NIV Life Application Study Bible, Third Edition - Flipbook - Page 66
J ohn 1 8 : 2 5
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page 1842
Peter Denies Knowing Jesus
(227/Matthew 26:69–75; Mark 14:66–72; Luke 22:54–65 )
25 Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. k So they asked
him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?”
He denied it, saying, “I am not.” l
26 One of the high p
riest’s servants, a relative of the man w
hose ear Peter had cut off, m
challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” n 27Again Peter denied it, and
at that moment a rooster began to crow. o
esus Stands Trial before P
J
ilate
(230/Matthew 27:11–14; Mark 15:2–5; Luke 23:1–5 )
28 Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman gov
ernor. p By now it was early morning, and to a
void ceremonial uncleanness they did not
THE SIX
STAGES
OF JESUS’
TRIAL
Before Jewish
Authorities
Although Jesus’
trial lasted less
than 18 hours,
he was taken
to six different
hearings.
Before Roman
Authorities
18:25
kver 18
lver 17
18:26
10
1
mver
nver
18:27
oJn 13:38
18:28
pMt 27:2; Mk 15:1;
Lk 23:1
Preliminary Hearing
before Annas
(John 18:12-24)
Because the office of high priest was for life, Annas
was still the “official” high priest in the eyes of the
Jews, even though the Romans had appointed
another. Thus, Annas still carried much weight with
the Jewish high council (the Sanhedrin).
Hearing before
Caiaphas
(Matthew 26:57-68)
Like the hearing before Annas, this hearing was
conducted at night in secrecy. It was full of illegalities that made a mockery of justice (see the chart
on page 1651).
Trial before the
High Council
(the Sanhedrin)
(Matthew 27:1-2)
Just after daybreak, the members of the Jewish high
council (the Sanhedrin) met to rubber-stamp their
approval of the previous hearings to make them
appear legal. The purpose of this trial was not to
determine justice but to justify their own preconceptions of Jesus’ guilt.
First Hearing
before Pilate
(Luke 23:1-5)
The religious leaders had condemned Jesus to
death on religious grounds, but only the Roman
government could grant the death penalty. Thus,
they took Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor,
and accused him of treason and rebellion, crimes
for which the Roman government gave the death
penalty. Pilate saw at once that Jesus was innocent,
but he was afraid because of the uproar being
caused by the religious leaders.
Hearing
before Herod
(Luke 23:6-12)
Because Jesus’ home was in the region of Galilee,
Pilate sent Jesus to Herod Antipas, the ruler of
Galilee, who was in Jerusalem for the Passover
celebration. Herod was eager to see Jesus do a
miracle, but when Jesus remained silent, Herod
wanted nothing to do with him and sent him back
to Pilate.
Last Hearing
before Pilate
(Luke 23:13-25)
Pilate didn’t like the religious leaders. He wasn’t
interested in condemning Jesus, because he knew
Jesus was innocent. However, he knew that another
uprising in his district might cost him his job. First
he tried to compromise with the religious leaders
by having Jesus beaten, an illegal action in itself.
But finally he gave in and handed Jesus over to be
executed. Pilate’s self-interest was stronger than his
sense of justice.
18:25-27 Imagine standing outside while Jesus, your Lord and Mas-
ter, is questioned. Imagine watching this man whom you have come to
believe is the long-awaited Messiah being abused and beaten. Naturally,
Peter was confused and afraid. To disown Christ is a serious sin. But later
Jesus forgave Peter (21:15-17). No sin is too great for Jesus to forgive if
you are truly repentant. He will forgive even your worst sin if you turn
from it and ask his pardon.
18:25 The other three Gospels say that Peter’s three denials happened
near a fire in the courtyard outside Caiaphas’s palace. John places the first
denial outside Annas’s home and the other two denials outside Caiaphas’s.
This was very likely the same courtyard. The high priest’s compound
was large, and Annas and Caiaphas undoubtedly lived near each other.
18:27 This fulfilled Jesus’ words to Peter after he promised he would
never disown him (13:38; Mark 14:31).
18:28 By Jewish law, entering the house of a Gentile would cause
a Jewish person to be ceremonially defiled. As a result, he could not
take part in worship at the temple or celebrate the festivals until he was
restored to a state of cleanness. Afraid of being defiled, these men stayed