John 18:19-23 NLT,NIV,ESV

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 18:22

And when he had said these things, one £ of the officers standing by, anxious to win with his officious zeal the approval of his master, gave Jesus a ῥάπισμα . (Meyer says it cannot be settled whether this word means a stroke with a rod (as Godet, Bengel) or a blow on the cheek or ear, which was the current punishment for a word supposed to be insolent; but δέρεις of John 18:23 , which means "to flay," implies a more severe punishment than a blow on the face with the hand.)... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 18:23

Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, come forward as a witness of the evil which thou hast heard. Thus he took no notice of the charge brought against him. But if I have spoken well, why smitest thou me? A quiet appeal to the conscience of the wretched upstart who dared to insult the Lord of glory. It is thus that the Lord explained the spirit of his own injunction, "Whosoever shall smite thee on the one cheek, turn to him the other also" ( Matthew 5:39 ). Nothing was gained by... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 18:19

The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples - To ascertain their number and power. The charge on which they wished to arraign him was that of sedition, or of rebellion against Caesar. To make that plausible, it was necessary to show that he had made so many disciples as to form a strong and dangerous faction; but, as they had no direct proof of that, the high priest insidiously and improperly attempted to draw the Saviour into a confession. Of this he was aware, and referred him to the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 18:20

Openly to the world - If his doctrine had tended to excite sedition and tumult, if he had aimed to overthrow the government, he would have trained his friends in secret; he would have retired from public view, and would have laid his plans in private. This is the case with all who attempt to subvert existing establishments. Instead of that, he had proclaimed his views to all. He had done it in every place of public concourse in the synagogue and in the temple. He here speaks the language of one... 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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 18:22

One of the officers - One of the inferior officers, or those who attended on the court.With the palm, of his hand - This may mean: “Gave him a blow either with the open hand or with a rod” - the Greek does not determine which. In whatever way it was done, it was a violation of all law and justice. Jesus had showed no disrespect for the office of the high priest, and if he had, this was not the proper way to punish it. The Syriac reads thus: “Smote the cheek of Jesus.” The Vulgate and Arabic:... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 18:23

Spoken evil - In my answer to the high priest. If there was any disrespect to the office, and lack of regard for the law which appointed him, then testify to the fact, and let punishment be inflicted according to the law; compare Exodus 22:28.But if well ... - While an accused person is on trial he is under the protection of the court, and has a right to demand that all legal measures shall be taken to secure his rights. On this right Jesus insisted, and thus showed that, though he had no... 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

The Pulpit Commentary - John 18:21

The Pulpit Commentary - John 18:21

The Pulpit Commentary - John 18:22

The Pulpit Commentary - John 18:23

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 18:19

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 18:20

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

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 18:22

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 18:23

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

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