John 18

John 18:3

Judas therefore furnishing himself with a band of soldiers, and some of the ministers of the sanhedrim, cometh to that place with candles and lamps,

[a] lanterns] The word φανός, from φαίνω, is used, saith Phavorinus, ἐπὶ τῆς λαμπάδος, “for a lamp, or light,” but that, saith he expressly, μὴ ἐπὶ τοῦ κερατίνου, “not for a lantern,” but, as he goes on, (τοῦτο δὲ λυχνοῦχον λέγω,) “any thing that hath a light on it,” which, being as it is there, contradistinct to the lantern, is a candle on a candlestick, or somewhat proportionable to that among the Jews, which we usually express by the word lights, that is, candles, &c., set out for use and service.

John 18:4

Jesus therefore knowing all that was done by them, and what was approaching to him, went forth— ᵇ the soldiers &c. went backward— ᶜ let my disciples, all but myself, be dismissed, or not apprehended.

John 18:9

And by this means that speech of his (see ch. xvii. 12, 15.) had another, beside the ordinary completion, that no one of his disciples was cut off with him. ᵈ This ought not to have been done by thee: shall I not suffer patiently, without resisting, what my heavenly Father hath determined I shall suffer? ² were coming upon him, came out, τὰ ὀρχόμενα—ἐξελθὼν—

John 18:14

This was that Caiaphas, who spake those words in the sanhedrim, as they were consulting about Christ, ch. xi. 50, that it was expedient— ’ John. ’ John, who was known unto the high priest— ’ publicly before an assembly, (see note [a] ch. vii.) ’ hall, αὐλύ. G g HAMMOND, VOL. I.

John 18:23

Jesus answered him, If there were any ill in my speech, accuse me and prove it; but if there were no crime in me, why dost thou strike me?

John 18:24

And for all that thus sincerely come from thee to me, which from being thy servants come and receive, and believe in me, (see note [d] ch. vi.,) obey my message also, for them I pray, that they may follow me to heaven, that they may manifestly see the honour wherewith thou hast magnified me, (an effect of thine infinite love towards me,) before all eternity, and not look on me any longer as a mortal passible man, such as now I am, see ver. 5.

John 18:25

And yet for all this, righteous Father, the rulers and great men of the world do not acknowledge thee after all thy goodness to them, as appears by their not receiving of me, who am sent by thee; but as I have received the revelation of thy will, known thy secret counsels, so, though the world have not, yet these disciples of mine, for whom I now pray, have been convinced, and acknowledge that I come from thee.

And in Caiaphas’s hall Simon Peter stood—

John 18:26

And therefore I have revealed thee, and thy attributes, and purposes to them, and will do so still; that as thou hast expressed thy love to me, so I may express mine to them, and enable them to work the same works that I am able to work. ### CHAP. XVIII. WHEN Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.

John 18:28

[b] lest they should be defiled] The praetor’s hall was full of Pilate’s Roman soldiers: now these being Gentiles, are in that condition of which Maimonides saith that they are to be accounted for such as have “a perpetual issue of blood upon them,” whensoever any thing is to be done wherein the question of cleanness or uncleanness is considerable, as here, in the eating the passover, of which no unclean person was to partake. So that by presence among the Gentiles this legal uncleanness is contracted, as much as by any thing. Hence is that of Acts x. 28, Ἀθέμιτον ἀνδρὶ Ἰουδαίῳ κολλάσθαι ἢ προσέρχεσθαι ἀλλοφύλῳ, It is unlawful for a Jew to be joined to or converse with an heathen. So Acts xi. 3, Why didst thou go in to those that were uncircumcised, and didst eat with them? And Justin out of Trogus, speaking of the Jews, and affirming falsely that they were banished out of Egypt for fear of infecting the Egyptians with some disease, lest, saith he, they should be avoided, and hated by all other nations for the same cause, caverunt ne cum peregrinis communicarent, quod ex causa factum, paulatim in disciplinam religionemque concertit, “they took care never to communicate with strangers, which being first done on this cause,” (so this heathen had resolved to defame them,) “by degrees turned into

John 18:32

Jesus had foretold that he should be lifted up or crucified, which was a Roman punishment; this prediction of his was now to be fulfilled, and to that tends the Jews’ saying, that the power of putting men to death was taken from them, and was only in the power of the Roman procurator.

" Dost thou ask this question for thine own satisfaction, or as a crime laid to my charge by the Jews?

" Can I know what the Jews out of their books and prophecies expect and promise themselves? The Jews have laid this to your charge, that you pretend to be their king; what have you done to give occasion to this charge?

John 18:36

In answer to Pilate’s question, ver. 33, Jesus said, I pretend not to, nor aim at any earthly kingdom: if I did, I should engage my followers in a military manner to assist me as their king, and defend me from being delivered into the Jews’ power; but now, by the contrary, (as appears by the reproof of Peter, ver. 11,) it appears that I do not pretend to any such earthly kingdom.

• We have no authority. G 2