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Texts -- John 18:30-40 (NET)

Context
18:30 They replied , replied , “If this man were not a criminal , criminal , we would not have handed him over to you .” 18:31 Pilate told them , “Take him yourselves and pass judgment on him according to your own law !” The Jewish leaders replied , “We cannot legally put anyone to death .” 18:32 (This happened to fulfill the word Jesus had spoken when he indicated what kind of death he was going to die .)
Pilate Questions Jesus
18:33 So Pilate went back into the governor’s residence , summoned Jesus , and asked him , “Are you the king of the Jews ?” 18:34 Jesus replied , “Are you saying this on your own initiative , or have others told you about me ?” 18:35 Pilate answered , “I am not a Jew , am I? Your own people and your chief priests handed you over to me . What have you done ?” 18:36 Jesus replied , “My kingdom is not from this world . If my kingdom were from this world , my servants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish authorities. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here .” 18:37 Then Pilate said , “So you are a king !” Jesus replied , “You say that I am a king . For this reason I was born , and for this reason I came into the world – to testify to the truth . Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice .” 18:38 Pilate asked , “What is truth ?” When he had said this he went back outside to the Jewish leaders and announced , “I find no basis for an accusation against him. 18:39 But it is your custom that I release one prisoner for you at the Passover . So do you want me to release for you the king of the Jews ?” 18:40 Then they shouted back , “Not this man , but Barabbas !” (Now Barabbas was a revolutionary .)

Pericope

NET

Bible Dictionary

  • JOHN, GOSPEL OF

    [ebd] The genuineness of this Gospel, i.e., the fact that the apostle John was its author, is beyond all reasonable doubt. In recent times, from about 1820, many attempts have been made to impugn its genuineness, but without succe...
    [isbe] JOHN, GOSPEL OF - || I. INTRODUCTORY 1. Scope of Gospel 2. State of Opinion as to Date of Appearance, etc. II. EXTERNAL EVIDENCE fOR THE FOURTH GOSPEL 1. At the End of 2nd Century 2. Irenaeus--Theophilus 3. Middle of 2nd Cen...

  • Pilate, Pontius

    [ebd] probably connected with the Roman family of the Pontii, and called "Pilate" from the Latin pileatus, i.e., "wearing the pileus", which was the "cap or badge of a manumitted slave," as indicating that he was a "freedman," or ...
    [nave] PILATE, PONTIUS Roman governor of Judaea, Matt. 27:2; Luke 3:1. Causes slaughter of certain Galileans, Luke 13:1. Tries Jesus and orders his crucifixion, Matt. 27; Mark 15; Luke 23; John 18:28-40; 19; Acts 3:13; 4:27; 13:2...

  • PILATE; PONTIUS

    [isbe] PILATE; PONTIUS - pi'-lat, pi'-lat, pon'-shi-us (Pontios Peilatos): 1. Name and Office 2. Pilate's Procuratorship 3. Pilate and Jesus Christ 4. Pilate in Tradition and Legend 5. Character of Pilate LITERATURE 1. Name and Off...

  • JESUS CHRIST, 4E2

    [isbe] JESUS CHRIST, 4E2 - II. From the Last Supper till the Cross. 1. The Chronology: A question of admitted difficulty arises in the comparison of the Synoptics and John as to the dates of the Last Supper and of the crucifixion. ...

  • Prisoners

    [nave] PRISONERS Joseph, Gen. 39:20-23; 40; 41:1-44. Jeremiah, Jer. 38:6-28; 39:14. John the Baptist, Matt. 11:2; 14:3-12; Mark 6:17; Luke 3:20. Jesus, Matt. 26:47-75; 27; Mark 14:43-72; 15; Luke 22:47-71; 23; John 18:3-40; 19. ...

  • Jesus, The Christ

    [nave] JESUS, THE CHRIST. Index of Sub-topics History of; Miscellaneous Facts Concerning; Unclassified Scriptures Relating to; Ascension of; Atonement by; Attributes of; Compassion of; Confessing; Creator; Death of; Design of His...

  • COHORT

    [isbe] COHORT - ko'-hort: In the Revised Version, margin of Mt 27:27; Mk 15:16; Jn 18:3,12; Acts 10:1; 21:31; 27:1, the translation of speira (the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American), "band"); the tent...

  • JESUS CHRIST, THE ARREST AND TRIAL OF

    [isbe] JESUS CHRIST, THE ARREST AND TRIAL OF - || 1. Jewish and Roman Law 2. Difficulties of the Subject 3. Illustrations of Difficulties I. THE ARREST 1. Preparatory Steps 2. The Arrest in the Garden 3. Taken to the City II. THE J...

  • Praetorium

    [ebd] The Greek word (praitorion) thus rendered in Mark 15:16 is rendered "common hall" (Matt. 27:27, marg., "governor's house"), "judgment hall," (John 18:28, 33, marg., "Pilate's house", 19:9; Acts 23:35), "palace" (Phil. 1:13)....
    [isbe] PRAETORIUM - pre-to'-ri-um praitorion, Mt 27:27 (the King James Version "common hall"); Mk 15:16; Jn 18:28,33; 19:9 (in all margins "palace," and in the last three the King James Version "judgment hall"); Acts 23:35, (Herod'...
    [smith] (in the Revised Version translated palace ,) (Matthew 27:27; John 18:28,33; 19:3) the headquarters of the Roman military governor, wherever he happened to be. In time of peace some one of the best buildings of the city which,...
    [nave] PRAETORIUM, called also Common Hall, Judgment Hall, and Palace, Matt. 27:27; Mark 15:16; John 18:28, 33; 19:9; Acts 23:35; Phil. 1:13.

  • Barabbas

    [ebd] i.e., son of Abba or of a father, a notorious robber whom Pilate proposed to condemn to death instead of Jesus, whom he wished to release, in accordance with the Roman custom (John 18:40; Mark 15:7; Luke 23:19). But the Jews...
    [isbe] BARABBAS - ba-rab'-as (Barabbas): For Aramaic Bar-abba = literally, "son of the father," i.e. of the master or teacher. Abba in the time of Jesus was perhaps a title of honor (Mt 23:9), but became later a proper name. The va...
    [smith] (son of Abba), a robber, (John 18:40) who had committed murder in an insurrection, (Mark 15:7; Luke 28:18) in Jerusalem and was lying in prison the time of the trial of Jesus before Pilate.p
    [nave] BARABBAS, a prisoner released by Pilate, Matt. 27:16-26; Mark 15:7-15; Luke 23:18-25; John 18:40; Acts 3:14.

  • Truth

    [isbe] TRUTH - trooth (`emeth, emunah, primary idea of "firmness," "stability" (compare Ex 17:12), hence "constancy," "faithfulness," etc.; the Septuagint's Apocrypha and the New Testament, aletheia (Rom 3:7), pistis (Rom 3:3); in ...
    [nave] TRUTH Saints should worship God in, John 4:24, with Psa. 145:18; serve God in, Josh. 24:14; 1 Sam. 12:24; walk before God in, 1 Kin. 2:4; 2 Kin. 20:3; keep religious feasts with, 1 Cor. 5:8; esteem, as inestimable, Prov. 23:...

  • Priest

    [nave] PRIEST. Before Moses Melchizedek, Gen. 14:18; Heb. 5:6, 10, 11; 6:20; 7:1-21. Jethro, Ex. 2:16. Priests in Israel before the giving of the law, Ex. 19:22, 24. Called angel, Eccl. 5:6. Mosaic Ex. 28:1-4; 29:9, 44; Num....

  • Demagogism

    [nave] DEMAGOGISM. Instances of Absalom, 2 Sam. 15:2-6. Pilate, Matt. 27:17-26; Mark 15:15; Luke 23:13-24; John 18:38-40; 19:6-13. Felix, Acts 24:27. Herod, Acts 12:3.

  • JUDGMENT HALL

    [ebd] Gr. praitorion (John 18:28, 33; 19:9; Matt. 27:27), "common hall." In all these passages the Revised Version renders "palace." In Mark 15:16 the word is rendered "Praetorium" (q.v.), which is a Latin word, meaning literally ...
    [isbe] JUDGMENT HALL - juj'-ment hol (to praitorion, "Then led they Jesus .... unto the hall of judgment .... and they themselves went not into the judgment hall" (Jn 18:28 the King James Version); "Then Pilate entered into the jud...
    [smith] The word praetorium is so translated five times in the Authorized Version of the New Testament, and in those five passages it denotes two different places. In (John 18:28,33; 19:9) it is the residence which Pilate occupied w...

  • CHRIST, OFFICES OF

    [isbe] CHRIST, OFFICES OF - of'-is-is. General Titles of our Lord I. CHRIST'S MEDIATION EXPRESSED IN THE SPECIFIC OFFICES Historical Review of the Theory II. THE THREEFOLD OFFICE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT The Failure of the Offices to S...

  • KING, CHRIST AS

    [isbe] KING, CHRIST AS - || I. THE REALITY OF CHRIST'S KINGSHIP 1. The Old Testament Foreshadowings In the Psalms and Prophets 2. The Gospel Presentation (1) Christ's Claim to Be King (2) Christ's Acceptance of the Title (3) Christ...

  • Indictments

    [nave] INDICTMENTS. Instances of Naboth on charge of blasphemy, 1 Kin. 21:13, with vs. 1-16. Jeremiah of treasonable prophecy, but of which he was acquitted, Jer. 26:1-24; a second indictment, Jer. 37:13-15. Three Hebrew captive...

  • GOD, 3

    [isbe] GOD, 3 - III. The Idea of God in the New Testament. 1. Dependence on the Old Testament: The whole of the New Testament presupposes and rests upon the Old Testament. Jesus Christ and His disciples inherited the idea of God re...

  • Politics

    [nave] POLITICS, statecraft. Corruption in Psa. 12:8; in the court of Ahasuerus, Esth. 3; of Darius, Dan. 6:4-15. Instances of: Absalom, electioneering for the throne, 2 Sam. 15:2-6. Pilate, condemning Jesus to gratify popular ...

  • Opinion, Public

    [nave] OPINION, PUBLIC Kings influenced by. See: Kings. Jesus inquires about, Matt. 16:13; Luke 9:18. Feared by Nicodemus, John 3:2; Joseph of Arimathea, John 19:38; the parents of the man who was born blind, John 9:21, 22; ruler...
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Arts

Hymns

(Note: In "active" or "on" condition, the hymns music will be played automatically when mouse hover on a hymns title)
  • [Joh 18:36] How Vain The Cruel Herod’s Fear
  • [Joh 18:36] When Christ’s Appearing Was Made Known
  • [Joh 18:36] Why, Herod, Unrelenting Foe
  • [Joh 18:36] Why, Impious Herod, Shouldst Thou Fear

Questions

Sermon Illustrations

Trials; Jesus Claimed to be King; The Trials of Jesus; Thieves Closely Involved with the Crucifixion; Purposes of the Incarnation; Jesus Is King; A Kingdom Implies a King; Prayer: Not a Dreamy Reverie

Resources/Books

Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • Messiah would meet certain qualifications (vv. 2-3a) and would rule with absolute justice (vv. 3b-5) with the result that people would live in peace (vv. 6-9)11:1 The prophet had just described Assyria cut down like a forest ...
  • This is the third Servant Song (cf. 42:1-4; 49:1-6; 52:13-53:12). Like the second song, this one is autobiographical, but unlike the first and second songs it contains no reference to the Servant. That it is the Servant who i...
  • Malachi's style is quite different from that of any other writing prophet. Instead of delivering messages to his audience, he charged them with various sins, six times in all. His was a very confrontational style of address. ...
  • Matthew stressed Jesus' righteousness for his readers by highlighting the injustice of His trials."The breaches in law are so numerous as to be unbelievable . . ."1026". . . even the ordinary legal rules were disregarded in t...
  • Pilate was a cruel ruler who made little attempt to understand the Jews whom he hated.1047He had treated them unfairly and brutally on many occasions, but recently Caesar had rebuked him severely.1048This probably accounts fo...
  • Jesus' sufferings until now had been anticipatory. Now He began to experience pain resulting from His trials and crucifixion. As the faithful Servant of the Lord who came to do His Father's will, His sufferings continued to i...
  • 15:2 Pilate had absolute authority over Jesus' fate under Roman law. Customarily trials such as this one took place in public.375First, the plaintiffs or accusers made their charges against the defendant. Then the prosecutor,...
  • Mark's brief account of Jesus' arraignment and sentencing concentrates on Pilate's offer to release Jesus or Barabbas.15:6 Evidently this custom served to improve relations between the Roman ruler and his subjects. Dictatoria...
  • 15:16 Praetorium is a Latin loan word that describes a Roman governor's official residence (cf. Matt. 27:27; John 18:28, 33; 19:9; Acts 23:35). The Roman soldiers escorted Jesus to the courtyard (Gr. aule, cf. vv. 54, 66) of ...
  • Jesus' trial now moved from its Jewish phase into its Roman phase.497It did not take long for Pilate to determine that Jesus was innocent of any crime worthy of death. Notwithstanding the record stresses how difficult it was ...
  • I. Prologue 1:1-18A. The preincarnate Word 1:1-5B. The witness of John the Baptist 1:6-8C. The appearance of the Light 1:9-13D. The incarnation of the Word 1:14-18II. Jesus' public ministry 1:19-12:50A. The prelude to Jesus' ...
  • John the Apostle introduced John the Baptist because John the Baptist bore witness to the light, namely Jesus. John the Baptist was both a model evangelist pointing those in darkness to the light and a model witness providing...
  • John now presented evidence that Jesus knew people as no others did and that many believed in His name (2:23). This constitutes further witness that He is the Son of God. John summarized several conversations that Jesus had w...
  • The textual authenticity of this pericope is highly questionable. Most ancient Greek manuscripts dating before the sixth century do not contain it. However, over 900 ancient manuscripts do contain it including the important e...
  • The importance of this incident in Jesus' ministry is evident from the fact that all four Gospel evangelists recorded it. Matthew and Mark placed this event before Mary's anointing of Jesus in Simon's house (vv. 1-8). However...
  • John reported much more about Jesus' trial before Pilate than did any of the other Gospel writers. He omitted referring to Jesus' appearance before Herod Antipas, which only Luke recorded (Luke 23:6-12). He stressed Jesus' au...
  • John began his version of this civil trial by narrating the initial public meeting of Pilate and Jesus' accusers.54318:28 "They"(NASB) refers to all the Jewish authorities (cf. Matt. 27:1-2; Mark 15:1; Luke 23:1). They led Je...
  • Having heard the Jews' charges, Pilate returned to the inside of his headquarters and began interrogating Jesus. His questioning centered on the issue of Jesus' kingship.18:33 The Jews' accusations motivated Pilate's question...
  • John condensed the scene in which Pilate declared Jesus innocent, the Jews accused Jesus further, Jesus replied nothing, and Pilate marvelled at Jesus' silence (Matt. 27:12-14; Mark 15:3-5; Luke 23:4-6). He simply related Pil...
  • The horrors and shame of crucifixion are difficult for people who have grown up hearing pleas against "cruel and unusual punishment"to appreciate. It was a deliberately long and painful form of death that humiliated the suffe...
  • John evidently included the controversy about the inscription over Jesus' cross because it underlines the Jews' deliberate and conscious repudiation of and the true identity of God's Son.19:19-20 Normally the judge of a perso...
  • 17:1 Paul, Silas, Timothy, and perhaps others left Philippi and headed southwest on the Egnatian Road. Luke evidently stayed in Philippi since he again described Paul's party as "they"instead of "we"(cf. 20:5-6). Paul and Sil...
  • 22:23-24 Claudius Lysias could not understand why the Jews reacted as they did. If he did not understand Aramaic, his confusion would have been even greater. He could not tolerate a riot, so he decided to get the truth from P...
  • "The irregular structure of Luke's account of Paul's defense before the Sanhedrin evidently reflects the tumultuous character of the session itself. Three matters pertaining to Luke's apologetic purpose come to the fore: (1) ...
  • 23:25 The commander had to send a copy of the background of Paul's case along with Paul himself. Luke wrote that what follows in the text was substantially what the letter contained.23:26 This is the first mention of the comm...
  • Paul thanked God for changing him to enable Timothy to appreciate the fact that God can transform even the worst of sinners and enable His saints to accomplish supernatural feats. What precipitated Paul's testimony here was t...

Expositions Of Holy Scripture (Maclaren)

  • Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover. Pilate then went out unto...
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