John Chapter 18:19-40

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The Gospel Of John Chapter 18:19-40

Jesus Questioned By Annas: ‘Here the narrative resumes the account of Jesus before the high priest, briefly suspended at verse 14, in order to report the episode involving Peter and John, with their arrival and entrance.’ (Woods p. 378)

John 18:19 ‘The high priest therefore questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching.’ ‘therefore questioned Jesus’-‘Jesus was not brought to him only “to honor the old gentleman”…Annas conducted this examination in order to extract some information for the use of Caiaphas.’ (Lenski p. 1197) Hendriksen notes, ‘Greedy, serpent-like, vindictive Annas, rude, sly, hypocritical Caiaphas, crafty, superstitious, self-seeking Pilate, and immoral, ambitious, superficial Herod Antipas; these were his judges!….It has been emphasized by various authors that the trial of Jesus was illegal on several technical grounds, such as the following: A. No trial for life was allowed during the night. Yet, Jesus was tried and condemned during the hours of 1-3 A.M. Friday. B. The arrest of Jesus was effected as a result of a bribe, namely, the blood-money which Judas received. C. Jesus was asked to incriminate himself. D. In cases of capital punishment, Jewish law did not permit the sentence to be pronounced until the day after the accused had been convicted.’ (pp. 395-396)

‘about His disciples’-Evidently, the disciples of Jesus were not known by everyone. Possibly, Annas also asked Jesus what was expected of his disciples, what they did and so on. In addition, like many people, Annas might have been more concerned about Jesus’ popularity than whether or not He spoke the truth.

‘about His teaching’-‘Luther pictures the proud ecclesiastic in all his haughty arrogance, acting as though he did not know what Jesus taught, as though he had not deemed it worth while hitherto to acquaint himself with the teaching of this inferior man. Of course, Annas takes for granted that the doctrine of Jesus for which he gathered adherents is heretical and contrary to the teaching of the Old Testament…Its one purpose is to find something in whatever Jesus may say about his doctrine that may be used for

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