Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.
Bound and brought first to Annas, Jesus was questioned about His followers and His teaching and answered by pointing His examiner to those who had heard Him. His words declare that His teaching had nothing hidden or secret, for He had spoken openly to the world in the synagogue and in the temple where the people always gathered. He would not bear witness about Himself in a secret examination, but required lawful testimony from public witnesses who knew what He had said and done. The answer rebuked the injustice of the proceeding, setting His open manner against a secret seizure and questioning designed to entrap Him and gain by unfair means a charge to use against Him.
Examination Before Annas
Bound and led away first to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year, Jesus was questioned about His disciples and His doctrine, and the reply was given then. It belongs to the examination before Annas and the court of Caiaphas, where He was questioned and accused by His persecutors. In that examination His testimony concerned the truth.
During this same examination Peter denied Him. That denial caused Him a deeper pang than the insults of His enemies. Peter later repented with deep sorrow and was reconverted, and thereby became able to sympathize with the weak and erring, to warn the presumptuous, and to strengthen his brethren.
John was in the judgment hall as one able to hear and see all that transpired at the trial of his Lord. He had entered openly as a follower without concealing it, without mixing with those insulting and mocking Jesus and without assuming a false character. He sought a retired corner secure from the mob yet as near Jesus as possible. The reply was part of a trial in which He spoke only what was essential and maintained dignity despite insults and torture. Yet He was treated as unjust despite no fault being found in Him.
Public Teaching Exposes Injustice
His teaching and purposes had no secret character, for He taught openly to the world in the synagogue and in the temple where the Jews always gather, with no secret purpose or doctrine and nothing concealed in what He said. He had spoken openly in public places and not in secret, so those who heard Him could testify to what He said. He therefore refused to testify about Himself in a secret examination and directed His questioner to ask those who heard Him, because they knew what He had said. Lawful testimony about His teaching and works must come from those public witnesses rather than from Himself under such questioning.
The priests and rulers already had such witnesses, for they had sent spies and observers to follow Him, watch every movement, be present at every gathering, hear and report His words and deeds, and had hunted Him for months. His answer rebuked Annas and challenged the fairness of questioning Him without witnesses when people who had heard His teaching were available. It contrasted His public manner of teaching with the accusers' secret seizure and abuse of Him, exposing their hypocrisy. It exposed an attempt to entrap Him through a secret tribunal where the people had no voice, seeking to extract a statement that could be used against Him and to gain by perjury what could not be gained by fair means, rather than establish a charge by fair means. The leaders kept the trial secret and made it only a pretense of legal process so the people could not testify to His mighty works and vindicate Him, which could have turned public anger against the Sanhedrin and led to His release and renewed honor. It also exposed the design to draw out some statement that could make the Roman authorities believe He was leading a secret society to set up a new kingdom, and its closeness made Annas feel his soul was being read.
Bound and brought first to Annas, Jesus was questioned about His followers and His teaching and answered by pointing His examiner to those who had heard Him. His words declare that His teaching had nothing hidden or secret, for He had spoken openly to the world in the synagogue and in the temple where the people always gathered. He would not bear witness about Himself in a secret examination, but required lawful testimony from public witnesses who knew what He had said and done. The answer rebuked the injustice of the proceeding, setting His open manner against a secret seizure and questioning designed to entrap Him and gain by unfair means a charge to use against Him.
Examination Before Annas
Bound and led away first to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year, Jesus was questioned about His disciples and His doctrine, and the reply was given then. It belongs to the examination before Annas and the court of Caiaphas, where He was questioned and accused by His persecutors. In that examination His testimony concerned the truth.
During this same examination Peter denied Him. That denial caused Him a deeper pang than the insults of His enemies. Peter later repented with deep sorrow and was reconverted, and thereby became able to sympathize with the weak and erring, to warn the presumptuous, and to strengthen his brethren.
John was in the judgment hall as one able to hear and see all that transpired at the trial of his Lord. He had entered openly as a follower without concealing it, without mixing with those insulting and mocking Jesus and without assuming a false character. He sought a retired corner secure from the mob yet as near Jesus as possible. The reply was part of a trial in which He spoke only what was essential and maintained dignity despite insults and torture. Yet He was treated as unjust despite no fault being found in Him.
Public Teaching Exposes Injustice
His teaching and purposes had no secret character, for He taught openly to the world in the synagogue and in the temple where the Jews always gather, with no secret purpose or doctrine and nothing concealed in what He said. He had spoken openly in public places and not in secret, so those who heard Him could testify to what He said. He therefore refused to testify about Himself in a secret examination and directed His questioner to ask those who heard Him, because they knew what He had said. Lawful testimony about His teaching and works must come from those public witnesses rather than from Himself under such questioning.
The priests and rulers already had such witnesses, for they had sent spies and observers to follow Him, watch every movement, be present at every gathering, hear and report His words and deeds, and had hunted Him for months. His answer rebuked Annas and challenged the fairness of questioning Him without witnesses when people who had heard His teaching were available. It contrasted His public manner of teaching with the accusers' secret seizure and abuse of Him, exposing their hypocrisy. It exposed an attempt to entrap Him through a secret tribunal where the people had no voice, seeking to extract a statement that could be used against Him and to gain by perjury what could not be gained by fair means, rather than establish a charge by fair means. The leaders kept the trial secret and made it only a pretense of legal process so the people could not testify to His mighty works and vindicate Him, which could have turned public anger against the Sanhedrin and led to His release and renewed honor. It also exposed the design to draw out some statement that could make the Roman authorities believe He was leading a secret society to set up a new kingdom, and its closeness made Annas feel his soul was being read.