John 18:28 kjv
Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.
John 18:28 nkjv
Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover.
John 18:28 niv
Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover.
John 18:28 esv
Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor's headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover.
John 18:28 nlt
Jesus' trial before Caiaphas ended in the early hours of the morning. Then he was taken to the headquarters of the Roman governor. His accusers didn't go inside because it would defile them, and they wouldn't be allowed to celebrate the Passover.
John 18 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 18:29 | "So Pilate went out to them and said, 'What accusation do you bring against this man?'" | Direct context |
| Matthew 27:11-14 | Jesus stands before Pilate, who questions Him about being "King of the Jews." Jesus gives a brief reply. | Parallel account, questioning |
| Mark 15:2-5 | Similar account of Jesus before Pilate, with Pilate asking if Jesus is "King of the Jews." Jesus remains silent. | Parallel account, questioning |
| Luke 23:2-5 | Pilate finds no guilt in Jesus but faces pressure from the Jewish leaders who accuse Him of forbidding tribute. | Parallel account, accusations |
| John 18:31 | "Pilate said to them, 'You take him and judge him yourselves according to your law.' Then the Jews said to him, 'We are not permitted...'" | Jewish inability to execute |
| Acts 3:13 | Peter tells the crowd that they delivered Jesus up and denied Him before Pilate. | Historical context |
| Acts 7:59-60 | Stephen's speech mentions being stoned while Jesus receives His spirit. | Jewish rejection of authority |
| John 1:11 | Jesus came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. | Theme of rejection |
| John 19:7 | The Jews retort, "We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God." | Specific accusation |
| 1 Samuel 16:7 | God looks at the heart, while people look at outward appearance. Relates to why Jews avoided defilement. | Jewish ritualistic concerns |
| Leviticus 11:24-43 | Laws concerning ceremonial uncleanness, detailing what makes things unclean, including touching certain dead things. | Basis for Jewish scruples |
| Exodus 12:22 | Instructions for the Passover meal, involving dipping a bunch of hyssop in blood, highlighting careful observance. | Context of Passover |
| Deuteronomy 21:22-23 | A criminal executed by hanging is cursed by God. This implies an objection to leaving Jesus' body exposed. | Possible Jewish concern |
| John 18:14 | Mentions Caiaphas giving advice that it was expedient for one man to die for the people. | Caiaphas' earlier involvement |
| John 18:22 | Jesus' response to the officer's slap is one of reasoned defense, not defensiveness. | Jesus' demeanor |
| John 18:38 | Pilate's famous "What is truth?" response when Jesus explains His kingdom. | Pilate's inquiry |
| Matthew 23:23-24 | Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for straining out gnats but swallowing camels, focusing on outward appearance. | Hypocrisy of religious leaders |
| Isaiah 53:7 | The suffering servant is oppressed and afflicted, yet he opens not his mouth. | Fulfillment of prophecy |
| Psalm 38:12-14 | David describes enemies lying in wait and seeking his life, while he himself remains silent. | Psalmic echo of silence |
| Acts 4:7 | The Sanhedrin asked Peter and John, "By what power or by what name did you do this?" | Similar questioning by Jewish council |
John 18 verses
John 18 28 Meaning
Jesus is brought from the house of Caiaphas to the Roman governor's headquarters. The Jewish leaders, particularly the Pharisees and elders, refuse to enter Pilate's palace because it would defile them. They want to eat the Passover meal that night. They ask Pilate to judge Jesus, accusing Him of criminal behavior.
John 18 28 Context
This verse occurs during Jesus' trial before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor. Following His arrest and preliminary questioning by Annas and Caiaphas, Jesus is brought to the Roman administrative headquarters (the Praetorium) for a formal trial before the Roman authority. The Jewish Sanhedrin, led by the chief priests and elders, sought to have Jesus executed, but as a subjugated people under Roman rule, they lacked the authority to carry out capital punishment. Their refusal to enter Pilate's palace stems from a desire to maintain ritual purity, especially with the Passover feast imminent. Entering a Gentile's house could make them ritually unclean, preventing them from eating the Passover. This detail highlights the tension between Jewish law and the political realities of Roman occupation, as well as the often superficial religiosity of the accusers.
John 18 28 Word analysis
Now (νυν - nun): Temporal adverb, indicating immediate succession of events.
they (αυτους - autous): Pronoun, referring to the group who had brought Jesus.
led (ηγαγον - agagon): Verb, past tense of ago, meaning "to lead" or "to bring." Refers to the act of escorting Jesus.
Jesus (Ιησουν - Iesoun): The name of the Son of God.
from (απο - apo): Preposition indicating origin or separation.
Caiaphas (Καϊαφα - Kaipha): The High Priest during Jesus' trial.
to (εις - eis): Preposition indicating motion into a place.
the Praetorium (το πραιτωριον - to praitōrion): The governor's headquarters, or palace. Often interpreted as the Fortress Antonia in Jerusalem.
and (και - kai): Conjunction.
it (και - kai): This conjunction begins the next clause.
was (ην - en): Verb, imperfect tense of eimi, "to be."
early (πρωια - prōia): Adverb of time, meaning "early in the morning."
and (και - kai): Conjunction.
they (αυτοι - autoi): Pronoun, referring to the Jewish leaders themselves.
themselves (αυτοι - autoi): Emphatic pronoun.
went (επηγαγον - epēgagon): Verb, compound form of ago with prefix epi, suggesting bringing Jesus to or into the place.
into (εις - eis): Preposition indicating motion into a place.
the Praetorium (το πραιτωριον - to praitōrion): Repeated, reinforcing the location.
but (αλλα - alla): Conjunction indicating contrast.
that (ινα - hina): Conjunction introducing a purpose clause.
they (μη - mē): Negative particle.
might not be defiled (μιανθωσι - mianthōsi): Verb, subjunctive mood, aorist tense of miaino, meaning "to defile," "to pollute," or "to stain." Expresses the religious concern of ritual uncleanness.
but (αλλα - alla): Conjunction indicating contrast.
might eat (φαγωσι - phagōsi): Verb, subjunctive mood, aorist tense of phago, meaning "to eat." Refers to eating the Passover meal.
the Passover (το πασχα - to pascha): The Jewish Feast of Passover.
Led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early. The phrase "it was early" sets the time. The swiftness of the transfer emphasizes the urgency and orchestration of the plot against Jesus. The religious leaders pushed for an immediate decision, using the early morning hours.
They themselves went into the Praetorium, but that they might not be defiled, but might eat the Passover. This grouping highlights the contrast between the accusers and the accused, and between spiritual and ritual concerns. The primary concern of the Jewish leaders was ritual purity to partake in the Passover, demonstrating a preoccupation with external observance over justice or truth. This contrasts sharply with Jesus' later statements about inner righteousness. The specific time constraint for the Passover meal added pressure to conclude proceedings swiftly.
John 18 28 Bonus section
The "Praetorium" could refer to the residence of the Roman governor in Jerusalem, typically Herod the Great's palace in the western part of the city, or the Fortress Antonia, which had administrative offices. The Jews' fear of defilement is rooted in Levitical law, specifically concerning uncleanness acquired by entering the house of a foreigner or eating with them, which would prevent them from participating in the Passover sacrifice and meal. Their concern shows how deeply ingrained their ritual system was, even under foreign rule. The timing, "early," is significant as it reflects the haste with which the Jewish authorities pursued Jesus' execution. This also sets the stage for Pilate's subsequent interactions with Jesus and the crowds throughout the day.
John 18 28 Commentary
The Jewish leaders orchestrate the immediate transfer of Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate. They are meticulous about their ritual cleanness, refusing to enter the Roman headquarters to avoid contamination before the Passover meal. This reveals their priority: observing ritual law over seeking true justice for Jesus. Despite claiming to uphold divine law, their actions demonstrate a deep adherence to their own interpretations of purity regulations, prioritizing a feast over a man's life. This situation highlights the paradox of their religiosity—an outward adherence that obscures inner spiritual truths and moral responsibility. Pilate's role as the ultimate judge is underscored as he must now consider their accusation.