View John 18 in the note window.
1: A garden - Probably belonging to one of his friends. He
might retire to this private place, not only for the advantage of
secret devotion, but also that the people might not be alarmed at
his apprehension, nor attempt, in the first sallies of their zeal,
to rescue him in a tumultuous manner. Kedron was (as the name
signifies) a dark shady valley, on the east side of Jerusalem,
between the city and the mount of Olives, through which a little
brook ran, which took its name from it. It was this brook, which
David, a type of Christ, went over with the people, weeping in his
flight from Absalom.(Mt 26:30,Mr 14:26,Lu 22:39).
2: (Mr 14:43,Lu 22:47).
3: A troop of soldiers - A cohort of Roman foot.
6: As soon as he said, I am he, they went backward and fell to
the ground - How amazing is it, that they should renew the assault,
after so sensible an experience both of his power and mercy!
But probably the priests among them might persuade themselves and
their attendants, that this also was done by Beelzebub; and that
it was through the providence of God, not the indulgence of Jesus,
that they received no farther damage.
8: If ye seek me, let these (my disciples) go - It was an eminent
instance of his power over the spirits of men, that they so far
obeyed this word, as not to seize even Peter, when he had cut off
the ear of Malchus.
9: (Joh 17:12).
10: Then Simon Peter - No other evangelist names him. Nor could
they safely. But St. John, writing after his death, might do it
without any such inconvenience.
13: Annas had been high priest before his son - in - law Caiaphas.
And though he had for some time resigned that office, yet they
paid so much regard to his age and experience, that they brought
Christ to Annas first. But we do not read of any thing remarkable
which passed at the house of Annas; for, which reason, his being
carried thither is omitted by the other evangelists.(Mt 26:57,Mr 14:53,Lu 22:54).
17: Art thou also - As well as the others, one of this man's
disciples - She does not appear to have asked with any design
to hurt him.
20: I spake openly - As to the manner: continually - As to the time:
in the synagogue and temple - As to the place. In secret have I
said nothing - No point of doctrine which I have not taught in public.
21: Why askest thou me - Whom thou wilt not believe?
22: Answerest thou the high priest so? - With so little reverence?
24: Now Annas had sent him to Caiaphas - As is implied(Joh 18:13).
Bound - Being still bound,(Joh 18:12).
28: They went not into the palace themselves, lest they should be
defiled - By going into a house which was not purged from leaven,(De 16:4,Mt 27:2,Mr 15:1,Lu 23:1); .
31: It is not lawful for us to put any man to death - The power of
inflicting capital punishment had been taken from them that very
year. So the sceptre was departed from Judah, and transferred
to the Romans.
32: Signifying what death he should die - For crucifixion was not a
Jewish, but a Roman punishment. So that had he not been condemned
by the Roman governor, he could not have been crucified.(Joh 3:14).
36: My kingdom is not of this world - Is not an external, but a
spiritual kingdom; that I might not be delivered to the Jews
- Which Pilate had already attempted to do, (Joh 18:31), and
afterward actually did, (Joh 19:16).
37: Thou sayest - The truth. To this end was I born - Speaking of
his human origin: his Divine was above Pilate's comprehension.
Yet it is intimated in the following words, I came into the
world, that I might witness to the truth - Which was both declared
to the Jews, and in the process of his passion to the princes of
the Gentiles also. Every one that is of the truth - That is, a
lover of it, heareth my voice - A universal maxim. Every sincere
lover of truth will hear him, so as to understand and practise
what he saith.
38: What is truth? - Said Pilate, a courtier; perhaps meaning what
signifies truth? Is that a thing worth hazarding your life for?
So he left him presently, to plead with the Jews for him, looking
upon him as an innocent but weak man.
