John 18:19 kjv
The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.
John 18:19 nkjv
The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine.
John 18:19 niv
Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.
John 18:19 esv
The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.
John 18:19 nlt
Inside, the high priest began asking Jesus about his followers and what he had been teaching them.
John 18 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 18:21 | "Ask them yourself..." | Fulfils Jesus' appeal to witnesses |
| John 18:23 | "If I said anything wrong, testify to what is wrong." | Reinforces Jesus' challenge |
| John 3:2 | "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God..." | Nicodemus acknowledges Jesus' teaching |
| John 9:34 | "You were born entirely in sins, and yet you are teaching us?" | Highlights persecution of Jesus' teaching |
| Acts 4:20 | "For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." | Echoes Jesus' principle |
| 1 Corinthians 15:2 | "By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to it..." | Emphasizes the importance of Jesus' message |
| Hebrews 5:14 | "But solid food is for the mature..." | Distinguishes levels of understanding |
| Matthew 13:52 | "Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple..." | Jesus' teaching instructs disciples |
| 1 Timothy 5:17 | "The elders who direct affairs well..." | Teachers have responsibility |
| Titus 1:9 | "...able to encourage others by sound doctrine and also to refute those who oppose it." | Qualification for teaching |
| Isaiah 50:4 | "The Sovereign LORD has given me a well-instructed tongue..." | Prophecy of Jesus' teaching |
| Jeremiah 1:7 | "But the LORD said to me, 'Do not say, "I am only a boy..."' | God commissions speakers |
| Psalm 119:105 | "Your word is a lamp for my feet..." | Value of God's teaching |
| John 14:26 | "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things..." | The Spirit's role in teaching |
| Acts 2:42 | "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching..." | Early church followed teaching |
| Romans 2:17-18 | "Indeed you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law..." | Condemnation of empty profession |
| 1 John 2:27 | "As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you..." | The Spirit teaches believers |
| John 17:8 | "For I gave them the words you gave me..." | Jesus speaks God's words |
| 2 Timothy 3:16 | "All Scripture is God-breathed..." | Scripture as authoritative teaching |
| Acts 10:42 | "He commanded us to preach to the people and testify..." | Apostolic mandate |
John 18 verses
John 18 19 Meaning
This verse describes Jesus' response to the high priest regarding His disciples and His teaching. Jesus refers to Himself as "I" and speaks of His public ministry. He appeals to the testimony of those who heard Him.
John 18 19 Context
This verse occurs during Jesus' trial before Annas, the former high priest. Annas is questioning Jesus, and Jesus' response points to His open, public ministry. He refers the interrogation to those who had directly heard His teachings and witnessed His actions, highlighting the lack of clandestine or secretive activity on His part. This takes place immediately after Jesus was struck by a guard for answering the high priest inappropriately.
John 18 19 Word Analysis
- "Annas questioned Jesus": Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, held significant influence as a former high priest and a leader of the Sanhedrin. His questioning of Jesus indicates the authorities' attempt to find fault with Him.
- "about his disciples and his teaching": The focus of Annas' inquiry is on the followers Jesus had gathered and the content of His messages. This reflects the threat Jesus' movement posed to the established religious and political order.
- "Jesus answered him": Jesus’ response is direct and to the point.
- "I spoke openly to the world": Jesus’ use of "openly" (Greek: parresia - παρρησίᾳ) signifies unhindered, fearless, and public speech, with no intention of hiding His message or activities. This is in contrast to the secret arrest and behind-closed-doors interrogation.
- "I always taught in synagogues and in the temple": Jesus points to the very centers of Jewish religious life, where His teachings were accessible to all, and indeed, proclaimed publicly. Synagogues were places of worship and instruction, and the Temple was the central sanctuary.
- "where the Jews always gather": This emphasizes the public and communal nature of Jesus' teaching, not isolated or private indoctrination.
- "and in secret I have said nothing": Jesus states definitively that His ministry was not conducted in hidden places or with covert methods. The phrase "in secret" (Greek: en krypto - ἐν κρυπτῷ) reinforces this lack of clandestine activity.
- "Why do you question me?": This is a direct challenge to Annas, asking for the legitimacy of his inquiry given that the evidence of Jesus' ministry was public.
- "Ask those who heard me": Jesus deflects the interrogation to the crowd and disciples who were present during His public ministry, effectively suggesting that Annas could find the answers there if he were genuinely seeking truth. This also shifts the burden of proof to the questioner.
- "Then the crowds and disciples": (Note: This part appears in the following verse, John 18:20, not directly in 18:19. However, it’s important to acknowledge its immediate connection.)
John 18 19 Bonus Section
The interrogator Annas was part of the Sadducees, who held a more Hellenistic worldview and had different theological perspectives than the Pharisees. They were often associated with the Jerusalem elite and wielded considerable political and religious power, often through corruption. The temple and synagogues were central to Jewish life, and Jesus' presence and teaching there were highly visible and impactful. Jesus’ statement reflects a consistent theme throughout his ministry: he came into the world to bear witness to the truth (John 18:37), and this witness was intended to be seen and heard. The "world" (Greek: kosmos - κόσμος) here refers to the human race in general, not just geographical locations.
John 18 19 Commentary
Jesus, facing interrogation by Annas, asserts the public and unhindered nature of His teaching ministry. He challenges the legality and appropriateness of the current private questioning by pointing to His open discourse in synagogues and the Temple. His ministry was not clandestine but a public proclamation of truth accessible to all. Jesus redirects Annas to the readily available testimony of those who heard Him, highlighting that the truth of His message was not hidden but openly declared. This defense underscores Jesus’ integrity and the open challenge He presented to the religious establishment of His day.