John 18 - New Spirit-Filled Life Bible

18:1 The Brook Kidron, often dry in summer but rain-swollen in winter, runs along the eastern side of Jerusalem, past the Garden of Gethsemane and the Mt. of Olives. One coming from Jerusalem had to cross the Kidron to reach Gethsemane.

18:5, 6 I am He: On the surface these words simply identified Jesus in terms of His Galilean hometown. Just as the other “I am” sayings in John, however, this one also revealed Jesus as God. This explains the impact of His words on the troops, who are involuntarily smitten by this momentary unleashing of His inherent power as God.

18:13 Although Caiaphas was high priest at the time of the arrest of Jesus, Annas, the ex-high priest, exercised greater influence and authority.

18:15 The other disciple has traditionally been identified as John, the writer of this Gospel, who preferred not to divulge his name (see 13:23; 19:25–27).

18:19 In a trial it was illegal for the accused to be interrogated, lest he incriminate himself. Guilt must be established by witnesses.

18:22 The Jews again violated their own law in striking Jesus.

18:28 The Praetorium was the residence of the Roman procurator, in this case, Pilate. During the main Jewish festivals, the Roman governor would reside in Jerusalem in order to forestall any possible uprising. While plotting murder, the religious authorities were careful not to defile themselves ceremonially.

18:32 If the Jews had been allowed to carry out the death penalty, Jesus would have been stoned.

18:33–38 The dialogue between Pilate and Jesus clarifies the true nature of the Lord’s kingship and emphasizes its abiding relevance.

18:36 See section 1 of Truth-In-Action at the end of John.