12 Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. 13 And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. 14 Now it was Caiaphas who advised 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. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. 16 But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in. 17 Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” 18 Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself. 19 The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine. 20 Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. 21 Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.” 22 And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?” 24 Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
Commentary
Vs. 12-13 12 Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. 13 And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year.
By the previous passage we clearly learn that only when Jesus Himself permitted it (vs 1-11) were these wicked men and thugs able to arrest Jesus and bound Him (vs. 12). Having done so they now take Him to Annas the previous high priest who was removed from his position by Herod and Rome. And so, some speculate that he being the father-in-law of Caiaphas, whom they appointed to replace him, who was then the officiating high priest, that he was still exercising authority in that role to the Jews though officially removed from it. Thus, before they would take Him to Caiaphas to be officially examined and tried, they had too take Jesus to Annas who still bore rule (though unofficially) over the Jews (vs 13).
Vs. 14 “Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.”
Now Caiaphas as the then officiating high priest who was then executing its official duties and services as high priest had prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation (John 11:45-52, vs. 50). And so, it will be Caiaphas the weak and capitulating son-in law of Annas who will be the high priest to sit over the religious trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin council before officially condemning Him to death.
Vs. 15-16 15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. 16 But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in.
When Jesus was arrested and taken to the high priest’s residence both Simon Peter and another disciple (who is commonly believed to have been John the writer of this Gospel) followed them there. Now that unnamed disciple (i.e. John) was known to the high priest and so he himself secured admittance into the courtyard before coming going back and securing Peters own admittance onto the grounds.
Vs. 17 Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.”
However, when the servant girl who kept watch at the door or entrance way saw Peter, she asked him directly if he was one of Jesus’ disciples, to which Peter replied, “I am not.” Thus, Peter had now begun to unwittingly fulfill Jesus’ own prophetic Word about him, that he would deny Him three times.
Vs. 18 “Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself.”
And so now being admitted onto the grounds, Peter soon finds himself standing with some of the high priests’ servants and officers who were warming themselves by a fire. However, it will not be long before they discern that he does not belong amongst them, just as the world always discerns that when we Christ’s disciples are amongst them that we do not belong with them either.
Vs. 19 “The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine.”
The scene now shifts back to the high priest who is critically questioning Jesus about His disciples and doctrine, while Peter is warming himself with his officers and servants.
Vs. 20 Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing.
Now Jesus in answering him knows that his questioning Him is not a genuine inquiry to learn from Him or discern what Jesus said and taught, but is only his trying to get Jesus to self-incriminate Himself so that he might be able to condemn Him. Therefore, Jesus tells him to ask all those who heard Him what He said, for as He says, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing.”
Vs. 21 “Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.”
Therefore, Jesus knowing that He had been seized on false pretenses now challenges the high priest to present his evidence, for if Jesus had spoken anything deserving of arrest or punishment then they should present their case justly before Him. And that is why Jesus is saying to him to go ask all who heard Him speak, for the people know just what He spoke and none of them ever condemned Him, or thought Him worthy of punishment or death (consider Mark 12:37).
Vs. 22 And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?”
When Jesus basically challenged the high priest to act justly and present some genuine evidence against Him, one of officers who stood by when he heard Jesus speak like that struck Jesus with the palm of his hand saying to Him, “Do You answer the high priest like that?” To which I would say do you treat the Son of God like that!
Vs. 23 Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?”
Jesus’ though instead of retaliating with Words simply says to him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?”
Vs. 24 “Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.”
Annas then having failed to make a case against Jesus now sends Him bound to Caiaphas the official high priest. This is then where Jesus’ official trial by the Jews will now take place.
Scripture Quotations
New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson.
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