John 18:19-24

Context

Jesus Questioned by Annas

18:19 While this was happening,¹ the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching.² 18:20 Jesus replied,³ “I have spoken publicly to the world. I always taught in the synagogues⁴ and in the temple courts,⁵ where all the Jewish people⁶ assemble together. I⁷ have said nothing in secret. 18:21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said.⁸ They⁹ know what I said.” 18:22 When Jesus¹⁰ had said this, one of the high priest’s officers who stood nearby struck him on the face and said,¹¹ “Is that the way you answer the high priest?” 18:23 Jesus replied,¹² “If I have said something wrong,¹³ confirm¹⁴ what is wrong.¹⁵ But if I spoke correctly, why strike me?” 18:24 Then Annas sent him, still tied up,¹⁶ to Caiaphas the high priest.¹⁷

[18:19] ¹tn The introductory phrase “While this was happening” is not in the Greek text. It has been supplied in the translation to clarify the alternation of scenes in the narrative for the modern reader.

[18:19] ²sn The nature of this hearing seems to be more that of a preliminary investigation; certainly normal legal procedure was not followed, for no indication is given that any witnesses were brought forth at this point to testify against Jesus. True to what is known of Annas’ character, he was more interested in Jesus’ disciples than in the precise nature of Jesus’ teaching, since he inquired about the followers first. He really wanted to know just how influential Jesus had become and how large a following he had gathered. This was of more concern to Annas that the truth or falsity of Jesus’ teaching.

[18:20] ³tn Grk “Jesus answered him.”

[18:20] ⁴sn See the note on synagogue in 6:59.

[18:20] ⁵tn Grk “in the temple.”

[18:20] ⁶tn Grk “the Jews.” Here the phrase refers to the Jewish people generally, for whom the synagogues and the temple courts in Jerusalem were important public gathering places. See also the note on the phrase “Jewish religious leaders” in v. 12.

[18:20] ⁷tn Grk “And I.” The conjunction καί (kai, “and”) has not been translated here in keeping with the tendency of contemporary English style to use shorter sentences.

[18:21] ⁸tn Grk “Ask those who heard what I said to them.” The words “to them” are not translated since they are redundant in English.

[18:21] ⁹tn Grk “Look, these know what I said.”

[18:22] ¹⁰tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[18:22] ¹¹tn Grk “one of the high priest’s servants standing by gave Jesus a strike, saying.” For the translation of ῥάπισμα (rJapisma), see L&N 19.4.

[18:23] ¹²tn Grk “Jesus answered him.”

[18:23] ¹³tn Or “something incorrect.”

[18:23] ¹⁴tn Grk “testify.”

[18:23] ¹⁵tn Or “incorrect.”

[18:24] ¹⁶tn Or “still bound.”

[18:24] ¹⁷sn Where was Caiaphas the high priest located? Did he have a separate palace, or was he somewhere else with the Sanhedrin? Since Augustine (4th century) a number of scholars have proposed that Annas and Caiaphas resided in different wings of the same palace, which were bound together by a common courtyard through which Jesus would have been led as he was taken from Annas to Caiaphas. This seems a reasonable explanation, although there is no conclusive evidence.