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    John 18:12-27
    ​Lesson 209

    Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

    In this lesson:
     
    Jesus is brought before Annas, the High Priest.
    (You won't find the report of Annas questioning Jesus anywhere else in the Bible.)
     
    Also:
    Peter denies, and the cock crows.
    Jesus stands before Annas.
    By Matthias Stom (1600 -1652).
    Study Tip: 
     
    The Bible is a complex book, so it helps to study more than one translation.  As you read each lesson, scroll back and forth between the "King James Version" and the "New Living Translation" below.

    ​Also, check the margin notes in blue and click on the links. 

    The Gospel According to St. John

    The King James Bible    ​

    John 18:12-27
    Preliminary hearing

    12 Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him,
     
    13 And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.
     
    14 Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.
     
    15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.
     
    16 But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.
     
    17 Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not.
     
    18 And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.
     
    19 The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.
     
    20 Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.
     
    21 Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.
     
    22 And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?
     
    23 Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?
     
    24 Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.
     
    25 And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not.
     
    26 One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?
     
    27 Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.
    ​Margin notes: 
     
    "Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus." (18:12) - Jesus is arrested, just as prophesized in the Old Testament.
     
    "Annas." (18:13) -  The Jewish high priest for nine years (AD 6-15) until the Romans deposed him.  Many Jews resented Roman interference in their religious affairs and still considered Annas the rightful high priest.  After being removed from office, he continued to hold lesser positions (Acts 4:6), and four of his sons went on to become high priest after him.  As revealed in this verse, Annas' daughter married his successor, Joseph Caiaphas. 
     
    "Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people." (18:14) - Caiaphas feared that if they didn't silence Jesus, the Romans would punish all Jews.  To save themselves, he was willing to kill Jesus (11:48-50).
     
    "Another disciple." (18:15) - Most Bible scholars agree this unnamed disciple is John, the author of this Gospel.
     
    "Peter stood at the door without." (18:16) - "Peter stood outside at the door."
     
    "The damsel that kept the door." (18:17) - In Jesus' day, women were often hired as doorkeepers. 
     
    "His doctrine." (18:19) - "His teaching."
     
    "I ever taught in the synagogue." (18:20) - "I frequently taught in the synagogue."  Jesus didn't hide when teaching.  He taught in front of large crowds and even preached at the Temple.  
     
    "Whither the Jews always resort." (18:20) - "Where the Jews come together."
     
    "Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me." (18:21) - According to Jewish law, the accused had legal protection against self-incrimination.  As Jesus suggests, Annas should have been questioning the witnesses.
     
    "Jesus answered him, if I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil." (18:23) - Jesus is asking where the witnesses are that accuse Him.  Since there were none, the council looked for false witnesses (Matthew 26:59-60; Mark 14:55-56).
     
    "Why smitest thou me?" (18:23) - Means "why do you hit me."  It is well documented that Jesus was hit and beaten (Matthew 26:67; Mark 14:65; Luke 22:63-64; John 19:3).
     
    "Being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off." (18:26) - "Being a relative of the man (Malchus) whose ear Peter cut off."  See John 18:10 (lesson 208).
     
    "Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew." (18:27) - Just as Jesus predicted (Matthew 26:34; Mark 14:30; Luke 22:34; John 13:38).  Don't be hard on Peter for denying Christ.  He was no Scaramouch.  An hour earlier, Peter had drawn a sword trying to singlehandedly fend off the mob that came to arrest Jesus (Matthew 26:51; Mark 14:47; Luke 22:50; John 18:10).
    Matthew 26:69-75 (lesson 57), Mark 14:66-72 (lesson 96) and Luke 22:55-62 (lesson 157) have more on Peter's denial.


                                                  New Living Translation 
     

    John 18:12-27 
    Jesus at the High Priest's House
     
    12 So the soldiers, their commanding officer, and the Temple guards arrested Jesus and tied him up.

    13 First they took him to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest at that time.

    14 Caiaphas was the one who had told the other Jewish leaders, "It's better that one man should die for the people."

    Peter's First Denial

    15 Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did another of the disciples. That other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, so he was allowed to enter the high priest's courtyard with Jesus.

    16 Peter had to stay outside the gate. Then the disciple who knew the high priest spoke to the woman watching at the gate, and she let Peter in.

    17 The woman asked Peter, "You're not one of that man's disciples, are you?"        "No," he said, "I am not."

    18 Because it was cold, the household servants and the guards had made a charcoal fire. They stood around it, warming themselves, and Peter stood with them, warming himself.

    ​The High Priest Questions Jesus

    19 Inside, the high priest began asking Jesus about his followers and what he had been teaching them.

    20 Jesus replied, "Everyone knows what I teach. I have preached regularly in the synagogues and the Temple, where the people gather. I have not spoken in secret.

    21 Why are you asking me this question? Ask those who heard me. They know what I said."

    22 Then one of the Temple guards standing nearby slapped Jesus across the face. "Is that the way to answer the high priest?" he demanded.

    23 Jesus replied, "If I said anything wrong, you must prove it. But if I'm speaking the truth, why are you beating me?"

    24 Then Annas bound Jesus and sent him to Caiaphas, the high priest.

    Peter's Second and Third Denials

    25 Meanwhile, as Simon Peter was standing by the fire warming himself, they asked him again, "You're not one of his disciples, are you?"    He denied it, saying, "No, I am not."

    26 But one of the household slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, "Didn't I see you out there in the olive grove with Jesus?"

    ​27 Again Peter denied it. And immediately a rooster crowed.
    ​This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible.  However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
    Today's question:
     
    1.  Why was Jesus brought to Annas' house in the middle of the night?  Why not wait until morning? (18:13)



    Let me know if you have any questions; I will do my best to answer them.
    Answer: (Do you agree?)
     
    1. They dragged Jesus to Annas' house in the middle of the night in their haste to convict Jesus.  They didn't want to wait until morning.  With the Passover holiday approaching, there was a sense of urgency among the Pharisees to be done with Jesus quickly.  Jerusalem was filling up with pilgrims celebrating Passover, and many of them were sympathetic to Jesus.  The Pharisees wanted to rid themselves of this troublemaker before there could be a public outcry, and they had much work to do.  They had to gather false witnesses, conduct a mock trial, convince Pilate to sentence Jesus to death, and then carry out the execution.  Hoping that Jesus would incriminate Himself and save them time, the former high priest Annas conducted a quick preliminary interrogation (18:19-24) before the actual trial.



    Application thought for the day:

    Peter denied knowing Christ out of fear for his life.  How many of us have denied Jesus because it was awkward, embarrassing, or merely too inconvenient to admit we're Christians? 
    Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible."  All were critical in putting these lessons together.
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