Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 18:21
Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.
21. which heard ] Better, who have heard; and ‘I have said’ should again be I spake.
they know ] Or, these know, as if implying that they were present and ought to be examined. According to Jewish rule witnesses for the defence were heard first. ‘These’ cannot refer to S. Peter and S. John. S. Peter is still outside by the fire.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Why askest thou me? Ask them … – Jesus here insisted on his rights, and reproves the high priest for his unjust and illegal manner of extorting a confession from him. If he had done wrong, or taught erroneous and seditious doctrines, it was easy to prove it, and the course which he had a right to demand was that they should establish the charge by fair and incontrovertible evidence. We may here learn:
- That, though Jesus was willing to be reviled and persecuted, yet he also insisted that justice should be done him.
- He was conscious of innocence, and he had been so open in his conduct that he could appeal to the vast multitudes which had heard him as witnesses in his favor.
- It is proper for us, when persecuted and reviled, meekly but firmly to insist on our rights, and to demand that justice shall be done us. Laws are made to protect the innocent as well as to condemn the guilty.
- Christians, like their Saviour, should so live that they may confidently appeal to all who have known them as witnesses of the sincerity, purity, and rectitude of their lives, 1Pe 4:13-16.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
We are told by those that have written about the Jewish order in their courts of judgment, that their capital causes always began with the defensive part; and that it was lawful for any to speak for the defendants for a whole day together; (though they did not observe this in the cause of Christ); and their method was not to put the defendants to accuse themselves, but to examine witnesses against them. Our Saviour therefore appeals to their own order, and says,
Why askest thou me? It was, saith he, no secret action; I spake publicly, ask them that heard me speak; they know what doctrine I preached, and can accuse me if I delivered any false doctrine.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
21. Why askest thou me? ask themwhich heard me . . . they know what I . . . saidThis seems toimply that He saw the attempt to draw Him into self-crimination, andresented it by falling back upon the right of every accused party tohave some charge laid against Him by competent witnesses. (Also seeon Mr 14:54.)
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Why askest thou me?…. He seems surprised at the high priest’s conduct, that he should put such questions to him, who stood bound before him; was brought there as a criminal, and was the defendant, and not obliged to accuse himself; nor could it be thought, that whatever evidence or testimony he should give, would have much weight with the persons before whom he stood.
Ask them which heard me, what I said unto them; he appeals to his hearers, many of whom were then present; and these his enemies, even his worst enemies, so clear was his case, so free was his doctrine from sedition and blasphemy, so innocent was he in the whole of his deportment and conduct, that he even submits to have his case issued and determined by what his hearers should say of him; and these not his friends, but his enemies; see Isa 50:8;
behold, they, or these,
know what I have said; pointing at some persons present, perhaps the very officers who had been sent to take him before, but returned without him, declaring that never man spake like him.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Ask them that have heard me ( ). First aorist (tense of urgent and instant action) active imperative of and the articular perfect active participle accusative masculine plural of , to hear. There were abundant witnesses to be had. Multitudes had heard Jesus in the great debate in the temple on Tuesday of this very week when the Sanhedrin were routed to the joy of the common people who heard Jesus gladly (Mr 12:37). They still know.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “Why askest thou me?” (ti me erotos) “Why do you question me?” since my testimony alone is not accepted under your laws of evidence, Joh 5:31-32; Joh 8:14; as based on Mosaic law, Deu 17:6. Why do you simply, exclusively interrogate me?
2) “Ask them which heard me,” (eroteson tous akekootas) “Ask those who heard me,” those who listened to my teachings. He challenges them to an honest investigation, and told them where and how they could find personal, first hand witnesses. It appears that Jesus may have appealed or looked to some who were present, to speak up or yield to answer this type of question against Him.
3) “What I have said unto them:” (ti elalesa autois) “What I spoke to them,” who may be witnesses. Let them tell you – there are hundreds in this area now, in addition to my closer disciples who can witness the truth, Joh 14:1-6; Joh 15:16; Joh 15:27.
4) “Behold, they know what I said.” (ide houtoi oidasin ha eipon ego) “Behold these know what things I spoke,” they are of legal age, sound in mind and in body. I am willing to trust their testimony, just ask them, much as the parents of the man born blind challenged the Pharisees, Joh 9:21. They are the kind of witnesses who really count, if you want legal testimony, according to your own Sanhedrin law, See? Num 35:30; Deu 17:6; 2Co 13:1.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(21) Why askest thou me?Comp. Joh. 5:31. The pronoun Me is not the emphatic word as it is generally taken to be. The stress is on the interrogative, Why, for what purpose, dost thou ask Me? If you want witnesses, ask them which heard Me.
Behold, they know what I said.Better, behold, these know what I said. He pointed probably to some who were then present. In the next verse there is a reference to the officers who, as we know from Joh. 7:32; Joh. 7:46, had heard this doctrine.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
21. Ask them which heard me He hereby refuses, as is his right, to enter into any detail. Nay, he checks his inquisitor, in language of perfect respect as a venerable ruler, but with decided repulse as an illegitimate judge.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
21 Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.
Ver. 21. Why askest thou me? ] We are to be ready always to give an answer to those that ask us a reason of our hope, so they do it to learn of us, and not to ensnare us. Thus I kept the ban-dogs a at staves’ end (saith Nicholas Shetterden, martyr), not as thinking to escape them, but that I would see the foxes leap above ground for my blood, if they can reach it (so it be the will of God), yet we shall then gape and leap for it. Mr Hawks, martyr, asked a parson that examined him, what kin he was to the weathercock of Paul’s? And told one Miles Huggard, a hosier b in Pudding Lane, who began to question him, that he could better skill to eat a pudding and make a hose, than in Scripture either to answer or oppose.
a A dog tied or chained up, either to guard a house, or on account of its ferocity; hence gen. a mastiff, bloodhound. D
b One who makes or deals in hose (stockings and socks) and frame-knitted or woven underclothing generally. Also used more generally for a men’s outfitter or haberdasher. D
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
21. ] See ch. Joh 5:31 , which appears to have been a legal maxim.
, demonstrative: “videtur innuere quod digito extenso ad circumstantes provocaverit.” Bengel. The of ch. Joh 7:46 may have been present: see next verse.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Joh 18:21 . “Why do you interrogate me? Ask those who have heard, what I said to them.” Similarly Socrates appeals to his disciples. The might be construed as if Jesus looked towards some who were present.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
have said = said.
behold. Greek. ide. App-133.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
21.] See ch. Joh 5:31, which appears to have been a legal maxim.
, demonstrative: videtur innuere quod digito extenso ad circumstantes provocaverit. Bengel. The of ch. Joh 7:46 may have been present: see next verse.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Joh 18:21. ) Why ask Me, whom thou dost not believe? [It was suitable neither to the time nor to the place, for Him to set forth the particular dogmas of faith.-V. g.]-) This second depends on , ask.-, these) He points to the multitude then present, even these (here) know.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Joh 18:21
Joh 18:21
Why askest thou me? ask them that have heard me, what I spake unto them: behold, these know the things which I said.-[All his life and teaching could be learned by inquiring of those who had heard him, so let those who seek information ask them. He had no secret clique, but taught the world. His reply seems to be a rebuke to those trying him. Jesus claims that the examination may proceed in the regular order by calling witnesses. Ask them; Why askest thou me? He wanted all the facts brought out.]
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
ask: Mat 26:59, Mat 26:60, Mar 14:55-59, Luk 22:67, Act 24:12, Act 24:13, Act 24:18-20
Reciprocal: Mat 26:55 – I sat
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1
An officer does not take a man into court and then ask him to make out a case against himself. If one has spoken things against the government, then certainly someone knows about it, and he would be the proper person from whom to obtain testimony. That is why Jesus told the high priest to ask them which heard me. Jesus had stated in the preceding verse that he had done his teaching in the synagogue and temple, which were public buildings in which great crowds generally assembled. It surely should not be difficult to obtain legal witnesses if Jesus had been guilty of criminal activities in his teaching.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.
[Ask them which heard me.] Does not Jesus here appeal to the common right and rule amongst themselves? viz. that the witnesses in behalf of the defendant might be heard first. But who, alas! was there that durst witness for him? It is said, indeed, that “the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against him,” Mat 26:59. But did they seek any true witness for him? or did they indeed deal with the witnesses against him as their customs obliged them to have done? did they search their testimony by a strict and severe examination? did they terrify them; or by grave exhortations admonish them to say nothing but the truth? This by right ought to have been done: but we have reason to suppose it was not done.