15-18. Simon Peter followed Jesus—Natural though this was, and safe enough, had he only "watched and prayed that he enter not into temptation," as his Master bade him (Matthew 26:41), it was, in his case, a fatal step. and . . . another disciple—Rather, "the other disciple"—our Evangelist himself, no doubt. known unto the high priest—(See on John 18:1). went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest. read more
16. But Peter stood at the door without—by preconcerted arrangement with his friend till he should get access for him. Then went out that other . . . and spake to her that kept the door, and brought in Peter—The naturalness of these small details is not unworthy of notice. This other disciple first made good his own entrance on the score of acquaintance with the high priest; this secured, he goes forth again, now as a privileged person, to make interest for Peter's admission. But thus our poor... read more
17. Then saith the damsel that kept the door—"one of the maids of the high priest," says Mark (Mark 14:66). "When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him and said" (Mark 14:66- :). Luke is more graphic (Mark 14:66- :) —She "beheld him as he sat by the fire (literally, 'the light'), and earnestly looked on him (fixed her gaze upon him), and said." "His demeanor and timidity, which must have vividly showed themselves, as it so generally happens, leading to the recognition of him"... read more
18. And the servants and officers—the menials and some of the "band" that "took Jesus." (Also see on :-.) stood there, who had made—"having made." a fire of coals, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves—"John alone notices the material (charcoal) of which the fire was made, and the reason for a fire—the coldness of the night" [WEBSTER and WILKINSON]. "Peter went in and sat with the servants to see the end ( :-), and warmed himself at the fire" ( :-). These two statements are extremely... read more
The commander (Gr. chiliarchos, cf. Acts 22:24; Acts 22:26-28; Acts 23:17; Acts 23:19; Acts 23:22) in view was the officer in charge of the Roman soldiers. He was evidently the person with the most official authority on the scene. However the Jewish officers (i.e., temple police) also played a part in Jesus’ arrest. Perhaps John noted that they bound Jesus in view of Isaiah’s prophecy that Messiah’s enemies would lead Him as a lamb to the slaughter (Isaiah 53:7). Jesus’ disciples abandoned Him... read more
1. The arrest of Jesus and the identification of the high priests 18:12-14John began his account of Jesus’ trials with a brief description of His arrest and by identifying the chief religious leaders who examined Him. read more
B. Jesus’ religious trial 18:12-27John is the only evangelist who recorded Jesus’ interrogation by Annas. It was preliminary to His appearance before Caiaphas and then before the Sanhedrin (John 18:24).Jesus’ Religious TrialMatthewMarkLukeJohnBefore AnnasJohn 18:12-14; John 18:19-24Before CaiaphasMatthew 26:57-68Mark 14:53-65Luke 22:54; Luke 22:63-65Before the SanhedrinMatthew 27:1Mark 15:1Luke 22:66-71Jesus’ Civil TrialBefore PilateMatthew 27:2; Matthew 27:11-14Mark 15:1-5Luke 23:1-5John... read more
The soldiers evidently led Jesus to the residence of the high priest. The location of this building is uncertain, though the traditional site is in the southern part of old Jerusalem just west of the Tyropoeon Valley. [Note: See the map "Jerusalem in New Testament Times" at the end of these notes.] Both high priests evidently occupied the same building. One was Annas, the former high priest whom the Jews still regarded as the legitimate high priest since the high priesthood under the Mosaic Law... read more
John doubtless identified Caiaphas as he did here to remind his readers of the prediction of Jesus’ substitute sacrifice (11:50), not just to identify Caiaphas. This identification also makes unnecessary a full recording of the deliberations that led to the Sanhedrin’s verdict. That record was already available in the Synoptics and was therefore unnecessary in John’s Gospel. read more
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Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - John 18:14
14. Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people—(Also see on :-.) read more