John 18:21 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.”

NIV: Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.'

NASB: Why are you asking Me? Ask those who have heard what I spoke to them. Look: these people know what I said.'

CSB: Why do you question me? Question those who heard what I told them. Look, they know what I said."

NLT: Why are you asking me this question? Ask those who heard me. They know what I said.'

KJV: Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.

NKJV: Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.”

Jerusalem's religious leaders have already made up their mind to kill Jesus (John 11:53). They are so committed to this conclusion that they arranged to have Jesus arrested in secret (Mark 14:1–2). They've convinced false witnesses to lie about Him (Mark 14:55–59). While going through the motions of a trial, they even asked Jesus to explain Himself (John 18:19). Jesus has already responded that His teaching has always been public—none of these Jewish leaders are confused about what He has taught (John 18:20).

The remark Christ makes here is an appeal to fairness. While He has chosen to submit to arrest (John 18:7), abuse (John 18:22), and execution (John 19:15–16). However, He will continue to make it clear that every part of their condemnation is false. Jesus is challenging the religious leaders to present evidence against Him. "Prove it," in short, is His reply in this verse.

John 18:19–24 begins a series of dishonest hearings led by Jewish religious leaders. The person leading the interrogation is Annas, the "true" high priest, though his son-in-law Caiaphas is Rome's current appointee. Much as a courtroom prosecutor might ask an accused to explain their actions, the high priest gives Jesus an opportunity to confess what He has taught. Yet, as Jesus points out, everyone there already knows what He has been teaching. Additional details of this sham trial are found in Matthew 26:59–68, Mark 14:55–65 and Luke 22:63–71.

Jesus is secretly, quietly arrested in the garden of Gethsemane and taken to a series of sham trials before Jewish leadership. This leads to His encounter with the local Roman governor. Jesus accepts being described as "King" but denies that His current purpose is earthly rule. A mob assembled by Jesus' enemies reject Pilate's attempt to free Jesus. In the meantime, Peter fulfills Christ's prophecy about a three-fold denial.

John's Gospel was written well after the other three, so he frequently chooses to present different details. Chapter 17 detailed Jesus' High Priestly Prayer, just before He entered the garden of Gethsemane. This chapter describes Jesus' arrest, sham trials before Jewish leadership, and the beginning of His trial before the Roman governor. In the following chapter, Jesus will be unfairly condemned, executed, and buried.

The gospel of John was written by the disciple John, decades later than the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls “signs”—in order to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in all of the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.

Accessed 5/4/2024 11:38:31 PM