^18:19While this was happening,⁵⁰ the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching.⁵¹^18:20Jesus replied,⁵² “I have spoken publicly to the world. I always taught in the synagogues⁵³ and in the temple courts,⁵⁴ where all the Jewish people⁵⁵ assemble together. I⁵⁶ have said nothing in secret. ^18:21Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said.⁵⁷ They⁵⁸ know what I said.” ^18:22When Jesus⁵⁹ had said this, one of the high priest’s officers who stood nearby struck him on the face and said,⁶⁰ “Is that the way you answer the high priest?” ^18:23Jesus replied,⁶¹ “If I have said something wrong,⁶² confirm⁶³ what is wrong.⁶⁴ But if I spoke correctly, why strike me?” ^18:24Then Annas sent him, still tied up,⁶⁵ to Caiaphas the high priest.⁶⁶

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Footnotes

50 The introductory phrase “While this was happening” is not in the Greek text. It has been supplied in the translation to clarify the alternation of scenes in the narrative for the modern reader.
51 The nature of this hearing seems to be more that of a preliminary investigation; certainly normal legal procedure was not followed, for no indication is given that any witnesses were brought forth at this point to testify against Jesus. True to what is known of Annas’ character, he was more interested in Jesus’ disciples than in the precise nature of Jesus’ teaching, since he inquired about the followers first. He really wanted to know just how influential Jesus had become and how large a following he had gathered. This was of more concern to Annas that the truth or falsity of Jesus’ teaching.
52 Grk “Jesus answered him.”
53 See the note on synagogue in .
54 Grk “in the temple.”
55 Grk “the Jews.” Here the phrase refers to the Jewish people generally, for whom the synagogues and the temple courts in Jerusalem were important public gathering places. See also the note on the phrase “Jewish religious leaders” in v. .
56 Grk “And I.” The conjunction καί (kai, “and”) has not been translated here in keeping with the tendency of contemporary English style to use shorter sentences.
57 Grk “Ask those who heard what I said to them.” The words “to them” are not translated since they are redundant in English.
58 Grk “Look, these know what I said.”
59 Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
60 Grk “one of the high priest’s servants standing by gave Jesus a strike, saying.” For the translation of ῥάπισμα (rhapisma), see L&N 19.4.
61 Grk “Jesus answered him.”
62 Or “something incorrect.”
63 Grk “testify.”
64 Or “incorrect.”
65 Or “still bound.”
66 Where was Caiaphas the high priest located? Did he have a separate palace, or was he somewhere else with the Sanhedrin? Since Augustine (4th century) a number of scholars have proposed that Annas and Caiaphas resided in different wings of the same palace, which were bound together by a common courtyard through which Jesus would have been led as he was taken from Annas to Caiaphas. This seems a reasonable explanation, although there is no conclusive evidence.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.

“I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”

When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.

“If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching.

“I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus answered him. “I have always taught in the synagogue and in the temple, where all the Jews gather, and I haven’t spoken anything in secret. Why do you question me? Question those who heard what I told them. Look, they know what I said.”

When he had said these things, one of the officials standing by slapped Jesus, saying, “Is this the way you answer the high priest?”

“If I have spoken wrongly,” Jesus answered him, “give evidence about the wrong; but if rightly, why do you hit me?” Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

NLTNew Living Translation

Inside, the high priest began asking Jesus about his followers and what he had been teaching them. Jesus 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. Why are you asking me this question? Ask those who heard me. They know what I said.”

Then one of the Temple guards standing nearby slapped Jesus across the face. “Is that the way to answer the high priest?” he demanded.

Jesus replied, “If I said anything wrong, you must prove it. But if I’m speaking the truth, why are you beating me?”

Then Annas bound Jesus and sent him to Caiaphas, the high priest.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

So the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. Jesus replied to him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I always taught in the synagogue and in the temple courts where all the Jews assemble, and I have said nothing in secret. Why are you asking me? Ask those who heard what I have said to them! Behold, these people know what I said.” Now when he had said these things, one of the officers who was standing by gave a slap in the face to Jesus, saying, “Do you reply to the high priest in this way?” Jesus replied to him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify about what is wrong! But if I have spoken correctly, why do you strike me?” Then Annas sent him, tied up, to Caiaphas the high priest.

KJV 1900King James Version

The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said. And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so? Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me? Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.

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