18:21a

Why are you asking Me?: This is a rhetorical question. It is used as a rebuke. Jesus was rebuking the high priest for questioning him about his teaching. He implied that he did not need to ask him. There are at least two ways to translate this rhetorical question to express rebuke:

• Use a rhetorical question. For example:

Why do you ask me? (NET Bible)

• Use a statement. For example:

So you do not need to ask me about my teachings.

Use whichever form is most natural for expressing rebuke in your language.

18:21b

Ask those who heard My message: Jewish law stated that it was the witnesses who should be questioned, not the person on trial. So Jesus said the high priest should be asking witnesses about his teaching. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

Ask the people who heard my teaching. (New Century Version)
-or-
You should ask those who heard what I said.
-or-
Why don’t you ask the people who heard me? (Contemporary English Version)

those who heard My message: This clause refers in general to the many people who had heard Jesus speak. Some had heard him speak in one of the synagogues, and some had heard him speak in the temple courtyard. Some of those in the Jewish council heard Jesus teach.

18:21c

Surely they know what I said: This clause indicates that the people who heard Jesus knew what he said. It also implies that they could tell the high priest what he said. For example:

they ⌊can tell you⌋ what I said

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