Section 18:19–24

The high priest questioned Jesus

This section tells how Annas, the Jewish high priest, questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. Jesus said that he spoke in public, so he could ask others what he taught. A policeman struck Jesus because he thought that he was rude, but Jesus asked him what he did wrong. Annas then sent him to Caiaphas.

Here are other possible section headings:

The high priest Annas investigated Jesus
-or-
Annas questioned Jesus and then sent him to Caiaphas
-or-
Jesus appeared before the high priest

Paragraph 18:19–21

The high priest questioned Jesus. He was trying to find some excuse for condemning Jesus to death.

18:19a

Meanwhile: The Greek connector that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Meanwhile here indicates that the author was returning to his account of Jesus and Annas. It also indicates the end of the parenthetical information in 18:18. Here the word does not introduce the next in a series of events. The high priest questioned Jesus at the same time as Peter warmed himself by the fire. Translate this conjunction in a way that is natural in your language. For example:

While this was happening (NET Bible)

the high priest questioned Jesus: It appears from the total context (see 18:18, 18:24) that the phrase the high priest here refers to Annas. He had been the high priest before Caiaphas. Many Jews still considered him to be the real high priest even though the Romans had replaced him with Caiaphas. To avoid confusion, it may help to include a footnote saying that the high priest here refers to Annas.

questioned Jesus: This phrase indicates that Annas asked Jesus some questions. He was trying to find a reason to condemn Jesus. His questions were not friendly. Use an expression that is natural to refer to interrogating someone (what lawyers or police do when they question someone that they think is guilty). For example:

interrogated Jesus

18:19b

about His disciples and His teaching: The high priest wanted to know about Jesus’ disciples and what he had taught them.

about His disciples: This phrase probably indicates that the high priest asked Jesus how many disciples he had and what they did. Earlier (11:48), the Jewish leaders were concerned about how many followers Jesus had. So here the high priest was probably asking about all of Jesus’ followers and not just the 12. For example:

about his followers (New Living Translation (2004))

and His teaching: The phrase His teaching refers to what Jesus had been teaching his disciples. The high priest implied that Jesus may have been secretly teaching false, and therefore dangerous, ideas. In some languages it is more natural to translate this with a verb or clause. For example:

what you have taught ⌊them⌋

General Comment on 18:19a–b

This is indirect speech. In some languages it is more natural to use direct speech. For example:

19a The high priest asked Jesus, 19b “How many disciples do you have? And what have you been teaching them?”
-or-
“Tell me about your disciples.” the high priest asked him. “What did you teach them?”

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