John 18 · Verse 19

John 18:19

The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.

John 18:19, King James Version

John 18:19 in other translations

BSB	Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and His teaching.
WEB	The high priest therefore asked Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching.
ASV	The high priest therefore asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his teaching.
YLT	The chief priests, therefore, questioned Jesus concerning his disciples, and concerning his teaching;
DARBY	The high priest therefore demanded of Jesus concerning his disciples and concerning his doctrine.
BBE	Then the high priest put questions to Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.
Webster	The high priest then asked Jesus concerning his disciples, and concerning his doctrine.

What does John 18:19 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 18:19-21

19-21. The high priest ... asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine--probably to entrap Him into some statements which might be used against Him at the trial. From our Lord's answer it would seem that "His disciples" were understood to be some secret party. (Also see on Mr 14:54.)

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 19. The high-priest then asked Jesus of his disciples. To ascertain their number and power. The charge on which they wished to arraign him was that of sedition, or of rebellion against Caesar. To make that plausible, it was necessary to show that he had made so many disciples as to form a strong and dangerous faction; but, as they had no direct proof of that, the high-priest insidiously and improperly attempted to draw the Saviour into a confession. Of this he was aware, and referred him to the proper source of evidence--his open, undisguised conduct before the world.

His doctrine. His teaching. The sentiments that he inculcated. The object was doubtless to convict him of teaching sentiments that tended to subvert the Mosaic institutions, or that were treasonable against the Roman government. Either would have answered the design of the Jews, and they doubtless expected that he--an unarmed and despised Galilean, now completely in their power--would easily be drawn into confessions which art and malice could use to procure his condemnation.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 19 Asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine - He probably asked him by what authority, or in virtue of what right, he collected disciples, formed a different sect, preached a new doctrine, and set himself up for a public reformer? As religion was interested in these things, the high priest was considered as being the proper judge. But all this, with what follows, was transacted by night, and this was contrary to established laws. For the Talmud states, Sanhed. c. iv. s. 1, that - "Criminal processes can neither commence not terminate, but during the course of the day. If the person be acquitted, the sentence may be pronounced during that day; but, if he be condemned, the sentence cannot be pronounced till the next day. But no kind of judgment is to be executed, either on the eve of the Sabbath, or the eve of any festival." Nevertheless, to the lasting infamy of this people, Christ was judicially interrogated and condemned during the night; and on the night too of the passover, or, according to others, on the eve of that feast. Thus, as I have remarked before, all the forms of justice were insulted and outraged in the case of our Lord. In this his humiliation his judgment was taken away. See Act 8:33.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 18:13-27

Simon Peter denied his Master. The particulars have been noticed in the remarks on the other Gospels. The beginning of sin is as the letting forth of water. The sin of lying is a fruitful sin; one lie needs another to support it, and that another. If a call to expose ourselves to danger be clear, we may hope God will enable us to honour him; if it be not, we may fear that God will leave us to shame ourselves. They…

Read the full comment on John 18:13-27 →

John 18:19 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὉHo<the>G3588

οὖνounThenG3767

ἀρχιερεὺςarchiereusthe high priestG749

ἠρώτησενērōtēsenquestionedG2065

τὸνton<the>G3588

ἸησοῦνIēsounJesusG2424

περὶpericoncerningG4012

τῶνtōntheG3588

μαθητῶνmathētōndisciplesG3101

αὐτοῦautouof HimG846

καὶkaiandG2532

περὶpericoncerningG4012

τῆςtēstheG3588

διδαχῆςdidachēsteachingG1322

αὐτοῦ.autouof Him.G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for John 18:19

Mark 14:55-65
And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none. For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together. And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying, We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands. …
Luke 20:20
And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.
Luke 11:53-54
And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things: Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.
Matthew 26:59-68
Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days. And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? …
Luke 22:63-71
And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee? And many other things blasphemously spake they against him. And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying, …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

asked.
Lu 11:53,54; 20:20

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

John 18:18
And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.
John 18:19
The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.
John 18:20
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.

Read all of John 18

John 18:19 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y el pontífice preguntó á Jesús acerca de sus discípulos y de su doctrina.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Le souverain sacrificateur donc interrogea Jésus touchant ses disciples et touchant sa doctrine.
German Elberfelder 1871	Der Hohepriester nun fragte Jesum über seine Jünger und über seine Lehre.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Pontifex ergo interrogavit Jesum de discipulis suis, et de doctrina ejus.