiah, and deluded the people, they expected he would claim that dignity in their presence, and so, without further trouble, they would have condemned him on his own... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - John 18:12-27

152. At the high priest’s house (Matthew 26:57-75; Mark 14:53-72; Luke 22:54-65; John 18:12-27)Annas and his son-in-law Caiaphas apparently lived in the same house. Annas had been the previous high priest and, though replaced by Caiaphas, was still well respected and influential. Jesus’ captors took him to Annas first, while Peter and John, who had followed at a distance, waited in the courtyard. By now it was well past midnight and into the early hours of the morning (John 18:12-18; Luke... read more

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