Lesson for November 2, 2025

The Book of John

Lesson 39

Chapter 18:1-32

Verses 1-11

“When Jesus had spoken these words, He went away with His disciples across the ravine of the Kidron, where there was a garden which He entered with His disciples. ² Now Judas, who was betraying Him, also knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with His disciples. ³ So Judas, having obtained the Roman cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. ⁴ Jesus therefore, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, came out into the open and said to them, ‘Whom are you seeking?’ ⁵ They answered Him, ‘Jesus the Nazarene.’ He said to them, ‘I am He.’ And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them. ⁶ Now then, when He said to them, ‘I am He,’ they drew back and fell to the ground. ⁷ He then asked them again, ‘Whom are you seeking?’ And they said, ‘Jesus the Nazarene.’ ⁸ Jesus answered, ‘I told you that I am He; so if you are seeking Me, let these men go on their way.’ ⁹ This took place so that the word which He spoke would be fulfilled: ‘Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one.’ ¹⁰ Then Simon Peter, since he had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave’s name was Malchus. ¹¹ So Jesus said to Peter, ‘Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, am I not to drink it?’”

After the prayers of Jesus, He and his disciples travelled to the Garden of Gethsemane. Judas, knowing where Jesus had gone, brought the authorities (Roman soldiers, chief priests, Pharisees), to falsely arrest Jesus. Judas approached Jesus and kissed Him on the cheek, which was a normal greeting at that time. However, the kiss was part of a sinister plot to identify Jesus for thirty pieces of silver from the Jewish chief priests. (Matthew 26:14-16, 47-50) Then Peter, in an attempt to protect Jesus, drew a sword and cut off the ear of one of the slaves of the Jewish high priest. Jesus rebuked Peter and touched the slave’s ear, and it was healed. (Luke 22:51)

Verses 12-24

“So, the Roman cohort, the commander, and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him, ¹³ and brought Him to Annas first; for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. ¹⁴ Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was in their best interest for one man to die in behalf of the people. ¹⁵ Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, ¹⁶ but Peter was standing at the door outside. So, the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in. ¹⁷ Then the slave woman who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, ‘You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?’ He said, ‘I am not.’ ¹⁸ Now the slaves and the officers were standing there, having made a charcoal fire, for it was cold and they were warming themselves; and Peter was also with them, standing and warming himself. ¹⁹ The high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching. ²⁰ Jesus answered him, ‘I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple area, where all the Jews congregate; and I said nothing in secret. ²¹ Why are you asking Me? Ask those who have heard what I spoke to them. Look: these people know what I said.’ ²² But when He said this, one of the officers, who was standing nearby, struck Jesus, saying, ‘Is that the way You answer the high priest?’ ²³ Jesus answered him, ‘If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?’ ²⁴ So Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.”

The First Illegal Trial – Jesus Before Annas

The Scriptures tell us that immediately after His arrest, Jesus was led to Annas for a preliminary examination. Annas was perhaps one of the most powerful and influential Jews in Jerusalem. He served as the high priest from 7-15 A.D. Even after he was removed from office in 15 A. D., he still retained the title. (Luke 3:2; John 18:19, 22; Acts 4:6, where he is called the “high priest” even though he was not the actual high priest) So great was his influence that five of his sons, as well as his son-in-law Caiphas and his grandson Matthias, each served as the high priest. Josephus, the Jewish historian said this about Annas: “Annas proved a most fortunate man; for he had five sons, who had all performed the office of a high priest to God, and he had himself enjoyed that dignity a long time formerly.” (The Antiquities of the Jews, XX. ix. 1)

The examination before the trial, when Christ stood before Annas, attempting to obtain an admission of guilt from Jesus, was an illegal trial since Annas was no longer the high priest. At the time of these events, Annas was a man of great age and experience, and great wealth. He reaped a huge profit from the Temple sales (Matthew 21:12-13), which transformed the Temple into a den of thieves. Though not holding the actual office or title, Annas was considered the high priest in the eyes of the people, and on any matter of great importance, he was always the man to consult. We should not be surprised, therefore, to learn that Jesus was led to Annas first. (John 18:13)

By his questions, Annas was insinuating that Jesus was gathering around Himself a band of followers (His disciples) with the intention of political insurrection and revolt against Rome. He wanted Jesus to say something that would make Him appear as a person Who was seeking to overthrow Roman rule. He knew the Romans would gladly execute anyone guilty of, or even accused of, sedition or treason. In short, Annas wanted Jesus to say something which would incriminate Him. Notice Jesus’ masterful response in John 18:20-22. It was as if Jesus was saying, “I decline to be a witness against Myself, and I demand that you produce honest witnesses as the law requires.”

Then Annas sent Him bound to his son-in-law, Caiaphas, the actual high priest. “The high priest” mentioned in John 18:19,22 refers to Annas (the former high priest) and not Caiaphas (the actual high priest).

The trial before Annas was entirely illegal. It was held at night, contrary to Jewish law; no indictment (a formal written statement charging a person with an offense) was prepared; no witnesses were heard; no counsel or defense attorney was provided for the defendant. All of these things were required by Jewish law. Furthermore, Annas was no longer the high priest and could not legally sit as a judge. (Deuteronomy 19:15-21)

Verses 25-27, ^“Now Simon Peter was still standing and warming himself. So, they said to him, ‘You are not one of His disciples as well, are you?’ He denied it, and said, ‘I am not.’ ²⁶ One of the slaves of the high priest, who was related to the one whose ear Peter cut off, said, ‘Did I not see you in the garden with Him?’ ²⁷ Peter then denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed.” This event had been prophesied by Jesus in Matthew 26:34 and John 13:38.

Verses 28-32

^“Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter the Praetorium, so that they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover. ²⁹ Therefore, Pilate came out to them and said, ‘What accusation are you bringing against this Man?’ ³⁰ They answered and said to him, ‘If this Man were not a criminal, we would not have handed Him over to you.’ ³¹ So Pilate said to them, ‘Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law.’ The Jews said to him, ‘We are not permitted to put anyone to death.” ³² This happened so that the word of Jesus which He said, indicating what kind of death He was going to die, would be fulfilled.”

The Second Illegal Trial – Jesus Before Caiaphas

After His trial before Annas, Jesus was taken next to Caiaphas, the actual high priest. This corrupt priest is also described in John 18:13-14 and John 11:49-51. As to their character and hatred for Jesus, Caiaphas and Annas were of like mind. The Sanhedrin, under the leadership of Caiaphas and under the influence of Annas, found some false witnesses. (Matthew 26:59) The testimony of these witnesses proved to be a great embarrassment to the Jewish leaders. (Mark 14:56) Finally, two witnesses came forth with an accusation based on something Jesus had once said. (Matthew 26:57-64)

Caiaphas stood up and asked Jesus, “Do you not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?” (Matthew 26:62; Mark 14:60). Usually, people try to defend themselves even when they know they are wrong. In this case, Jesus was completely blameless and innocent, and He had every right to defend Himself against the unjust charges that were being hurled at Him. We marvel, therefore, at His silence. (Isaiah 53:7) After the period of silence, the high priest spoke again. This time Caiaphas placed Jesus under oath, the most solemn and the weightiest oath of all in Matthew 26:63, “And the high priest said to Him, “I place You under oath by the living God, to tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus knew that it was now impossible to remain silent. He could not deny Who He was! “What you have said is so” was the answer Jesus gave. Jesus also referred to Himself as the Son of Man who shall come again to judge the world. (Matthew 26:64; Daniel 7:13-14)

As soon as Jesus had made His great claim, the high priest gave the verdict – guilty of blasphemy. The Council then pronounced the sentence – death! (Matthew 26:65-66, “Then the high priest tore his robes and said, ‘He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? See, you have now heard the blasphemy; what do you think?’” They answered, ‘He deserves death!’ What was His great crime? He claimed to be the Messiah (God’s anointed King), the Son of God! “If You are the Son of God as You just claimed, tell me what my name is,” as one by one they would spit on Him, punch Him, and say ‘Prophesy.’ (Mark 14:65) Christ could have easily told them their names, but again He remained silent and graciously endured this horrible treatment. This trial was also illegal being held at night, using false witnesses, failure to provide a defense attorney, held during the holy days, and violence in the court which were all illegal under Jewish law.

The Third Illegal Trial – Jesus Before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin (Formal Trial)

The Council (Sanhedrin) gathered together for one more meeting the next morning. Jesus was awake all that night, and along with the mockery, abuse, and punishment would be added sheer physical exhaustion and fatigue, which naturally comes from going many hours without sleep. The Jewish leaders knew that their night trial was illegal. So, as soon as it was day, they quickly condemned Christ again, as they had done earlier. Their decision was to put Jesus to death. (Matthew 27:1) Now all they needed was the permission and help of the Roman authorities to carry it through. It was still the holy days of the Passover and Unleaven Bread, so they could not legally hold a trial or sentence anyone, according to Jewish law. Therefore, this brief morning trial to make things look legal was illegal as well. Like the first two trials, there was still no indictment (a formal written statement charging a person with an offense) prepared, no witnesses were heard, and no counsel or defense attorney was provided for the defendant (Jesus).