John 18:21 kjv
Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.
John 18:21 nkjv
Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said."
John 18:21 niv
Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said."
John 18:21 esv
Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said."
John 18:21 nlt
Why are you asking me this question? Ask those who heard me. They know what I said."
John 18 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jn 7:26 | "Yet here he is, speaking publicly, and they say nothing to him." | Jesus taught openly. |
| Jn 12:46 | "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me..." | Jesus' public ministry as light. |
| Jn 12:47 | "...judge him, for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world." | The purpose of His public mission. |
| Jn 12:49 | "For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me..." | Divine authority behind His public words. |
| Jn 12:50 | "And I know that his command is eternal life. So whatever I say is just..." | God's word and eternal life declared openly. |
| Matt 26:55 | "Every day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me." | His consistent, public teaching location. |
| Luke 22:53 | "When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me." | Emphasizes open presence and teaching. |
| Acts 26:26 | "For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak freely..." | Paul's testimony echoes public truth. |
| 1 Cor 15:6 | "Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time..." | Public nature of critical events (resurrection). |
| Deut 19:15 | "A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime..." | Legal principle of multiple witnesses. |
| Num 35:30 | "If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the evidence..." | Witness requirement for capital cases. |
| 2 Cor 13:1 | "Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses." | NT reiteration of witness principle. |
| Matt 18:16 | "But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you..." | Application of witness principle in church. |
| Isa 53:7 | "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth..." | Contrast with Jesus' active defense here (not silence). |
| Ps 38:13 | "But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear, like a mute man who does not open..." | Describes unjust suffering, where one might be silent. |
| Prov 28:1 | "The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion." | Jesus' boldness in demanding proper process. |
| Amos 5:10 | "They hate him who reproves in the gate, and they abhor him who speaks the truth." | Rejection of open, truthful speech. |
| John 3:20 | "For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to..." | Concealing truth vs. seeking it. |
| John 3:21 | "...that his deeds may not be exposed. But whoever does what is true..." | Emphasizes seeking light and truth openly. |
| John 7:16 | "My teaching is not my own but that of him who sent me." | Divine origin of His teaching. |
| John 8:26 | "Many things to say about you and to judge, but he who sent me is true..." | Truth rooted in the Father. |
| John 8:43 | "Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear..." | Truth challenges hearers who resist it. |
| Jn 10:27 | "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." | Emphasizes the relationship of hearing and knowing. |
John 18 verses
John 18 21 Meaning
John 18:21 records Jesus' response during His illegal interrogation by Annas, the former high priest. When questioned about His disciples and His teaching, Jesus deflects the direct inquiry about His doctrine by asserting the public and open nature of His ministry. He states that His teachings were never secretive but proclaimed openly to all who listened. Therefore, for an accurate account, Annas should question those who heard Him, as they possess the knowledge of what He taught. This challenges the impropriety of the secret questioning and highlights Jesus' commitment to transparent truth.
John 18 21 Context
John 18:21 occurs immediately after Jesus' arrest in Gethsemane and His being led to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the current High Priest. This initial questioning by Annas (Jn 18:19) was informal and entirely illegal under Jewish law, which required proceedings to be public, not secret, and to begin with the testimony of witnesses, not by compelling the accused to testify against himself. Annas questions Jesus about His disciples, perhaps to gauge potential armed resistance, and about His doctrine, likely searching for grounds for charges of sedition or blasphemy. Jesus' response directly challenges the irregular, biased nature of this secret inquiry, implicitly calling for adherence to legal and moral integrity even amidst an attempt to convict Him. This interrogation sets the stage for the more formal, yet still unlawful, proceedings before Caiaphas and then Pilate.
John 18 21 Word analysis
- Why (Diati / διὰ τί): This Greek interrogative phrase directly questions the legitimacy and purpose of Annas' inquiry. It implies Jesus views the questioning itself as inappropriate or misguided given the circumstances. It's a rhetorical challenge, not an expression of ignorance.
- ask me? (Erotas me? / ἐρωτᾷς με;): The verb erotas is in the present tense, emphasizing Annas' ongoing action. Jesus highlights the futility and impropriety of Annas' direct interrogation of Him regarding teachings that were already widely known. He is pointing out that the questioner is circumventing proper procedure.
- Ask (Erotason / ἐρώτησον): This is an imperative, a command or directive, telling Annas to shift his line of inquiry to the appropriate sources. It's a confident, assertive instruction from one facing trial, demonstrating His sovereignty over truth.
- those who heard (tous akousantas / τοὺς ἀκούσαντας): This refers to Jesus' followers and general audiences. The aorist participle emphasizes that their hearing was a completed event, solidifying the public nature of His past ministry. They are the true, available witnesses.
- what I said (ha elalesa / ἃ ἐλάλησα): The verb laleō means "to speak, to utter, to declare." It refers to spoken words or declarations. Jesus explicitly states He spoke to them (autoîs), reinforcing the public and direct nature of His teaching. There were no secret doctrines or hidden messages.
- to them. (autois / αὐτοῖς): Refers to the public who heard Him. The direct address to "them" underscores the accessibility and open availability of His words.
- They know (Oidasin autoi / οἴδασιν αὐτοὶ): Oidasin (from oida) implies a deep, intuitive, and complete understanding, not just a casual acquaintance. Jesus claims these listeners possess direct, reliable knowledge of His teaching, making them the legitimate witnesses.
- what I said. (ha eipon / ἃ εἶπον): The repetition of the phrase "what I said" using a different Greek verb eipon (general word for "said") further reinforces the substance and content of His teaching. It underscores the clear, unambiguous nature of His public discourse. The use of both elalesa and eipon subtly highlights the full scope of His spoken word and specific statements.
- "Why ask me? Ask those... They know what I said.": This phrase group emphasizes the procedural impropriety of Annas' actions. Jesus redirects the authority to His audience, highlighting His public transparency as a stark contrast to the darkness and secrecy of the current trial. It implies a clear challenge: if you seek the truth, go to the witnesses; the truth is not hidden with me.
John 18 21 Bonus section
Jesus' response also subtly distinguishes between the legal requirements for accusation and His identity as the embodiment of Truth. While human justice might demand external witnesses for conviction, Jesus Himself is the ultimate witness to God's truth (Jn 18:37). His statement here asserts that even on human terms, His public life offers full evidence, thus stripping Annas of any legitimate reason to prolong his illicit, secret inquiry. It is a refusal to cooperate with illegality, instead exposing the corrupt judicial system trying Him.
John 18 21 Commentary
Jesus' reply in John 18:21 is a masterclass in defiance against an unjust interrogation and an affirmation of transparent truth. Facing an illegal questioning, Jesus does not deny His teaching but asserts its open, public nature. He demands that proper legal procedure be followed, specifically the Jewish legal requirement for witnesses (Deut 19:15), rather than compelling Him to incriminate Himself in a secret proceeding. His teaching was never delivered in "secret places" but "always in synagogues and in the temple," making His words widely accessible and knowable to all who listened. By pointing to "those who heard" Him, Jesus highlights His innocence and the readiness of witnesses who could attest to the truth of His doctrine. This response is not an evasion, but a powerful call for due process and a bold declaration that His entire ministry stood in the light, contrasting sharply with the secretive darkness of His capture and trial.