NLT Life Application Study Bible, Third Edition - Flipbook - Page 66
J ohn 1 8
•
page 1840
19Inside, the high priest began asking J
esus about his followers and what he had been
teaching them. 20Jesus replied, “Everyone knows what I teach. I have preached regularly
in the synagogues and the Temple, where the people* gather. I have not spoken in secret.
21Why are you asking me this question? Ask those who heard me. They know what I said.”
22Then one of the Temple guards standing nearby slapped J
esus across the face. “Is
that the way to answer the high priest?” he demanded.
23Jesus replied, “If I said anything wrong, you must prove it. But if I’m speaking the
truth, why are you beating me?”
24Then Annas bound Jesus and sent him to Caiaphas, the high priest.
Peter Denies Knowing Jesus (227/Matthew 26:69-75; Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:54-65)
25Meanwhile, as Simon Peter was standing by the fire warming himself, they asked him
again, “You’re not one of his disciples, are you?”
He denied it, saying, “No, I am not.”
26But one of the household slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear
Peter had cut off, asked, “Didn’t I see you out there in the olive grove with Jesus?” 27Again
Peter denied it. And immediately a rooster crowed.
18:19-24
Matt 26:59-68
Mark 14:55-65
Luke 22:63-71
18:20
Matt 26:55
John 7:26
18:22
John 19:3
18:23
Matt 5:39
Acts 23:2-5
18:24
Matt 26:3
18:27
John 13:38
Jesus Stands Trial before Pilate (230/Matthew 27:11-14; Mark 15:2-5; Luke 23:1-5)
28Jesus’ trial before Caiaphas ended in the early hours of the morning. Then he was taken
to the headquarters of the Roman governor.* His accusers didn’t go inside because it
18:20 Greek Jewish people; also in 18:38. 18:28 Greek to the Praetorium; also in 18:33.
THE SIX
STAGES
OF JESUS’
TRIAL
Before Jewish
Authorities
Although Jesus’
trial lasted less
than 18 hours,
he was taken
to six different
hearings.
Before Roman
Authorities
Preliminary Hearing
before Annas
(John 18:12-24)
Because the office of high priest was for life, Annas
was still the “official” high priest in the eyes of the
Jews, even though the Romans had appointed
another. Thus, Annas still carried much weight with
the Jewish high council (the Sanhedrin).
Hearing before
Caiaphas
(Matthew 26:57-68)
Like the hearing before Annas, this hearing was
conducted at night in secrecy. It was full of illegalities that made a mockery of justice (see the chart
on page 1645).
Trial before the
High Council
(the Sanhedrin)
(Matthew 27:1-2)
Just after daybreak, the members of the Jewish
high council (the Sanhedrin) met to approve of
the previous hearings to make them appear legal.
The purpose of this trial was not to determine
justice but to justify their own preconceptions
of Jesus’ guilt.
First Hearing
before Pilate
(Luke 23:1-5)
The religious leaders had condemned Jesus to
death on religious grounds, but only the Roman
government could grant the death penalty. Thus,
they took Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor,
and accused him of treason and rebellion, crimes
for which the Roman government gave the death
penalty. Pilate saw at once that Jesus was innocent,
but he was afraid because of the uproar being
caused by the religious leaders.
Hearing
before Herod
(Luke 23:6-12)
Because Jesus’ home was in the region of Galilee,
Pilate sent Jesus to Herod Antipas, the ruler of
Galilee, who was in Jerusalem for the Passover
celebration. Herod was eager to see Jesus do a
miracle, but when Jesus remained silent, Herod
wanted nothing to do with him and sent him back
to Pilate.
Last Hearing
before Pilate
(Luke 23:13-25)
Pilate didn’t like the religious leaders. He wasn’t
interested in condemning Jesus, because he knew
Jesus was innocent. However, he knew that another
uprising in his district might cost him his job. First
he tried to compromise with the religious leaders
by having Jesus beaten, an illegal action in itself.
But finally he gave in and handed Jesus over to be
executed. Pilate’s self-interest was stronger than his
sense of justice.
