John 18 24

John 18:24 kjv

Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.

John 18:24 nkjv

Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

John 18:24 niv

Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

John 18:24 esv

Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

John 18:24 nlt

Then Annas bound Jesus and sent him to Caiaphas, the high priest.

John 18 verses

John 18 24 Meaning

This verse signifies a formal, yet illegal, transfer of Jesus from the preliminary interrogation by Annas to the official high priest, Caiaphas. Jesus remains in chains, underscoring His status as a prisoner and the intent of His captors to secure a conviction. It marks the transition to the next, more formal, stage of His unjust trial before the Sanhedrin, presided over by Caiaphas.

John 18 24 Context

John chapter 18 details Jesus' betrayal by Judas, His arrest, and initial Jewish interrogations. The verse immediately follows Annas's questioning of Jesus regarding His disciples and doctrine, during which Jesus maintained His integrity and publicly taught. Despite Jesus' direct answers and the lack of any evidence of wrongdoing, Annas, a highly influential former High Priest and father-in-law to the current High Priest Caiaphas, sends Him to Caiaphas. This act reflects a calculated transfer of authority within the corrupt religious establishment, moving Jesus from a preliminary, likely informal, interrogation to the official high priestly court. This transfer was orchestrated by individuals already intent on His condemnation, foreshadowed by Caiaphas's earlier "prophecy" (Jn 11:49-50) that one man should die for the people. Historically, Jewish trials during this period often had strict procedures regarding witness testimony and timing which were demonstrably violated in Jesus' case, highlighting the profound injustice unfolding.

John 18 24 Word analysis

• Then (Τότε - Totes): Indicates a chronological progression, following the conclusion of the interrogation by Annas. It marks a critical shift from the informal questioning by Annas to the more formal religious trial to be presided over by Caiaphas.
• Annas (Ἄννας - Annas): Although deposed by the Romans, Annas remained a profoundly influential figure, revered by the Jewish people, and effectively operating as a shadow power behind his son-in-law, the reigning high priest Caiaphas (Jn 18:13). His actions demonstrate the pervasive corruption within the ecclesiastical authority of the time.
• sent (ἀπέστειλεν - aposteilen): A strong verb indicating a formal dispatch or commission, carrying the weight of authority. It underscores Annas's continued control and decisive role in directing Jesus' trial, even if his questioning lacked official standing.
• Him (αὐτὸν - auton): Refers specifically to Jesus. This pronoun highlights Jesus as the singular, central object of their determined, albeit unjust, proceedings and machinations.
• bound (δεδεμένον - dedemenon): A perfect passive participle, indicating a state of being "bound" that was already in effect from His arrest and continued. This detail emphasizes Jesus' status as a helpless prisoner in their hands, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies regarding the Suffering Servant's submission to His captors (Isa 53:7-8).
• to Caiaphas (πρὸς Καϊάφαν - pros Kaiaphan): Designates the specific destination of Jesus. Caiaphas was the officially appointed high priest for that year (Jn 11:49, 18:13). This transfer signified the move from a preliminary, informal stage to the legitimate seat of Jewish judicial power for a formal hearing.
• the high priest (τὸν ἀρχιερεῖ - ton archierei): Singular and definitive, this title unequivocally confirms Caiaphas's legitimate office, distinguishing him from Annas's unofficial but powerful role. The trial thus transitions to the officially sanctioned leader of the Sanhedrin, further revealing the structured opposition Jesus faced.

• Annas sent Him bound: This phrase reveals the practical, ongoing mistreatment of Jesus—He remained a captive throughout these initial stages. It highlights Annas's proactive role in managing the initial phase of the trial and then passing Jesus on, under duress, to the official head.
• sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest: This entire phrase encapsulates the culmination of the preliminary, irregular interrogation and the commencement of the official religious trial. It points to a swift, concerted effort by the Jewish leadership to expedite Jesus' process under constraint, towards an inevitable condemnation, revealing the predetermined nature of the 'justice' to be administered by a biased court.

John 18 24 Bonus section

• The Roman system of appointing and deposing high priests frequently resulted in several former high priests still being alive, maintaining immense influence and forming a powerful priestly aristocracy, of which Annas was a leading figure. This family cultivated a strong hold over the Temple hierarchy, effectively forming a dynasty.
• John's detailed account emphasizes the direct, active involvement of both Annas and Caiaphas, underscoring their personal roles in the plot against Jesus more explicitly than the Synoptic Gospels, which often group "the chief priests" together.
• The description of Jesus remaining "bound" throughout these initial transfers (from arrest to Annas, then to Caiaphas) powerfully illustrates His submission and vulnerability, yet it simultaneously fulfills the divine plan of the Suffering Servant.
• This verse is crucial for understanding the procedural stages of Jesus' trial, even if those procedures were corrupted. It outlines the transfer from an influential but unofficial hearing to the legally constituted body (the Sanhedrin) overseen by the reigning high priest.

John 18 24 Commentary

John 18:24 marks a pivotal moment in Jesus' Jewish trial. Annas, wielding significant informal power due to his past office and familial ties, had completed his preliminary, unlawful questioning. By "sending Him bound" to Caiaphas, Annas ensured Jesus remained a prisoner, visually cementing His status as one condemned. This transfer was not a step towards impartial justice but an expedited handover to the official high priest who had already, prior to this, advocated for Jesus' death for the perceived good of the nation (Jn 11:49-50). The verse concisely demonstrates the seamless, conspiratorial handover between two key figures in the Jewish hierarchy, exposing the depth of the corruption and their resolve to carry out their predetermined sentence against the innocent Messiah. It is a moment of profound irony, as the earthly representative of Israel's covenant with God delivered God incarnate into the hands of those bent on destroying Him, a paradox deeply woven into the narrative of divine sacrifice.