Bible Commentaries
John 18

Verse 1

These words ; the words of the wonderful prayer which he had just offered.

Cedron ; or Kidron, a torrent-bed which ran through the valley of Jehoshaphat, on the east side of Jerusalem, between the city and the mount of Olives. It has water only in the rainy season. 2 Samuel 15:23 . By communing with God in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, a man is prepared to go forth, in His name and strength, to any duties or trials to which he is called.

Verses 2-11

Jesus is betrayed. Matthew 26:47-56 .

Verse 4

The sufferings and death of Christ were all foreseen by him, and were perfectly voluntary. He carefully avoided committing himself to his enemies, or suffering them to take him before his time had come; but then he made no attempt to escape. He even went forth and met them, and committed himself to their disposal. He went as a lamb to the slaughter; as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. Isaiah 53:7-8 ; Acts 8:32 ; Acts 8:35 .

Verse 6

Fell to the ground ; prostrated themselves before him under the influence of his divine power. This showed that they were completely in his power; had he seen fit, he could easily have escaped their hands, or summoned legions of angels to his rescue.

Verse 8

These ; his disciples. Such was the love of Christ to his disciples, and such his delight in their enjoyment, that he was more ready to save them from their enemies, than to save himself from the agonies of the cross.

Verse 9

Lost none ; chap John 17:12 .

Verse 11

The cup ; the sufferings which my Father hath appointed for me, shall I not endure them?

Verses 13-14

Christ before Caiaphas. Chap John 11:49-52 ; Matthew 26:57 .

Verse 14

The words of Scripture sometimes have a twofold meaning. They may express a meaning which the speaker had in his own mind; they may also express a more important meaning, intended by the Holy Spirit, though the speaker did not apprehend that meaning. Others may afterwards apprehend, and be more benefited by this meaning, than by that which the speaker had in his mind. Chap John 11:49-52 .

Verse 15

Another disciple ; supposed to be John, the writer of this gospel.

Verse 16

Brought in Peter ; into the hall or court, which was a square space open above, around which the palace was built. The chamber in which the trial of Jesus was going on was open in front, so that Peter could witness the trial, and Jesus could see Peter. Mark 14:66 ; Luke 22:61 .

Verse 19

Asked Jesus ; questioned him, as if he and the Sanhedrin needed information on these points.

Verse 20

Openly ; Matthew 26:55 .

Verse 21

Ask them which heard me ; this was the legal and proper way of gaining evidence.

Verse 22

Men may violate law, commit injustice, and act the part of tyrants, out of professed regard to the ministers and institutions of religion; and while instigated by the devil and their own evil passions, they may think that they are serving God. Chap John 16:2 .

Verses 25-27

Peter’s denial. Matthew 26:69-75 .

Verse 28

Hall of judgment ; the place where Pilate the Roman governor held his court.

Lest they should be defiled ; they would not enter this apartment of a Gentile, lest they should be unfitted to partake of the passover; so careful were they about contracting ceremonial pollution, while they were seeking to commit the most horrible crime.

But that they might eat the passover ; see not to chap John 13:1 . Men may be very scrupulous as to the observance of outward ceremonies, yet very reckless as to the commission of enormous crimes. No outward profession or inward experience is evidence of piety, unless it lead men to hate known sin, and have respect to all God’s commandments. Psalms 66:18 ; Psalms 119:6 .

Verses 28-40

Christ before Pilate. Matthew 27:1-25 .

Verse 30

Malefactor ; an evil-doer, violater of law.

Verse 31

Take ye him , and judge him ; see note to chap John 19:6 .

Not lawful ; the power to put one to death had been taken away from the Jews by the Roman government; and this was the reason why they sought to have Pilate condemn him.

Verse 32

The saying of Jesus ; crucifixion was a Roman punishment, while the Jewish punishment for the crime of which they accused him was that of stoning. Leviticus 24:11 ; Leviticus 24:15-16 . By taking him to the Roman governor, they fulfilled his own prediction concerning the manner of his death. Matthew 20:19 .

Verse 33

Art thou the King of the Jews? this question was put in consequence of the Jews having charged him with pretending to be a king, which they said was rebellion against Caesar. Luke 23:2 ; John 19:12 .

Verse 34

Of thyself ; have you observed any thing treasonable in me; or do you ask this question in consequence of what others have told you?

Verse 35

Am I a Jew? as much as to say, Since I am not a Jew, I cannot be supposed to be acquainted with the controversy which thine own countrymen the Jews have with thee. I wish to hear from thine own mouth in respect to this charge of making thyself a king.

Verse 36

Not of this world ; not an earthly kingdom. The kingdom of Jesus Christ is a spiritual kingdom. He reigns by truth and love over the hearts and lives of men. the friends of truth obey his voice, and find in doing it great reward. 2 Corinthians 4:2 ; Psalms 19:11 .

Verse 37

Art thou a king then? a king of any sort? Thou sayest ; this was equivalent to replying, I am a king. He then proceeded to show what kind of a king he was; one who came into the world to make known the truth, and to govern men not by force, but by spiritual influence. Pilate saw that his claims were no crime against the Roman government, and hence said,

Verse 38

What is truth? by this question Pilate manifested both his ignorance of our Lord’s meaning, and his indifference in respect to His doctrine.

I find in him no fault ; this the Holy Ghost caused to be written on an imperishable record, that it might stand an eternal monument of the falsehood of the Jews, and the perfect innocence of Jesus Christ.

Verse 39

Ye have a custom ; Matthew 27:15 .

Verse 40

Not this man , but Barabbas ; Pilate had asked them which they would have him set at liberty, Barabbas or Christ. Matthew 27:17 . Barabbas was guilty of sedition, the crime which they wrongfully charged upon Jesus; he was also a robber and a murderer. Yet they preferred him to the Son of God, the Saviour of the world. Mark 15:7 ; Luke 23:19 ; Luke 23:25 .