John 18:37

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - John 18:37

John 18:37. Thou sayest that I am a king.— Some would read this, Thou sayest [the truth]: For I am a king. "I came into the world for this end; that by explaining and proving the truth in general, and this great and fundamental branch of it in particular, Imight impress it upon men's consciences, and make them obedient to its laws. In this consisteth my kingdom; and all the lovers of truth obey me, and are my subjects." What our Lord here says incidentally, is to be regarded as an universal... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - John 18:37

37. Art thou a king then?—There was no sarcasm or disdain in this question (as THOLUCK, ALFORD, and others, allege), else our Lord's answer would have been different. Putting emphasis upon "thou," his question betrays a mixture of surprise and uneasiness, partly at the possibility of there being, after all, something dangerous under the claim, and partly from a certain awe which our Lord's demeanor probably struck into him. Thou sayest that I am a king—It is even so. To this end was I—"have I... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 18:33-38

2. The question of Jesus’ kingship 18:33-38a (cf. Matthew 27:11; Mark 15:2; Luke 23:3)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. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 18:37

Pilate did not understand the distinctions between Jesus’ kingdom and his own that Jesus was making. He did understand that Jesus was claiming to have a kingdom. Consequently he next tried to get Jesus to claim unequivocally that He was a king. Jesus admitted that He was a king, but He needed to say more about His reign if Pilate was to understand the nature of His kingship. Jesus had defined His kingdom negatively (John 18:36). Now He defined His mission as a king positively.The main reason... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - John 18:1-40

Christ Before Annas, Caiaphas, and Pilate1-14. Christ’s arrest and trial before Annas (cp. Matthew 26:30 = Mark 14:26 = Luke 22:39). The narrative is now parallel with the synoptic account, with which, though obviously independent, it closely agrees. Our Lord’s agony in the garden is omitted as well known, but it is alluded to (John 18:11), and the evangelist elsewhere uses language quite as definite as that of the synoptists in speaking of His agony of mind at the prospect of death (John... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - John 18:37

(37) Art thou a king then?—The sentence is both a question and an inference from the word “kingdom” of the previous verse. There is a strong emphasis, and it may be sarcasm, expressed in the pronoun, “Does it not follow then that Thou art a king?”Thou sayest that I am a king.—Or, perhaps, Thou sayest; for I am a king. (Comp. Matthew 26:25.)To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world.—Better, Unto this end have I been born, and unto this end am I come unto the world. Our... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - John 18:1-40

The Candour of Christ John 18:20 Among the attributes of our Redeemer's speech one which arrests attention is its candour. In our text our Lord lays claim to a great openness, and it is a claim which cannot be disputed. Of course this candour of our Lord and Master was always at the service of His love. It was the instrument of a pure and perfect sympathy which knew that there were seasons to be silent. We may trace this candour of our Lord in many spheres. I. In His treatment of those who... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - John 18:28-40

XIX. JESUS BEFORE PILATE."They led Jesus therefore from Caiaphas into the palace: and it was early; and they themselves entered not into the palace, that they might not be defiled, but might eat the Passover. Pilate therefore went out unto them, and saith, What accusation bring ye against this man? They answered and said unto him, If this man were not an evil-doer, we should not have delivered Him up unto thee. Pilate therefore said unto them, Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - John 18:1-40

III. “I Lay Down My Life, That I Might Take it Again.” Chapters 18-21 CHAPTER 18 1. The Arrest in the Garden. (John 18:1-11 .) 2. Before Annas and Caiaphas; Peter’s Denial. (John 18:12-27 .) 3. Before Pilate. (John 18:28-38 .) 4. Not this Man, But Barabbas. (John 18:39-40 .) The hour of His suffering had now come. With His disciples He went across the brook Cedron into the garden. It is the Kidron mentioned frequently in Old Testament history. When David fled from his own son Absalom, he... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - John 18:1-40

BETRAYED AND ARRESTED (vs.1-12) The Son of God goes calmly, steadily on to the great conquest of Calvary, each step of the way perfectly measured by divine wisdom. The fact of His going into the garden of Gethsemane is mentioned, and His disciples being with Him, but nothing is said here of His prayer of agony in the garden, being prostrate in supplication "with strong crying and tears." For that prayer belongs to the lowliness of His spotless Manhood, not to the sublime glory of His deity.... read more

Group of Brands