Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

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 18:22

And when he had thus spoken ,.... What was so right and reasonable, in so becoming a manner, without heat or passion: one of the officers which stood by ; it may be one of those who had been sent to him and had been a hearer of him, whom Jesus might look wistfully at, or point unto, when he said the above words, at which he might be provoked: and therefore stroke Jesus with the palm of his hand ; or gave him a rap with a rod, or smote him with a staff, as some think, is the sense of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 18:22

One of the officers - struck Jesus - This was an outrage to all justice: for a prisoner, before he is condemned, is ever considered to be under the especial protection of justice; nor has any one a right to touch him, but according to the direction of the law. But it has been observed before that, if justice had been done to Christ, he could neither have suffered nor died. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 18:22

Verse 22 22.When he had said these things. This is added, in order to inform us, first, how great was the rage of the enemies of Christ, and how tyrannical their government was; and, secondly, what sort of discipline existed among those priests. They sit like judges, but they are as cruel as ferocious beasts. A council is assembled, in which the utmost gravity ought to have prevailed; and yet a single officer is so daring and presumptuous, that, in the midst of the judicial proceedings, and in... 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 18:22

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

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

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

Group of Brands