Lectionary Calendar

Saturday, December 21st, 2024
the Third Week of Advent

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Bible Commentaries
John 18

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Verse 1

John 18:0

John 18:4-6. The other evangelists give a very different account of the circumstances which attended the apprehension of Jesus. We can reconcile them only by supposing that Jesus advanced in order to surrender himself, and Judas in order to betray him, simultaneously, and that John relates one circumstance, and the three remaining evangelists the other.

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Verse 8

Verse 8

These, his disciples, who were with him.

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Verse 9

Verse 9

John 17:12.

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Verse 10

Verse 10

Malchus. John is the only evangelist who gives this servant's name. There are two other allusions to his acquaintance with the high priest's family, in John 18:16,John 18:26.

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Verse 13

Verse 13

Annas was before this time the high priest, but he had been deposed. He was a man of considerable distinction, still possessing a great degree of influence, and retaining his title, of office.

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Verse 20

Verse 20

The meaning is, that the open and public manner in which Jesus had always taught, was sufficient proof that he entertained no treasonable designs.

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Verse 23

Verse 23

If I have spoken evil; meaning in the public instruction which he had given, as mentioned in John 18:20,John 18:21.

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Verse 24

Verse 24

Had sent him; previously; for the events related in John 18:15-23 took place at the house of Caiaphas.

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Verse 26

Verse 26

Saith; about an hour afterwards (Luke 22:59.)

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Verse 28

Verse 28

Defiled; ceremonially; this judgment-hall being the seat of a Roman, and of course Gentile tribunal. Their unwillingness to enter affords a strange illustration of the compatibility of excessive punctiliousness in the outward forms of religion, with the most complete moral corruption. These whited sepulchres, with hearts full of envy, hatred, and murder, could not go into a Roman building, lest they should be defiled!--The passover; that is, probably the remaining sacrifices and feasts of the paschal week; for, according to Luke 22:7,Luke 22:13,Luke 22:14,Luke 22:15, the evening on which the paschal lamb was to be eaten, was the evening preceding.

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Verse 31

Verse 31

It is not lawful, &c. The case of Stephen, and other evidence from secular writers, renders it doubtful whether the Jewish tribunals were absolutely prohibited from inflicting capital punishment, in all cases. Perhaps they meant that they were not allowed to punish by crucifixion, which was the object that they had determined upon effecting, if possible. This supposition comports best with the John 18:32.

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Verse 36

Verse 36

The argument used here by the Savior is that though he might have called himself a king, yet the whole tenor of his life, and the peaceable demeanor of his followers, showed that his kingdom was a spiritual kingdom; that is, that he claimed to be a king only in a figurative sense.

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Verse 37

Verse 37

Heareth my voice; obeyeth me; is my subject. The meaning is, that what he called his kingdom was only a spiritual kingdom, comprising all those that loved the truth.

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Bibliographical Information
Abbott, John S. C. & Abbott, Jacob. "Commentary on John 18". "Abbott's Illustrated New Testament". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/ain/john-18.html. 1878.

Bible CommentariesJohn 18

Abbott's Illustrated New TestamentAbbott's NT

Bible Commentaries
John 18