John 18 - The King James Study Bible

18:1. The brook Cedron is a ravine on the east side of Jerusalem toward the Mount of Olives. The “garden” was Gethsemane, though John does not give its name. Nor does he give an account of Jesus’ prayer there, or of the disciples’ sleepiness (cf. Matt. 26:36–46).

18:1–19:42. The passion (suffering) narrative was probably the first portion of Christ’s life and ministry to be recorded. It circulated orally for several years before it was put into writing. It was developed because an understanding of Jesus’ death was so vital to the preaching of the early church. The early disciples were forced by the nature of the case to explain why the innocent Savior was crucified as a criminal. The story they told revealed not only the blameless passion of Jesus, but also the evil passions of the men who caused His death.

18:2–4. Judas brought the band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees (the Sanhedrin) with lanterns, torches (it was night), and weapons. They hunted the Light of the World with flickering lanterns and torches. Band of men is a Roman cohort (three hundred to six hundred Roman soldiers). John’s account of the betrayal and arrest does not mention Judas’s kiss. It does, however, supply many other interesting details not given in the synoptic Gospels. Jesus knew the future; He knew they sought Him.

18:5–8. I am (egō eimi) recalls His earlier use of this expression (see Introduction).

18:9. Fulfilled: Compare with 17:12.

18:10,11. Only John gives us the name of the disciple who cut off the servant’s ear. It was Peter. (Peter and John were often together—see Introduction.) And only John gives us the servant’s name (Malchus), yet he does not record the healing of Malchus’s ear. See Luke 22:51.

18:12–27. There were three stages of this Jewish trial: (1) a preliminary arraignment before Annas, given only by John here; (2) an informal trial before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin before dawn (v. 24), reported fully in Matthew 26:57–68 and Mark 14:53–65; (3) a formal trial by the Sanhedrin after dawn, reported fully in Luke 22:66–71, and briefly mentioned in Matthew 27:1 and Mark 15:11.

18:15. Another disciple was probably John.

18:24. John does not record Jesus’ arraignment before Caiaphas (cf. Matt. 26:57).

18:25–27. Peter’s denials were predicted by Jesus in 13:38 (cf. 21:15–17; also Matt. 26:69–75; Mark 14:66–72; Luke 22:54–62).

18:28–31. Defiled: They will not enter the house of a Gentile and thus cause ceremonial defilement—but they are willing to commit murder. When Pilate asks for the accusation, they admit there is none deserving of death by Roman law (vv. 30,31). Pilate realizes that Jesus has been delivered to him on account of their jealousy.

18:28–19:15. This Roman trial, although certainly unjust, was probably technically legal, since Christ was not a Roman citizen with legal rights.

18:32. Fulfilled: This is a fulfillment of 12:32,33. If the Jews, rather than the Romans, had slain Him, it would have been by stoning.

18:35–38. Pilate’s only concern is whether Jesus has incited rebellion against Rome. Jesus’ answers show this is not the case. For this reason Pilate finds no fault with Him.