John chapter 18

vs 21

It's unsurprising Jesus tells them to ask other people. I mean, they never listened to Jesus in the first place - why would they listen to him now?

But more than that - if you ask someone what they said, they could change their story. Better to get corroborating evidence from people who heard.

vs 22

Well, obviously it is how he talks to the high priest, because he just did. In fact, Ciaphas is the high priest, not Annas. But the two are interchangeable. I believe that one was high priest as far as Roman authorities went, and the other was as far as Jewish authorities went. But what did he say that was actually wrong? Possibly there was something in his voice that doesn't translate well to paper. Or perhaps hitting him made them feel better.

vs 23

What Jesus said was true. Perhaps a little smart-arsey. But he's right - why hit him if he spoke t the truth? Because you want to hate this person, so you hit them to make you feel better. Makes them feel like a criminal if you try to get a rise out of them so they yell and scream and so on.

vs 24

So now he goes to the high priest. Well, the other one. I actually think the KJV translation makes more immediate sense (it's noted in the NIV), but I don't really think it's a breaking issue.

vs 25

We all want to know about Jesus, and we're very interested in what's going to happen. So now is a perfect time to mention Peter and what's happening outside.

In fact, he is still standing around the fire, denying he is a disciple of Jesus. At this point, Jesus could even be being led past him out the door towards the palace. Who knows. But Peter, for a second time, has denied Jesus.

vs 26

You'd think you'd remember the face of someone who cut your relative's ear off. So they're starting to get the picture here. After all, if he's not at this house for the sake of the high priest, why is he here?

vs 27

Peter denies his Lord a third time, and then the rooster crows. It doesn't tell us how he felt, or what he did next. In fact, Peter sort of falls out of the picture for a while, and we have to wait till later to hear from him. But he is a very important figure in the gospel of John. So look out for him.

vs 28

We, however, go back to Jesus, who has seen Ciaphas (their confrontation is unmentioned, unless you take the note on vs 24), and is now being led to the palace. But the Jews can't enter, because Passover is that weekend, and they want to partake in it, so they stay outside. I'm not actually 100% sure, but I'm pretty sure that they would have been fine. But I guess it is the house of a gentile. But they didn't force Jesus to go in, so it's not obvious.

vs 29

Pilate knew better than to stuff around with the Jews. Even though they've come early in the morning, and they won't come into his house, he deals with them outside, sort of on their terms. He sees what's going on, and wants to know what they're charging this man with. He's the governer, after all. And he has to keep the state stable. Which means sometimes doing things to make the natives happy.

vs 30

That's probably the weakest prosecution I've ever heard. It's so lame, in fact, that it really makes you wonder. Certainly, Pilate would have had to have been wondering what was going on at this point. Why not just straight out and tell him what crimes he had committed? But no, instead they play a silly game which is illogical. I can just imagine Pilate sighing and muttering "Going to be one of those days".