V. Period of Climax. V. 12:1-20:31

      1. Climax of preparation for the cross. V. 12:1-17:26

            1) Jesus was anointed for His burial. 12:1-11

            2) Jesus’ triumphal entry. 12:12-19

            3) Gentiles seek Christ. 12:20-36

            4) The Jews reject Christ. 12:37-50

            5) Jesus teaches humility. 13:1-20

            6) The betrayer is identified. 13:21-30

            7) Jesus commands to love on another. 13:31-35

            8) Jesus tells of the disciples’ denial. 13:36-38

            9) Jesus comforts His disciples. 14:1-6

            10) Jesus claims deity--God. 14:7-12

            11) Jesus promised to answer prayer. 14:13-15

            12) The promise of the Spirit. 14:16-26

            13) The promise of peace. 14:27-31

            14) Teaching: The vine and the branches. 15:1-8

            15) Teaching: Love demand obedience. 15:9-17

            16) Teaching: The believer and the world. 15:18-25

            17) Teaching: The believer and the Spirit. 15:26-27

            18) The apostles warned of persecution. 16:1-6

            19) Jesus & the ministry of the Holy Spirit. 16:7-15

            20) Jesus speaks of His death and future. 16:16-33

 

          CHAPTER 17:

            21) The Lord's prayer of intercession. V. 1‑26

V. 1

1. "These  words" = refers to the things Jesus had spoken to the 11 apostles who were with Him on the way to the garden of Gethsemane.

2. "Spake" = to use words in order to declare one's mind and disclose one's thoughts.

3. "Jesus" = "his" = the virgin born Son of God.

4. "Lifted up his eyes" = this was the common attitude of prayer in Jesus's day.

5. "Said" = refers to praying; this chapter records the Lord's prayer of intercession‑‑thus, this is the real Lord's prayer.

6. "Father" = Christ's usual way of beginning His prayers by addressing His Father.

7. "The hour is come" = refers to God the Father's predetermined time for Jesus to die on the cross; several times before He had stated that "mine hour is not yet come" but now it had arrived.

8. "Glorify thy Son" = honor thy Son; give to the world demonstration that I am thy Son; manifest they power in my death, resurrection, and ascension so there will be evidence that I am the Son of God.

9. "That thy Son also may glorify thee" = refers to the manifestation of the honor of God which would be made by the spread of the gospel among men.

10. Jesus prayed that God would so honor Him in His death that striking proof might be furnished that He was the Messiah.

 

V. 2

1. "Thou" = God the father.

2. "Him" = "he" = the Son;  Jesus, the virgin born Son of God.

3. "Has given him power over all flesh" = it was on the ground of this power (authority) given to Christ that the apostles were commanded to go and teach all nations (Mat. 28:18‑19); this is a claim no mere man can make.

4. "All flesh" = all mankind.

5. "That" = introduces the reason that Jesus was given power.

6. "Give" = bestow.

7. "Eternal life" = spiritual life which is endless; the same Greek word is translated everlasting life; thus, eternal and everlasting have the same meaning (some people try to make a difference between the two words but they are the same); this word itself refutes the doctrine of losing one's salvation. (John 10:27‑29)

8. "To as many as thou hast given him" = this simply means all who will believe on Him; this phrase is misunderstood by many; refers to those chosen in Christ (Eph. 1:4); don't be afraid of the word "chosen" for it is simply based upon three things: (I Peter 1:2; II Thess. 2:13)

A. "According to the foreknowledge of God the Father" = He sees and knows what He can do in one's heart (I Sam. 16:7); this does not mean there is anything good in any person's heart but God the Father, as the Master potter, knows what He can do with clay.

B. "Through sanctification of the Spirit" = refers to the setting apart work of the Holy Spirit called "godly sorrow" (II Cor. 7:10), "Holy Ghost conviction" or "reproval" (John 16:8‑11) whereby the Holy Spirit brings one out of the kingdom of darkness and sphere of the Devil's control into the kingdom of light and the sphere of God's control (Col. 1:12‑13); this works repentance and produces faith in the sinner.

C. "Unto obedience" = at the point when repentance and faith are worked, then a sinner can repent and believe unto salvation, thus obedience; man must repent and believe to be saved. (Luke 13:3; Acts 16:31)

 

V. 3

1. "This is life eternal" = knowing both God and His Son Jesus Christ.

2. "They" = refers to the many given Jesus in verse 2.

3. "Know" = to know by experience; to understand; this is more than a mere acquaintance with the character of God; means to be saved.

4. "Thee" = "thou" = "the only true God" = refers to God in opposition to all false gods or idols not in opposition to Jesus Himself who, in I John 5:20, is called "the true God and eternal life."

5. "Jesus" = "whom" = the virgin born Son of God.

6. "Christ" = the Anointed One, the Messiah of the OT.

7. "Sent" = dispatched; to appoint to go to a place on a specific errand or official business with a purpose; Jesus knew the Father had sent Him.

 

V. 4

1. "I" = "me" = Jesus the virgin born Son of God; "I" is emphatic which stresses the personal fulfillment of His commission as the Christ.

2. "Glorified" = honor; magnify; to make known; He did this by revealing God the Father in His life and ministry.

3. "Thee" = "thou" = God the Father of the Lord Jesus.

4. "On the earth" = refers to while Jesus was on this earth in human form.

5. "Have finished the work which thou gavest me to do" = means Jesus had accomplished all the deeds the Father sent Him to do; in fact the preparation for His death was at this time already made; thus, the cross could be included in this statement as well as all the other acts Jesus had performed while upon this earth; only God can make a statement that something is finished when in actuality it is not completed, for it is as good as done; later that same day He cried, "It is finished " (John 19:30) which was a perfect tense verb in the Greek which means a past completed action with existing results.

 

V. 5

1. "Now" = at this time; the present.

2. "O" = gives the sense of extreme longing.

3. "Father" = "thou" = "thee" = God the Father of the Lord Jesus.

4. "Glorify" = honor; magnify; Jesus is asking for the return of His outward manifestation of deity which He laid aside to be robed in flesh.

5. "Me" = "I" = Jesus, the virgin born Son of God.

6. "With thine own self" = by the side of thyself; Jesus is praying for full restoration to the pre‑incarnate glory and fellowship enjoyed before the Incarnation (God robed in flesh) of which the outward manifestation had been laid aside when He was robed in flesh (Phil. 2:5-8); this refers to actual and conscious existence at the Father's side; he knew that this restoration was in the eternal plan of God.

7. "Which I had with thee before the world was" = this is a clear declaration of the pre‑existence of Christ. (John 1:1; "was" = existence without origin)

 

V. 6

1. "I" = "me" = Jesus, the virgin born Son of God.

2. "Have manifested" = to make visible or known; this is another word for claiming successful accomplishment of His task as being "finished" in verse 4.

3. "They" = "thou" = God the Father.

4. "Name" = often used to designate the person; refers to the attribute or character of God; Jesus had revealed God to them by making known His character, His love, His will, and His plan of mercy.

5. "Unto men" = "thine" = "them" = "they" = the 11 apostles who were with Jesus at this time.

6. "Which" = whom; the apostles are persons not things‑‑masculine gender not neuter.

7. "Gavest" = to bestow a gift; Jesus regarded the apostles as the Father's gift to Him; refers to those who believe unto salvation; see notes on verse 2.

8. "Out of the world" = the apostles were set apart from the world‑‑all walks of life‑‑to become fishers of men.

9. "Kept" = to attend to carefully; means they treasured and guarded what they received; Jesus does not claim perfection for them but they had at least held on to the message the Father sent through His Son to them; the tense is perfect in the Greek which means a past completed act with existing results; therefore, at a point in past time they received the message by faith and they continued‑‑at least 11 of them did.

10. "Word" = the Word; has the definite article in the Greek; refers to the revelation of the Father; being singular it views God's message as a whole.

 

V. 7

1. "Now" = at this time; the present.

2. "They" = the 11 apostles.

3. "Have known" = to know by experience; to understand; the tense in the Greek is perfect which means a past completed act with existing results; at a point in past time they came to know and at the present they still possess that knowledge.

4. "All things" = refers to the doctrines Christ taught which were given to the Son by the Father ("thou" = "thee").

5. "Me" = Jesus, the virgin born Son of God.

6. "Of" = from; the apostles knew that all of Jesus' instructions came from the Father.

 

V. 8

1. "For" = introduces the reason the apostles knew and understood in verse 7.

2. "I" = "me" = Jesus, the virgin born Son of God.

3. "The words" = second "them" (in italics therefore placed by the translators because that is what they received)  = the doctrine; the words that were uttered.

4. First "them" = "they" = the apostles.

5. "Thou" = "thee" = God the Father.

6. "Have received" = to lay hold upon; embraced them by faith.

7. "Have known" = to come to know by experience.

8. "Surely" = of a truth; most certainly.

9. "Come out from thee" = refers to coming from beside the Father in heaven and coming to this earth.

10. "Believed" = to be persuaded of; to trust; to be convinced; refers to saving faith‑‑believing that the Father sent His son to be robed in flesh.

11. "Send" = to be dispatched to go to a place appointed for a specific purpose‑‑that Jesus was and did.

 

V. 9

1. "I" = "me" = Jesus, the virgin born Son of God.

2. "Pray" = to make a request; beg.

3. "Them" = "they" = the apostles who were with Him.

4. "World" = refers to wicked, rebellious vicious men.

5. "Them which (whom‑-masculine not neuter gender) thou hast given me" = simply means all who believe and are saved; see notes on verse 2.

6. "Thou" = "thine" = refers to God, the Father of the Lord Jesus.

7. Here Jesus is praying for the 11 apostles who are with Him for He knew the dangers and trials that they would face; therefore, He is praying for protection and blessing on them.  He later extended the prayer for all who would be saved. (verse 20) Jesus' exclusion of the world at this point is no evidence of lack of love for the unconverted. (John 3:16; Rom. 5:8)  Verses 21 and 23 assures us of the Lord's interest in the world (mankind).  When on the cross He prayed for even those who crucified and murdered Him. (Luke 23:34)

8. "They are thine" = this is given as a reason for God to protect and guide them‑‑His honor would be at stake otherwise; an example similar to this is found in Exodus as Moses interceded for Israel. (Exo. 32:9‑14)

 

V. 10

1. "Mine" = "I" = refers to Jesus, the virgin born Son of God.

2. "Thine" = refers to the Father to whom Jesus is praying.

3. "All mine are thine, and these are mine" = a statement emphasizing unity and equality of Jesus with the Father.

4. "Am glorified" = to magnify; to honor; refers to Jesus being honored by their preaching and their lives; the tense is perfect in the Greek which means a completed action in past time with existing results‑‑which means Jesus was honored when they began their ministry and continues to be honored at present.

5. "Them" = the 11 apostles who are with Him and for whom He is praying.

 

V. 11

1. "Now no more in the world" = He had finished His work among men and was about to leave this world.

2. "I" = "me" = Jesus, the virgin born Son of God.

3. "But" = shows the contrast between Jesus and His apostles.

4. "These" = "those" = the apostles; applies to all believers.

5. "In the world" = upon this earth among wicked men and malignant foes subject to trials and persecution; thus, they would need the same protection Jesus gave them while He was with them.

6. "I come to thee" = futuristic present in the Greek‑‑"I am coming;" Christ would be no longer visibly present to the world.

7. "Holy Father" = a title of address to the Father which declares the holiness of God; Jesus even taught in the model prayer for us to address God as a holy God-- "hallowed be thy name (Mat. 6:9); in verse 25 He addressed Him as "righteous Father" when He mentions the world as being ripe for judgment.

8. "Keep" = preserve; defend; sustain them in trials; deliver them from apostasy; the tense reveals Jesus' urgent request for the apostles' need of the Father's care.

9. "Keep through thine own name" = means preserve them in obedience to thee and to thy cause.

10. "Thine" = "thou" = the Father.

11. "Those" = "they" = the 11 apostles for whom He is praying in context.

12. "Those thou hast given me" = refers to those who have believed and been saved; see notes on verse 2.

13. "That they may be one" = refers to oneness of will and spirit; the disciples had union, but lacked unity or oneness of spirit as was shown just a few hours earlier at the supper (Luke 22:24)

14. "As we are" = refers to the oneness of will and spirit that Jesus and His Father had and He used this as an example in His prayer for what He desired to see in His apostles; this applies to all believers.

 

V. 12

1. "While" = as long as.

2. "I" = "me" = Jesus, the virgin born Son of God.

3. "Thou" = the 11 apostles.

4. "With them in the world" = refers to Jesus earthly ministry when He was with the apostles continually‑‑even when He was praying alone on the mountain side and they were in a storm on the Sea of Galilee, Mark 6:48 states He saw them. (Mark 6:45‑51)

5. First "kept" = sustain; preserved; to have watchful care; the Greek reveals He continued to keep.

6. "In thy name" = refers to the manifestation of God to the apostles; the Father had given the Son the authority to be the revelation of all that God is; therefore, Jesus was zealous to keep His apostles from any error that would hinder the manifestation of God's revelation; thus, Jesus kept a watchful eye over them which kept them from being contaminated by the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees; today we have the Holy Spirit to keep us from being contaminated by false doctrine.

7. "Those that thou gavest me" = refers to those who have believed‑‑been saved; this phrase is misunderstood by many; refers to those chosen in Christ (Eph. 1:4); don't be afraid of the word "chosen" for it is simply based upon three things: (I Peter 1:2; II Thess. 2:13)

A. "According to the foreknowledge of God the Father" = He sees and knows what He can do in one's heart (I Sam. 16:7); this does not mean there is anything good in any person's heart but God the Father, as the Master potter, knows what He can do with clay.

B. "Through sanctification of the Spirit" = refers to the setting apart work of the Holy Spirit called "godly sorrow" (II Cor. 7:10), "Holy Ghost conviction" or "reproval" (John 16:8‑11) whereby the Holy Spirit brings one out of the kingdom of darkness and sphere of the Devil's control into the kingdom of light and the sphere of God's control (Col. 1:12‑13); this works repentance and produces faith in the sinner.

C. "Unto obedience" = at the point when repentance and faith are worked, then a sinner can repent and believe unto salvation, thus obedience; man must repent and believe to be saved. (Luke 13:3; Acts 16:31)

8. Second "kept" = different word from the first; means to guard; to watch; to have an eye upon; this word implies custody and protection.

9. "None" = not one.

10. "Lost"  = ruined; destroyed; refers to being separated from God.

11. "But" = a word of contrast showing that Judas was in a different class from the other 11 apostles, He did not use "except;" Jesus plainly states that He kept all whom the Father gave Him; since Judas was lost, he could not have been among those who were given to the Son; this verse is not proof, as some try to say, that a person can be lost after being saved; in fact the opposite is true. (John 10:27‑29)

12. "Son of perdition" = the term "son" was given by the Hebrews to those who possessed the character described by the word or name following; in this case "perdition" = destruction, ruin; refers to Judas because he had the character of a destroyer.

13. "That the scripture might be fulfilled" = refers to Psa 41:9 which was also referred to in John 13:18; Jesus chose Judas to fulfill scripture (prophecy) yet Judas was responsible for the light (truth) he was exposed to and rejected; Judas was never a believer; therefore, he was not given to Jesus in the same sense the other 11 were; Jesus' desire was for Judas to believe Him and be saved but he did not believe; therefore, he was not given ti Him and He could not keep him.

14. "Scripture " = the Word of God.

15. "Fulfilled" = to complete; to be carried out just as it was prophesied; this does not mean that Judas was compelled to this course in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled but that this was foretold and that by this, the prophecy did receive a completion.

 

V. 13

1. "And now" = marks a contrast of His place with the disciples and the change of His position to heaven.

2. "Come I to thee" = Jesus is soon going to be in heaven with the Father; He would no longer be with the apostles in the flesh.

3. "I" = "my" = Jesus, the virgin born Son of God.

4. "Thee" = God the Father.

5. "They" = "themselves" = the apostles.

6. "These things I speak in the world" = refers to Jesus' teaching the apostles by word of mouth while He was with them in the world.

7. "That" = introduces the reason or motive of Jesus' teaching.

8. "Have" = possess.

9. "Joy" = gladness; denotes the happiness which Jesus had and would continue to have.

10. "Fulfilled" = to cause to abound; to furnish or supply liberally; the tense is perfect in the Greek which means a past completed action with existing results; Jesus wanted the apostles to keep on having His joy.

 

V. 14

1. "I" = Jesus, the virgin born Son of God.

2. "Have given" = to bestow as a gift; the tense is perfect in the Greek which means a past completed action with existing results; Jesus had given them the Father's (thy) word at a point in past time and it remained in their possession at present.

3. "Thy word" = refers to the Father's word which is the revelation Jesus came to manifest to the world in darkness.

4. "The world" = refers to wicked, rebellious, and vicious men.

5. "Them" = the 11 apostles who were with Him; refers to all believers.

6. "Hath hated" = detest; pursue with hatred.

7. "Because" = introduces the reason for the world's hatred‑‑"they are not of the world" = refers to the apostles as being different from the world; they are not like the world nor do they get their spirit, standards, and message "out of the world," else they could do the world no good.

8. "I am not of the world" = Jesus was not of the same origin or family relationship as the world and neither are His disciples for they are like Him.

 

V. 15

1. "I" = Jesus, the virgin born Son of God.

2. "Pray" = request.

3. "Thou" = God the Father.

4. "Them" = the apostles; refers to all believers.

5. "Thou shouldest take them out of the world" = negated by "not;" though they were going into trials and persecutions, and going to face hatred, Jesus did not pray that they be removed out of this world.

6. "But" = shows contrast between being taken out of the world and being kept in the world; Titus 2:11-12 states plainly that we are taught ti live in this present world.

7. "Keep " = to guard; to attend to carefully; take care of.

8. "The evil" = really "the evil one"‑‑the devil who is the master mind behind all the trials, persecutions, and hatred the apostles were going to face.

9. Jesus is asking the Father to give the apostles such grace that they may endure all trials and be sustained amid them while in this present world--among wicked men.

 

V. 16

1. This verse is just a repetition of verse 14 for emphasis.

 

V. 17

1. "Sanctify" = to set apart or separate from sin and unto God; to set apart to a holy purpose; means to render pure, or to cleanse from sins; this does not mean to be sinless but it is a progression in one's life whereby a person becomes more like the Lord and less attracted to the world; the word "sanctification" comes from this word and means the walk of progression toward perfection gained at the first resurrection.

2. "Them" = Jesus is referring to the 11 apostles whom He is praying for in context; applies to all believers.

3. "Thy" = God the Father.

4. "Through thy truth" = a person is sanctified in the sphere of "truth" = that which is free from pretense and falsehood; equal to "the word" = the total revelation of truth Jesus came to manifest; all that Jesus spoke.

 

V. 18

1. "Thou" = God the Father.

2. First "sent" = dispatched; to appoint to go to a place on a specific errand or official business with a purpose; Jesus knew the Father had sent Him.

3. "Me" = "I" = Jesus, the virgin born Son of God.

4. "Into the world" = among mankind.

5. "Even so also" = in like manner.

6. Second "sent" = same word as first and also "send" in Mark 3:14 where Jesus first commissioned the apostles (them) and sent them out among mankind to preach the gospel; the apostles were to carry the revelation of Christ to the world which is the reason Jesus prayed for the Father to keep them and sanctify them.

 

V. 19

1. "Their sakes" = "they" = the 11 apostles.

2. "I" = "myself" = Jesus, the virgin born Son of God.

3. "I sanctify myself" = I consecrate myself exclusively to the service of God.

4. "That" = introduces the reason He sanctified Himself;  He became an example of a proper manner of laboring in the ministry.

5. "Also" = indeed.

6. "Might be sanctified" = the tense is perfect in the Greek which means a past completed action with existing results; this means that they would remain sanctified.

7. "Through the truth" = all sanctification is done in the sphere of truth, God's word (verse 17), not human speculation but God's message to us.

 

V. 20

1. "Pray" = to request; beg.

2. "I" = "me" = Jesus, the virgin born Son of God.

3. "These" = the 11 apostles who were with Him at this time.

4. "Alone" = only; Jesus had prayed specifically for the 11 apostles and not the world, beginning in verse 9.

5. "But" = shows contrast‑‑Jesus now prays for future believers who are at this time are a part of the world.

6. "Them" = all believers.

7. "Which" = who; believers are humans not things, therefore masculine, not neuter gender.

8. "Shall believe" = to be persuaded of; to place confidence in; to trust; refers to saving faith; this is future tense; therefore, it includes you and me.

9. "On" = to come to a point, place, and time with a purpose; this can only be accomplished by a completed work of Holy Ghost conviction or work of reproval. (John 16:8‑11)

10. "Through" = a primary preposition in the Greek denoting the channel of an act; by means of.

11. "Their" = the apostles who were with Jesus at this time.

12. "Their word" = refers to the apostles preaching which is God's way. (Rom. 10:13‑15a; I Cor. 1:21,18)

13. After Jesus' death and resurrection the apostles preached with fervor and faithfulness.  Thus, they committed (to set before in teaching; to explain; commit to one's charge) the word to faithful men (II Tim. 2:2) who passed it on to other faithful men and etc.  Thus, we have a succession all the way back to Jesus' prayer here in John 17 and that gives us hope because there is still a preacher of righteousness among us today.  There is hope!

14. The problem: the Word of God is limited by the inconsistent lives of many who speak in Christ's name.  May the Lord help us!

 

V. 21

1. First "that" = introduces the reason Jesus prayed for all future believers‑‑that they all may be one.

2. "They" = "all" = all who would believe on Jesus through the apostles' word. (verse 20)

3. "May be one" = refers to all believers being united with the brethren or having unity; the only possible way to have unity among believers is for all of them to find unity first with God in Christ‑‑means to be saved.

4. "Thou" = "Father" = "thee" = God the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ.

5. "Me" = "I" = Jesus, the virgin born Son of God.

6. "As thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us" = Jesus uses the perfect unity He and His Father had as an example of what He desired for all believers‑‑to have perfect unity; this does not mean that the unity between believers should be in all respects like that between the Father and Son, but only in the areas in which they are capable of being compared.

7. "Also" = indeed.

8. Second "that" = introduces the reason Jesus prayed for unity among believers‑‑that the world may believe.

9. "The world" = refers to wicked, rebellious, vicious men.

10. "Believe" = to be persuaded of; to place confidence in; refers to saving faith; this is equivalent of what Jesus said in Mat. 5:16 and Peter said in I Peter 2:12.

11. Third "that" = reveals what the world was to believe‑‑"that thou hast sent me" = equivalent to believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God which is the reason the gospel of John was written. (John 20:31)

12. "Sent" = dispatched; to appoint to go to a place on a specific errand or official business with a purpose.

 

V. 22

1. "Glory" = honor; majesty; to render glorious.

2. "The glory which thou gavest me I have given them" = refers to glorification which is an act of God transforming the believer's body (whether in the grave or alive) at the rapture into a body like the resurrection body of the Lord Jesus. (Romans 8:30 states this as already consummated though still future in the fullest sense; the Scripture style concerning things decreed is that they are spoken of in past tense which means it is both complete and certain in divine counsels; Phil. 1:6)

3. "Thou" = the Father.

4. "Me" = "I" = Jesus, the virgin born Son of God.

5."Have given" = to grant; supply; furnish; the tense is perfect in the Greek which means a past completed action with existing results; this is another proof of the eternal security of the believer‑‑we are already glorified as far as God is concerned.

6. "Them" = "they" = the apostles and all future believers.

7. "That they may be one even as we are one" = repetition of verse 21 revealing unity in feeling, in principle, and in purpose.

8. "Even as" = in the degree that.

 

V. 23

1. "I" = "me" = Jesus, the virgin born Son of God.

2. "Them" = "they" = the apostles and all believers.

3. "Thou" = the Father.

4. "Made perfect" = to carry through completely; to finish; to bring to an end; the tense is perfect in the Greek which means a past completed action with existing results; as far as God was concerned it was completed the moment one is saved for He will conform every believer to the image of His Son who is perfect. (Rom. 8:29)

5. Second "that" = introduces the reason Jesus prayed for believers to be made perfect‑‑that the unbelievers (the world) "may know that thou hast sent me" = repetition of verse 21 and equivalent to being saved.

6. "Know" = to know by experience; Christ desires for the world (the unsaved) to experience the love the Father had for them. (John 3:16)

7. "Love" = agape; God kind of love; love in action.

8. The Lord Jesus desired that lost humanity would recognize that God loves them as He loved His son.

 

V. 24

1. "Father" = Jesus, still praying, addresses His Father.

2. "I" = "me" = "my" = Jesus, the virgin born Son of God.

3. "Will" = strong and earnest desire; reveals the perfect identity of His will with that of the Father.

4. "They" = all believers.

5. "Also" = Jesus had prayed for only the apostles in verse 9 and now He prays for those who would believe on Him through the apostles's words, thus, the word "also."

6. "Whom thou hast given me" = this simply means all who will believe on Jesus unto salvation which is by grace through faith; see verse 2.

7. "Be with me where I am" = Jesus referred to Himself as being already in heaven and expresses His desire for all believers to be there with Him (face to face; expresses eternal fellowship);  Jesus looked beyond the years, trials, and joy to the believer's safe arrival in heaven to be with Him.

8. Second "that" = introduces the reason Jesus prayed for them to be with Him‑‑"that they may behold my glory."

9. "Behold" = to see; to look upon; also means to participate and enjoy; the tense reveals continuous action.

10. "My glory" = honor; majesty; splendor; brightness; magnificence; refers to the glory of Jesus as the full and complete Redeemer; on earth believers know only a fraction of what their redemption means, but in heaven they will understand and be able to look upon the fullness of His revelation.

11. "Which thou hast given me" = all honor and majesty that Jesus had, He declares plainly that it came from the Father:

A. Why? = "For thou lovedst me" = Jesus was God's only begotten Son whom He called "Beloved" = loved of the Father. (Mark 1:11)

B. When? = "Before the foundation of the world" = before Gen. 1:1 when the earth was created; this statement proves that Jesus existed before the creation of the world (earth).

 

V. 25

1. "O" = gives the sense of extreme longing.

2. "Righteous" = upright; Jesus, while mentioning the world is ripe for judgment, addresses His Father this way indicating that the Father will do the right thing.

3. "Father" = "thee" = "thou" = God the Father of the Lord Jesus.

4. "World" = refers to lost mankind.

5. "Known" = to know by experience; refers to the world as not being saved, while referring to the apostles ("these") as being saved which was equivalent to believing or having "known that thou hast sent me."

6. "I" = Jesus, the virgin born Son of God.

7. "Sent" = dispatched; to appoint to go to a place on a specific errand or official business with a purpose.

 

V. 26

1. "I" = "me" = Jesus, the virgin born Son of God.

2. "Have declared" = to make known; the tense is past tense; thus, Jesus is referring to His earthly ministry when He taught the apostles (them).

3. "Thy name" = "it" = often used to designate the person; refers to the attribute or character of God; Jesus had revealed God to them by making known His Father’s character, love, will, and plan of mercy.

4. "Thy" = "thou" = God, the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ.

5. "Will declare" = to make known; same Greek word as "have declared" but the tense here is future; thus, Jesus is referring to His future work which would be done for them (the apostles, applies to all believers) by His intercessions for them and the Holy Spirit's ministry among them. (John 16:13)

6. "Love" = agape; God kind of love; love in action; this is a noun while "loved" is a verb and the base word for "love."

7. "Wherewith" = with which.

8. "That the love wherewith Thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them" = Jesus is praying that the same love which exists within the Godhead would be extended from the Father to the disciples; this happened on Pentecost when the disciples received the Holy Ghost and at the same time the love of God was shed abroad (to pour in like a flood) in their hearts; the proof text is Rom. 5:5.

 

      2. Climax of unbelief of the Jews. V. 18:1‑19:42.

CHAPTER 18:

            1) The arrest. V. 1‑14

V. 1

1. "Jesus" = "he" = "his" = the virgin born Son of God.

2. "Had spoken these words" = had completed His prayer of intercession recorded in John 17.

3. "Went forth" = to come out of a place; this refers to where ever Jesus was when He prayed His intercessory prayer of John 17; He along with His 11 apostles were on their way to the garden where Jesus resorted to pray many times (verse 2); this is not referring to leaving the upper room where the last supper was observed for John 14:31 indicates they left the upper room before His teaching in chapters 15 - 16 and His intercessory prayer in chapter 17.

4. "With" = a primary preposition denoting union; means to accompany; implies being in presence with or face to face with.

5. "Disciples" = a learner; pupil; refers here to the 11 apostles who were with Jesus.

6. "Over" = beyond; on the other side.

7. "Brook" = word means flowing in winter; we might call it a creek but it is dry most of the time; the Greek seems to indicate that there was a flowing stream of water when Jesus and His disciples crossed over; this may have been swollen by rain or by melting snow for this is April 14th.

8. "Cedron" = spelled Kidron in OT; name of a winter stream which flows down through the valley of Kidron into the Dead Sea; it was over this brook that David passed when he fled from Absalom. (II Sam. 15:23)

9. "Where was a garden" = this garden was beyond the brook Cedron from where Jesus had prayed His intercessory prayer; this garden was at the western base of the Mount of Olives; the eastern gate of the city of Jerusalem could be seen from this gate; it is called Gethsemane, mentioned by name only in Mat. 26:36 and Mark 14:32; "Gethsemane" means the place of the olive press, where the olives, which abounded on the slopes of the mountain, were brought in order that the oil contained in them might be pressed out; how fitting a place for Jesus to be at this time as He faces our sins and is pressed out of measure.

10. "Into the which" = to come to a point, a place, and a time for a purpose‑‑to face our sins, then onward to the cross, which is the climax of the Jews' unbelief‑‑they killed the Christ (Messiah; the Anointed One) whom they had rejected as being sent from God.

11. "Entered" = to go inside; the garden was probably enclosed by a rock wall with a gate for an entrance.

12. "And his disciples" = means the 11 apostles entered the garden along with Jesus.

 

V. 2

1. "Judas" = Judas Iscariot; one of the 12 apostles chosen by Jesus; the betrayer as this verse brings out.

2. "Also" = indeed‑‑"knew the place."

3. "Which" = who; Judas is a person not a thing, thus, masculine gender not neuter.

4. "Betrayed" = to hand over into the hands of another.

5. "Him" = "Jesus" = "his" = the virgin born Son of God.

6. "Knew" = to have absolute positive knowledge of the facts.

7. "The place" = refers to the garden of Gethsemane which is where "Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples."

8. "Ofttimes" = frequently.

9. "Resorted" = to come  together‑‑refers to Jesus coming to this place ("thither;" garden) accompanied by ("with") His disciples (apostles); they did this while they were in Jerusalem for they had no other place of privacy to pray in Jerusalem‑‑that we know of.

 

V. 3

1. "Judas" = one of the apostles; the one who betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.

2. "Then" = these things being so; therefore.

3. John passes over the agony in the garden, possibly because the three synoptic gospels fully described it. (Mat. 26:36‑46; Mark 14:32‑42: Luke 22:39‑46; see the notes on Mark 14:32‑42 for a fuller understanding of what occurred in the garden of Gethsemane.)

4. "Having received" = obtained; Judas had left the upper room after he received the sop from Jesus and went to chief priests that he had already been to before and made an agreement to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. (Mat. 26:14‑16) When he went to them the second time he obtained (received) a band of men to go with him to arrest Jesus.

5. "Band" = a military cohort; about 600 men; a Roman cohort was stationed in the Tower of Antonia, the castle fortress at the northwest corner of the temple area, and its chief duty was to maintain peace in Jerusalem; Mark 14:43 quotes "a great multitude."

6. "Officers from the chief priests" = refers to the Levitical temple guards; some of these officers had previously been sent to arrest Jesus (John 7:32) but Jesus' words arrested them and they returned empty handed (John 7:45‑46); therefore, this time the chief priest wanted to make sure the job was done so they turned to the Roman band to help them get the job done.

7. "Chief priests" = the priests who were over the groups of priest who officiated at the temple; they were Sadducees.

8. "Pharisees" = a Jewish religious sect which was organized during the period between Malachi and Matthew when there was no recorded revelation from God; they placed oral tradition equal to or above the Word of God, they were hostile toward Jesus, therefore, very bitter enemies; they along with the chief priest (Sadducees) made up the Sanhedrin‑‑the great council, composed of 70 members, of the nation who had been given charge by Rome to take care of Jewish problems.

9. "Cometh" = to come from one place to another; they had left the temple area and had arrived in the garden of Gethsemane.

10. "Thither" = to that place‑‑where Jesus was.

11. "Lanterns" = torches made up of strips of resin‑treated wood tied together. (resin is an inflammable substance, therefore when the resin soaked wood was dipped in some flammable substance the substance would burn without the wood being consumed)

12. "Torches" = containers with space for oil and a wick; lamps, the flame of which is fed with oil; this was the time of the full moon, but it might have been cloudy, and their taking lights with them shows their determination to find Jesus; Judas did not want to take any chances of missing Jesus in the dark places by the walls or under the olive trees; the mob came to make a thorough search of the garden.

13. "Weapons" = arms used in warfare; Mark 14:43 identifies these as swords and staves.

 

V. 4

1. "Jesus" = "him" = the virgin born Son of God.

2. "Therefore" = in view of Judas coming with an armed mob.

3. "Knowing" = to have absolute positive knowledge of the facts; refers to divine knowledge; the tense is perfect tense which means a past completed action with existing results; thus, He knew exactly what they were doing there for He had even told Judas in the upper room, "That thou doest, do quickly" (John 13:27); also after praying He told His apostles "rise up, let us go; lo he that betrayeth me is at hand." (Mark 14:42)

4. "All things that should come upon him" = each and every thing; refers to Judas coming, His arrest, trial, beating; mocking, death on the cross, and etc; He was not taken by surprise; in fact the surrender and death of Jesus were voluntary acts.

5. "Went forth" = indicates Jesus did not try to hide but left His place of prayer of his own accord and went to meet His enemies.

6. "Them" = "ye" = Judas, the chief priest and Pharisees, the officers, and the bands.

7. "Whom seek ye?" = this question to the mob diverted attention from His apostles and focused the Jews' attention on their dreadful intent.

 

V. 5

1. "They" = "them" = the band or mob that came to arrest Jesus.

2. "Answered" = to give an answer to a question proposed.

3. "Him" = "Jesus" = "I" = "he" = the virgin born Son of God.

4. "Jesus of Nazareth" = spoken to identify which Jesus they were looking for, for there were many named Jesus in that day but only one from the town of Nazareth and He was the Son of God‑‑the Christ; this title was a contemptuous expression in their thinking for this is one of the titles placed on the cross (John 19:19); titles were place on the cross of one being crucified to show what they were guilty of; the town of Nazareth was not thought of too highly as John 1:46 bears out.

5. "Saith" = to speak out.

6. "I am" = really what He said as "he" is in italics because it is supplied by the translators; the self existent one; these words alone were enough to startle a Jew, even a Pharisee, for they knew the Scripture and knew that Jesus was saying He was the One who met Moses at the burning bush and told him to tell the Israelites that "I AM" hath sent him to deliver them (Exo. 3:13‑14); this phrase did not mean anything to the Romans that were present except that Jesus was confessing that He was the one they were looking for.

7. "Judas" = the betrayer.

8. "Also" = indeed; identifies Judas as being with the mob against Jesus; in fact, Judas at some point (maybe before Jesus asked the question of verse 4 or after‑‑we cannot tell exactly when) kissed Jesus as a sign to the mob to show who Jesus was. (Mat. 26:48‑50)

9. "Which" = who; Judas is a person not a thing; therefore, this is masculine gender not neuter.

10. "Betrayed" = to give over into the hands of another.

11. "Stood with them" = a vivid picture of Judas with the mob in the very act of betraying Jesus.

 

V. 6

1. "As soon then" = therefore; these things being so.

2. "He" = "I" = "he" = Jesus, the virgin born Son of God.

3. "Them" = "they" = the band who came to arrest Jesus.

4. "I am" = declaring equality with God; see verse 5.

5. "Went backward, and fell to the ground" = they stepped back, stumbled, and fell down to the ground; we do not know why, therefore we can only speculate:

A. The frank, open, and fearless manner in which Jesus addressed them may have convinced them of His innocence; therefore, they may have been startled at His open and bold profession.

B. Some say it was a display of Divine power, yet there is no proof that there was any miraculous power displayed.

C. Some say it was Jesus' statement "I Am" = which is declaring equality with God and that caused them to withdraw.  That may have been true with the Jews present but the majority were Romans and this phrase meant nothing to them.  We really do not have a definite answer as to why they fell backward‑‑but they did.

 

V. 7

1. "Then" = these things being so.

2. "Asked" = to put a question to.

3. "He" = Jesus, the virgin born Son of God.

4. "Them" = "ye" = the band who came to arrest Jesus.

5. "Again" = repetition of the question in verse 4.

6. "Whom seek ye?" = the repeated question receives the same answer as in verse 5‑‑Jesus of Nazareth. (see notes on verse 5)

7. The soldiers and officers knew who Jesus was but they are still overwhelmed or overawed.

 

V. 8

1. "Jesus" = "I" = "he" = "me" = the virgin born Son of God.

2. "Answered" = to begin to speak, but always where something has preceded to which the remarks refer.

3. "Have told you that I am he" = He had just made this same statement to them.

4. "I am" = declaring equality with God.

5. "You" = "ye" = the band of men who came to arrest Jesus.

6. "Seek" = desires for evil purpose; to seek in order to find.

7. "Let" = to let go.

8. "These" = "their" = the 11 apostles who were with Jesus at this time.

9. "Go their way" = to depart.

10. This action shows His care and love for His sheep even in the hour of danger.

 

V. 9

1. "That" = introduces the reason for letting the 11 apostles go.

2. "The saying" = "which he spake" = refers to His prayer in John 17:12.

3. "Fulfilled" = to come to pass; John treats the sayings of Jesus equal to the OT prophecy that was fulfilled.

4. "He" = "I" = Jesus, the virgin born Son of God.

5. "Which" = who; the apostles ("them") are persons not things, therefore masculine gender not neuter.

6. "Thou" = refers to the Father of the Lord Jesus.

7. "Thou gavest me" = to bestow a gift; simply means all who believe on Him; in context refers to the apostles, who Jesus regarded as the Father's gift to Him. (See notes on John 17:2)

8. "Lost" = ruined; destroyed; refers to being separated from God.

9. "None" = not one.

 

V. 10

1. "Then" = therefore; in view of the facts at hand; these things being so; indicates the sequence of events all of which are not recorded by John; after the mob arrived to arrest Jesus and Judas had betrayed Jesus with a kiss the apostles asked, "Lord, shall we smite with a sword?" (Luke 22:47-49) "then" Peter, probably before the Lord answered, drew his sword to use it.

2. "Simon" = Peter's old name before he met Christ; the use of this name may indicate Peter’s action as being according to the flesh.

3. "Peter" = means a rock or stone; really identifies him as a piece of the rock, with the Rock being Christ upon which the church is built, not upon Peter, who is just a piece of the Rock. (Mat. 16:18)

4. "Having" = to own; possessing; the tense is continuous action which seems to indicate he had had it in his possession for a good while; in fact the apostles had two swords. (Luke 22:35-38)

5. "Sword" = "it" = word for a large knife, used for killing animals and cutting up flesh, which may have been the reason they possessed them in the first place; also a word for a small sword.

6. "Drew " = to take out of its place of keeping--"sheath," as verse 11 brings out.

7. "Smote" = to hit with a single blow; he took a swing that made contact.

8. "High priest" = chief priest; one of his duties was to preside over the Sanhedrin when convened for judicial deliberations; no doubt he was in the number that night as well as his "servant" = bondslave ; one devoted to another to the disregard of his own interest.

9. "Cut off" = amputate; completely cut off.

10. "His" = "servant" = "Malchus" = only mentioned by name this one time in the Scripture; the synoptics (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) neither mention his name or Peter's; the reason for this may be due to the fact that both Peter and Malchus were alive when the synoptics were written but dead when John wrote this gospel some 40 plus years later.

11. "His right ear" = this specific being mentioned indicates that John was an eye witness to this incident; Peter missed Malchus' head as he swerved to his left trying to dodge the sword; this may indicate that Peter was left handed; there is no doubt that Peter intended to cut off his head.

 

V. 11

1. "Then" = in view of the facts; may have been after Jesus healed Malchus' ear‑‑restored it to normal condition without leaving a scar (Luke 22:51); Jesus was gracious to heal Malchus and protect Peter from the mob at this time, otherwise there would have been another cross on Calvary and Peter would have been crucified before his time.

2. "Jesus" = "my" = "me" = "I" = the virgin born Son of God.

3. "Peter" = "thy" = the apostle who drew his sword in the garden.

4. "Put up thy sword into the sheath" = replace your sword or large knife into the place where it is normally kept.

5. "The cup" = "which" = "it" = metaphor of Christ's death which involved suffering and crucifixion for our sin; this was "given" to the Lord Jesus by the Father in the sense that Jesus was appointed to this hour.

6. "Drink" = partake.

 

V. 12

1. "Then" = consequently; these things being so.

2. "The band" = a military cohort of about 600 men which Mark 14:43 quotes as "a great multitude;" their chief duty was to maintain peace in Jerusalem.

3. "Captain" = the commander of a Roman cohort‑‑not previously mentioned specifically.

4. "Officers of the Jews" = refers to the Levitical temple guards referred to in verse 3 as "officers."

5. "Took" = to seize; to take as a prisoner.

6. "Jesus" = "him" = the virgin born Son of God.

7. "Bound" = to fasten with chains with the hands behind His back; they did this with no warrant for His arrest and no official charge against Him.

 

V. 13

1. "Led away" = used of those led off to trial.

2. "Him" = Jesus, the virgin born Son of God.

3. "Annas" = a former high priest who still held the power as head of the family of which Caiaphas, his son‑in‑law, was a part; both men were wealthy and possessed the influence and dignity of the highest office in the Jewish nation‑‑thus, Jesus was brought to him "first" = before being carried to "Caiaphas" = the present high priest.

4. "High priest" = appointed from the chief priests; his chief duty was, once a year on the day of atonement, to enter into the Holy of Holies (from which the other priests were excluded) and offer sacrifices for his own sins and the sins of the people and to preside over the Sanhedrin when convened for judicial deliberations.

5. "That same year" = means Caiaphas was high priest the same year that this event took place; Annas was named as high priest in Luke 3:2 and Acts 4:6 but he was an ex high priest and maintained his title due to the influence he had upon his son‑in‑law, Caiaphas, who was high priest at this present time.

 

V. 14

1. "Now" = word introduces an explanation by John, moved by the Holy Ghost (II Peter 1:21), revealing how little prospect there was that Jesus would have justice done Him in the hands of a man who had already pronounced the outcome of the case.

2. "Caiaphas" = "he" = high priest at the present time.

3. "Which" = who; Caiaphas is a person not a thing; thus, this is masculine gender not neuter.

4. "Gave counsel to the Jews" = refers to what Caiaphas said in John 11:49‑52.

5. "Expedient" = profitable; to one's advantage.

6. "That one man should die for the people" = Caiaphas had in mind when he said this to give Jesus over to death to keep the nation from perishing at the hands of the Romans; politicians are often willing to make a sacrifice of the other fellow for their advantage; his thoughts were selfish, his words were malicious, and his conduct was wicked.

 

            2) The Denial. V. 15‑27

V. 15

1. "Simon Peter" = John used both of Peter's names, "Simon" used to stand for the old man‑‑before he was saved and "Peter" used to designate the new man‑‑after he was saved.

2. "Followed" = to tag along close behind the mob who had arrested Jesus, but not too close; described by Luke as "afar off." (Luke 22:54)

3. "Jesus" = the virgin born Son of God.

4. "Another" = another of the same kind; refers to this other disciple as being equivalent to Peter‑‑saved.

5. "Disciple" = pupil; learner; denotes one who follows one's teaching to the extent they are said to be imitators of their teacher; the word in itself does not include the idea of salvation in it; therefore, it can mean a lost or saved follower but the context denotes this other disciple was saved.

6. "That disciple" = I believe this was John who wrote this book; I have read of others who thought it was someone else but their theory does not have a valid proof; all the apostles fled (Mat. 26:56) but Peter followed at a distance and so did the other disciple (John) and when Jesus was hanging on the cross we find John there and was commanded by Jesus to take care of His mother as he would his own. (John 19:26‑27)

7. "Known" = to know as an acquaintance.

8. "High priest" = Caiaphas, for Annas had sent Him to Caiaphas (verse 24); John does not record what happened when Jesus was before Annas and neither does the other three gospel writers; going before Annas must have been just a gesture of courtesy to the ex‑high priest.

9. "Went in with Jesus" = to enter together.

10. "The palace of the high priest" = an enclosure best described as a courtyard‑‑place where Caiaphas presided over the Sanhedrin when the need arose.

 

V. 16

1. "But" = shows the contrast between Peter who was standing near the entrance of the courtyard while John (the other disciple) has entered with the crowd.

2. "Without" = means Peter was outside the door.

3. "Then" = therefore; these things being so; just shows the sequence of events.

4. "Went out that other disciple" = John went out the gate to where Peter was standing.

5. "Which" = who; this other disciple is a person not a thing; therefore, it is masculine gender not neuter.

6. "Spake" = said words to the keeper of the door that allowed Peter to enter.

7. "Her that kept the door" = the Greek has a doorkeeper in feminine gender.

8. "Brought in Peter" = we know not what John said to the woman doorkeeper but it was good enough to allow Peter to enter the courtyard where the mob was gathered around Jesus.

 

V. 17

1. "Then" = these things being so; shows the sequence of events.

2. "Damsel" = a maid servant who had charge.

3. "Saith" = to speak; she felt responsible for her action; therefore, she approached Peter with her question, "Art not thou also one of this man's disciples?" = her question in the Greek expects a negative answer; she hoped Peter was not Jesus' disciple, though she really believed he was; seems this was asked after Peter had sat down by the fire. (Luke 22:55-56)

4. "This man's" = used in a contemptuous sense with a gesture toward Jesus, since she was close to where Jesus was; she made it easy for Peter to say no‑‑"I am not."

5. "Peter" = "he" = "I" = the one who denied openly Jesus three times.

 

V. 18

1. "Servants" = bondslaves; attendants of the high priest.

2. "Officers" = the Levitical temple guards; the soldiers (Romans) had apparently returned to their barracks and left this Jewish matter in the hands of Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin.

3. "Stood there" = these men were standing in the courtyard while the authorities (so called) were questioning Jesus.

4. The court yard was open and the night air chilly.  The date was April 14th and early in the morning before daylight (about 2:00 in the morning since the cock crow watch was at 3:00 AM), so they built a fire to keep warm and Peter stood with them.

5. "Stood" = the tense in the Greek is perfect which means a past completed action with existing results; Peter was around this fire for some time‑‑long enough to deny Jesus two more times; John does not record this but Luke does in detail (Luke 22:54‑62); Luke 22:56 states Peter "sat by the fire" which means he must have sat down at times and stood at times; all this seems to indicate Peter pretended to be indifferent to the trial of Jesus and tried to ignore the trial by keeping his face toward the fire.

6. But when the cock crowed twice (about 3:00 AM) he was reminded what Jesus had told him just a short time before. (Luke 22:31‑34)

 

V. 19

1. "High priest" = Caiaphas.

2. "Then" = these things being so; shows the sequence of events.

3. "Asked" = to question; this is a preliminary hearing to determine grounds for a formal trial.

4. "Jesus" = "his" = the virgin born Son of God.

5. "Disciples" = followers; Caiaphas wanted to know the number of His followers; his insinuation was that His followers might be used as soldiers and cause an uprising against Rome.

6. "Doctrine" = teaching; refers to what Jesus taught; implies that His doctrine might be political in nature.

 

V. 20

1. "Jesus" = "I" = the virgin born Son of God.

2. "Answered" = to give an answer to a question proposed; Jesus ignores the question about His disciples and challenges the inquiry about His teaching as needless.

3. "Him" = the high priest‑‑Caiaphas.

4. "Spake openly" = without concealment.

5. "The world" = mankind.

6. "Ever" = always.

7. "Taught" = to impart instruction.

8. "Synagogue" = the building in a city where solemn Jewish assemblies were held; the place of worship other than the temple at Jerusalem where the Jews congregated for worship; the service consists of prayer, praise, reading of the Word of God, and an exposition.

9. "Temple" = a sacred place in Jerusalem; consisted of the whole sacred enclosure‑‑the entire aggregate of the buildings, balconies, and courts (that of the men of Israel, of the women, that of the priests, and that of the Gentiles).

10. "Whither" = where.

11. "The Jews" = belonging to the Jewish nation; descriptive of the people as distinct from the Gentile world and from the followers of Christ.

12. "Always resort" = constantly assemble.

13. "In secret have I said nothing" = means He held no secret meetings in which He conspired against the government of Rome or His nation‑‑Israel.

 

V. 21

1. "Me" = "I" = Jesus, the virgin born Son of God.

2. "Thou" = the high priest, Caiaphas, who was questioning Jesus.

3. "Why askest thou me?" = Jesus was not under obligation to witness against Himself; according to the rules established by the Sanhedrin, the first order of a trial was to be the calling of witnesses for the defense.

4. "Them" = "they" = the witnesses who had heard Jesus.

5. "Which" = who; the witnesses are people not things; therefore, this is masculine gender and not neuter.

6. "Heard" = the Greek construction seems to refer to persons present or nearby who were able to speak with full knowledge regarding Jesus' teaching.

7. "Behold" = an exclamation; means to look‑‑to check it out.

8. "Know" = to have an absolute positive knowledge of the facts; the tense is perfect in the Greek which means a past completed action with existing results; this means these witnesses had heard with understanding sometime in the past and at present still retained that understanding.

 

V. 22

1. "He" = "Jesus" = "thou" = the virgin born Son of God.

2. "Thus" = these things; refers to Jesus speaking the things He said in verse 21.

3. "One of the officers" = one of the Levitical guards of the temple; he would have been Jewish not Roman.

4. "Which" = who; the officer was a person not a thing; thus, this is masculine gender not neuter.

5. "Stood by" = the tense is perfect in the Greek which means a past completed action with existing results; this means the officer took his position as soon as they gathered in Caiaphas' courtyard and remained ready to keep down trouble.

6. "Struck with the palm of his hand" = slapped Jesus in the mouth to indicate that Jesus had spoken disrespectfully to the high priest and that the accused should keep silent; Paul received a similar blow when he stood before Ananias the high priest in Act 23:1‑2.

 

V. 23

1. "Jesus" = "I" = "me" = the virgin born Son of God.

2. "Answered" = to give an answer to a question proposed. (verse 22)

3. "Him" = "him" = the officer who smote Jesus.

4. "Spoken evil" = spoken improperly or wrongly; refers to disrespect to the office of the high priest.

5. "Bear witness" = testify to the evil; put witnesses on the stand to submit testimony of any wrong doing.

6. "But" = shows the contrast between evil doing and well doing.

7. "Well" = rightly.

8. "Smitest" = refers to the insulting blow to the face.

 

V. 24

1. "Now" = consequently; word introduces an explanation concerning the location they were gathered at; they had gone to Annas, a former high priest, first but none of the gospel writers give any insight as to what was said or done at his place.

2. "Had sent" = to order to go to a place appointed--ordered to be carried unto Caiaphas, the official high priest at this time.

3. "Bound" = to fasten with chains with the hands behind His back; the tense in the Greek is perfect which means a past completed action with existing results; this means that Jesus was bound in the garden and continued to be bound even before Caiaphas.

4. This verse is inserted to show where Jesus was when questioned–in Caiaphas' palace.

 

V. 25

1. "Simon Peter" = "himself" = "him" = "thou" = "He" = "I" = John uses Peter's old name before he was saved and his new name after he was saved possibly to avoid being mistaken as being some other "Peter" or "Simon."

2. "Stood and warmed" = this was already mentioned in verse 18; the second mention of this was to show Peter's second denial of the Lord Jesus

3. "They" = the attendants; those gathered around the fire while Jesus was being questioned; Mark 14:69 says a maid; Mat. 26:71 states another maid asked Peter; Luke 22:58 indicates it was a man who asked Peter; no doubt Peter was harassed by several people; thus, John uses the plural "they" to indicate all those who asked.

4. "Therefore" = these things being so; it may be that Peter's reaction to the blow Jesus received was detected by the attendants.

5. "His" = Jesus, the virgin born Son of God.

6. "Art not thou also one of his disciples?" = a similar question was asked by the maid in verse 17 with a negative answer expected to both questions‑‑favorite device of the devil in making temptation attractive.

7. "Art" = are.

8. "Also" = indeed.

9. "His" = Jesus, the virgin born Son of God.

10. "Disciples" = pupil; learner; denotes one who follows one's teaching to the extent they are said to be imitators of their teacher.

11. "Denied" = to contradict; to declare a statement or position not to be true; this is Peter's second time to deny Jesus.

 

V. 26

1. "Servant" = bondslave; one devoted to another to the disregard of his own interest.

2. "High priest" = Caiaphas.

3. "Kinsman" = related by blood to Malchus (his).

4. "Peter" = "thee" = the apostle in the garden who took a swing at Malchus and cut off his ear.

5. "Cut off" = amputate; completely cut off.

6. "Did not I see thee in the garden with him?" = this staggering and sudden question expects an affirmative answer but Peter's previous denials, with the knowledge that he was observed by a kinsman of Malchus whom he had tried to kill, drove him to the third flat denial that he knew Jesus, this time with cursing and swearing. (Mark 14:71; Mat. 26:73-74)

7. "Garden" = garden of Gethsemane where Jesus was arrested.

8. "Him" = Jesus, the virgin born Son of God.

 

V. 27

1. "Peter" = the one who denied Jesus three times; he was in danger of being arrested himself for attempting to kill Malchus.

2. "Then" = therefore; in view of the facts at hand.

3. "Denied" = to declare a statement or position not to be true.

4. "Again" = repetition of an action; this is Peter's third time to deny Jesus.

5. "Immediately" = at once; just as soon as Peter got the words out of his mouth.

6. "Cock" = a rooster.

7. "Crew" = crowed; Mark 14:68,72 speaks of two crowings which is the fulfillment of what Jesus had told Peter only a few hours earlier (Mark 14:30); the time of this was usually the close of the third watch of the night (Mark 13:35), about 3:00 AM.

8. Luke 22:61‑62 notes that Jesus turned and looked on Peter and he went out and wept bitterly.

 

            3) The rejection. V. 28‑40

V. 28

1. "Then" = these things being so; introduces the next sequence of events.

2. "They" = "themselves" = the Sanhedrin. (Luke 23:1)

3. "Led" = to lead by laying hold of and to bring to the point of destination.

4. "Jesus" = the virgin born Son of God.

5. "Caiaphas" = the high priest; refers to being lead from the courtyard of Caiaphas because he was with the crowd.

6. "Hall of judgment" = "judgment hall" the palace or place where the Roman governor stayed when in Jerusalem and heard and decided cases brought before him; Jesus had been condemned by the Sanhedrin, and pronounced guilty of death (Mat. 26:66) but they did not have power to carry their sentence--execution (verse 31); therefore, they sought that He might be condemned and executed by Pilate.

7. "It was early" = probably the fourth watch of the night (3:00 AM to 6:00 AM); John 19:14 says it was about the sixth hour when Pilate condemned Jesus (sixth hour is Roman time or 6:00AM); a Roman court could be held anytime after sunrise; thus, this trial was probably as early as possible; there were two violations of Jewish legal procedure:

      A. Holding the trial for a capital case at night.

      B. Passing condemnation on the same day of the trial.

8. "Went" = to enter; negated by "not;" the Jews did not enter the Gentile judgment hall.

9. "Lest they should be defiled" = to make ceremonially unclean; the Jews considered the touch of a Gentile to be a defilement and on this occasion they regarded it as a pollution to enter the house of a Gentile (Act 10:28); they considered contact with a Gentile as equivalent to that of the contact of a dead body. (Lev. 22:4‑6)

10. "But that" = introduces the reason they would not enter the Gentile hall of judgment‑‑"that they might eat the passover" = a feast that Israel was suppose to be observed since the day of their deliverance from Egypt; this was on the 14th day of April, which is the very day that Jesus was to die as the passover Lamb; the feast of unleavened bread was connected with this feast as outlined in Exo. 12:14‑18 and Lev. 23:5‑8; in context this may be referring to the feast which followed the sacrifice of the lamb, which continued seven days; Jesus had observed the passover meal with His disciples in John 13:2.

11. The Jews were unwilling to defile themselves, even though the passover lamb had been killed, because it would disqualify them from participating in the remainder of the ceremonies.

 

V. 29

1. "Pilate" = the sixth Roman governor of Judea and Samaria; he was governor from AD 25 until about AD 35; he was noted for his cruelty and for several massacres to which Luke refers in Luke 13:1.

2. "Then" = therefore; in view of the fact that the Sanhedrin would not enter Pilate's palace, also called the hall of judgment.

3. "Went out" = he came outside his palace to meet the Jews = "them" = "ye;" it is possible he went out on a balcony overlooking the Jews.

4. "Accusation" = formal charge; Pilate would not pass judgment until he knew the charge.

5. "This man" = Jesus, who was in the Jews' possession bound; this is a neutral way of identifying the accused.

6. Pilate asked this question with an air of contempt for the Jews.

 

V. 30

1. "They" = "we" = the religious Jews gathered around Jesus at this time.

2. "Answered" = to give an answer to a question proposed (verse 29); really they ignored Pilate's question by pretending to be insulted because he wanted to know the accusation.

3. First "him" = "thee" = Pilate.

4. "He" = second "him" = Jesus, the virgin born Son of God.

5. "Malefactor" = an evil doer; a violator of the law.

6. "Delivered" = to give over into the hands and power of another.

 

V. 31

1. "Then" = these things being so; introduces the next sequence of events.

2. "Pilate" = the Roman governor.

3. "Them" = "ye" = "us" = "your" = Jews who had brought Jesus to Pilot for him to judge.

4. "Take" = instead of leaving Jesus for Pilate to pass sentence on, he tells these Jews to take Jesus and judge Him by the authority given the Sanhedrin by the Roman Empire; the Sanhedrin had been given authority to  govern Jewish internal matters, but the Romans reserved the right to  decide when the death penalty was necessary.

5. "Judge" = to pronounce an opinion concerning right or wrong; the Jews  never told Pilate they had already done that, probably because it was illegal to hold a trail at night as they had.

6. "According to your law" = Pilate did not wish to deal with Jesus' case.

7. First and second "him" = Jesus, the virgin born Son of God.

8. "The Jews" = the Sanhedrin with the high priest gathered around.

9. "Therefore" = in view of the facts at hand.

10. "Lawful" = according to the law the Jews were now under; negative by  "not."

11. "To put to death" = one word in the Greek; means to inflict mortal  death.

12. "Any man" = no one and this included Jesus. 

 

V. 32

1. "That" = John by the Holy Ghost (II Peter 1:21) inserted this verse to explain the situation at hand; introduces the reason the Jews did what they did in bringing Jesus to the Gentiles to be put to death by crucifixion; the Jewish mode of capital punishment was to stone a person; but the Jews in their ignorance helped to verify who Jesus was by forcing an issue that would fulfill the very words of Jesus.

2. "Saying" = prophecy; word; this had been spoken more than once. (John 3:14; 12:32; Mat. 20:19)

3. "Jesus" = "he" = the virgin born Son of God.

4. "Fulfilled" = accomplished; carried to the completion.

5. "Signifying" = to make known.

6. "What" = of what sort or nature.

7. "Death he should die" = refers to Jesus' physical death; "lifted up" (John 3:14) means to be nailed to a cross.

 

V. 33

1. "Then" = these things being so; introduces Pilate's reactions to what the Jews said in verse 31.

2. "Pilate" = the Roman governor.

3. "Entered" = went back inside.

4. "Into" = to come to a point, place, and time with a purpose‑‑to question Jesus.

5. "Judgment hall" = the palace or place where the Roman governor stayed while in Jerusalem and heard and decided cases brought before him.

6. "Again" = repetition of an action; it seems Pilate had met the Sanhedrin at the entrance of the judgment hall to receive Jesus since the Jews would not enter; then he entered with Jesus; then after talking to the Jews he turned and went back inside the second time‑‑this time Jesus was already inside.

7. "Called" = summoned; Jesus was in the hands of Pilate's soldiers and Pilate summoned Him to be brought in his presence since he saw that he had to handle the case.

8. "Jesus" = "him" = "thou" = the virgin born Son of God.

9. "Art" = are.

10. "Art thou the King of the Jews?" = this question was asked after the Jews had accused Him of perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar (Luke 23:2); the Jews led Pilate to believe Jesus was making a claim to kingship in the political sense, and was, therefore, a rival of Caesar.

 

V. 34

1. "Jesus" = "me" = the virgin born Son of God.

2. "Answered" = to give an answer to the question proposed in verse 33.

3. "Him" = "thou" = "thyself" = "thee" = Pilate, the Roman Governor.

4. "Sayest" = speak.

5. "This thing" = this question.

6. "Of thyself" = refers to Pilate asking the question because of something he knew of a certainty or "did others tell it thee" = referring to the Sanhedrin.

 

V. 35

1. "Pilate" = "I" = "me" = the Roman governor.

2. "Answered" = to give an answer to a question proposed.

3. "Am I a Jew?" = a reply revealing indignation and scorn on Pilate's part at the idea that he had a personal interest in the question; Pilate was a proud Roman and he despised the Jews and their ways.

4. "Thine" = "thee" = "thou" = refers to Jesus, the virgin born Son of God.

5. "Thine own nation and the chief priest" = Pilate admits that it was the accusation of others‑‑from His own countrymen (the Jews) and from the highest authority (chief priests) among the people.

6. "Delivered" = to give over into the hands and power of another.

7. "What hast thou done?" = what has there been in your conduct that has given occasion for such a charge as this?

 

V. 36

1. "Jesus" = "My" = "I" = the virgin born Son of God.

2. "Answered" = to give an answer to a question proposed.

3. "My kingdom" = territory subject to the rule of a king; Jesus disclaimed any political or civil kingdom‑‑"not of this world" = "not from hence" = not of the same nature; not originated for the same purpose, or conducted on the same plan.

4. "My servants" = if Jesus were an earthly king He would have attendants who would fight to keep Him from being delivered to the Jews‑‑Jesus expects Pilate to surrender to the Jews' desire, for that is what He came for--to be crucified.

5. "Delivered" = to hand over to another.

6. "Now" = at this time; the present; when the Lord comes back and sets His feet upon this earth He will set up a literal kingdom which will not be like the kingdoms of this world even though it will be upon this earth.

 

V. 37

1. "Pilate" = second "thou" = the Roman governor.

2. "Therefore" = in view of the facts at hand; these things be said.

3. "Him" = first "thou" = "Jesus" = "I" = "my" = the virgin born Son of God.

4. "Art" = are.

5. "Art thou a king then?" = this is the second time Pilate ask Jesus this direct question and the Greek expects an affirmative answer.

6. "Answered" = to give an answer to a question proposed.

7. "Thou sayest that I am a king" = this answer is really saying that it was as Pilate said‑‑"I am a king"‑‑ though not political, He was nevertheless a king.

8. "To this end" = "for this cause" = both phrases means for this purpose‑‑which was to bear witness to the truth.

9. "Was born" = refers to the Incarnation‑‑God robed in flesh (John 1:1,14); the tense is perfect in the Greek which means a past completed action with existing results‑‑this means the day He was born from a virgin's womb His purpose was to bear witness unto the truth and at present that is still His purpose.

10. "Into" = to come to a point, place, and a time with a purpose; this preposition gives double emphasis to the Lord's purpose of being born or robed in human flesh.

11. "Bear witness" = to give a first hand detailed account of what one has seen, heard, or experienced; to give evidence.

12. "Truth" = what is true in any matter under consideration; the Greek has the definite article "the;" thus, this refers to Jesus. (John 14:6)

13. "Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice" = refers to those who have been saved; therefore, they are "of the truth" = of the Lord Jesus and are called sheep‑‑this implies that He is the Shepherd and the one who hears is His own sheep. (John 10:27)

 

V. 38

1. "Pilate" = "he " = "I " = the Roman governor; he was not "of the truth" for he did not understand "the truth."

2. "Him " = Jesus, the virgin born Son of God.

3. "What is truth?" = this question was probably asked in contempt for Jesus did not answer it; had the question been  sincere, Jesus would not have hesitated to explain to him the nature of His kingdom as He did to Nicodemus in John 3, who also did not understand truth.

4. "This" = refers to the question "What is truth?"

5.  "Went out" = went outside the palace to speak to the Jews.

6. "Again" = repetition of an action; he had already gone out to them in verses 29‑32.

7. "Jews" = "them" = the rulers of the Jewish nation which included the majority of the Sanhedrin and Caiaphas, the high priest.

8. "Fault" = reason; charge of crime; accusation; cause for which one is worthy of punishment; negated by "not;" this is the first mention of this in John's gospel but Pilate's wife later called Jesus a "just" man when speaking to Pilate (Mat. 27:19); Pilate's mention of Jesus having no fault really stirred them up. (Luke 23:5)

9. John does not mention Pilate transferring Jesus to Herod but Luke records it in Luke 23:6‑12.

 

V. 39

1. "But" = shows the contrast between what the Jews wanted and what Pilate wanted; he wanted to have nothing to do with pronouncing judgment on Jesus whom he knew was innocent; he also wanted to keep peace in Jerusalem and he could not afford to have the Jews complain to Caesar; his intent seemed to be that he would compare the gentle and innocent Jesus to the hardened, condemned murderer so that the Jews would realize their mistake in seeking Jesus' death; but Pilate miscalculated the attitude of the crowd.

2. "Ye" = "you" = the Jewish leaders including the majority of the Sanhedrin and Caiaphas the high priest.

3. "Custom" = something they had been accustomed to doing; this custom is not known beyond the Gospels; Mark 15:6 and Mat. 27:15 alludes to this custom and Luke 23:17 refers to it as being a "necessity."

4. "I" = Pilate, governor of Judea.

5. "Release" = to set free; to acquit one accused of a crime and set him at liberty.

6. "One" = refers to a prisoner of the Jews choice. (Mat. 27:15)

7. "Passover" = a feast that Israel was suppose to observe since the day of their deliverance from Egypt; this was on the 14th day of April, which is the very day that Jesus was to die as the passover Lamb; the feast of unleavened bread was connected with this feast as outlined in Exo. 12:14‑18 and Lev. 23:5‑8.

8. "Will" = have a purpose; to desire; be minded.

9. "Therefore" = in view of the fact‑‑the custom of releasing a condemned prisoner at the passover.

10. "King of the Jews" = this was really who Jesus was, but Pilate speaks this phrase with contempt and irony (a mode of speech expressing a sense contrary to that which the speaker intends to convey).

 

V. 40

1. "Then" = these things being so or being said.

2. "Cried" = to cry aloud; to shout.

3. "They" = the crowd of Jews, including the Sanhedrin and Caiaphas, the high priest, who had brought Jesus to Pilate to be sentenced to death; no doubt by this time there were many more present is this assembly than there was in Caiaphas' courtyard a few hours earlier.

4. "All" = each and every person present cried out individually and collectively.

5. "Again" = repetition of an action; John does not record the first cry but Luke does and he also recorded the third cry (Luke 23:13‑25); Matthew also records Pilate's action and comments to them as a result of their persistent cry. (Mat. 27:24‑25)

6. "Saying" = to affirm over.

7. "This man" = refers to Jesus, the virgin born Son of God.

8. "But" = shows the contrast‑‑not Jesus but Barabbas.

9. "Barabbas" = we do not know a lot about him except what the Scripture declares:

A. Mat. 27:16 calls him a "notable" (notorious) prisoner.

B. Mark 15:7 refers to him as a murderer and a leader of an insurrection (uproar; strife; a rising against political authority).  Luke 23:18‑19 makes similiar comments about him.

C. Here he is called a "robber" = plunderer; to take by force that which does not belong to him; a thief.

10. They chose Barabbas in preference to Jesus and apparently Jesus died on the very cross planned for Barabbas.

 

CHAPTER 19: