John 18:20

John 18:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)“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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)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.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing.

Context of John 18:20

18Now the servants and the officers had made a fire of coals, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. And Peter was with them, standing and warming himself. 19Then the high priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and about His teaching. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I always taught in a synagogue and in the temple [area], where all the Jews habitually congregate; and I said nothing in secret. 21Why question Me? Question those who have heard what I said to them. They know what I said.” 22But when He said this, one of the officers who was standing nearby struck Jesus [in the face], saying, “Is that how You answer the high priest?”

John 18:20 word by word

ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ Ἰησοῦς· ἐγὼ παρρησίᾳ λελάληκα τῷ κόσμῳ. ἐγὼ πάντοτε ἐδίδαξα ἐν συναγωγῇ καὶ ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ ὅπου πάντες οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι συνέρχονται, καὶ ἐν κρυπτῷ ἐλάλησα οὐδέν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
• answeredἀποκρίνωapokrinomai · to answerG611
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• spakeλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
• openlyπαρρησίαparrhēsia · boldnessG3954
• to the worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889
• everπάντοτεpantote · alwaysG3842
• taughtδιδάσκωdidaskō · to teachG1321
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the synagogueσυναγωγήsunagōgē · synagogueG4864
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• the templeἱερόνhieron · templeG2411
• whitherὅπουhopou · where(-ever)G3699
• the JewsἸουδαῖοςIoudaios · JewG2453
• resortσυνέρχομαιsunerchomai · to assembleG4905
• secretκρυπτόςkruptos · hiddenG2927
• nothingοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762

Cross-references for John 18:20

• John 7:14When the feast was already half over, Jesus went up into the temple [court] and began to teach.
• John 8:2Early in the morning He came back into the temple [court], and all the people were coming to Him. He sat down and began teaching them.
• John 10:23It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple [area] in Solomon’s portico.
• Psalms 22:22I will tell of Your name to my countrymen; In the midst of the congregation I will praise You.
• Psalms 40:9I have proclaimed good news of righteousness [and the joy that comes from obedience to You] in the great assembly; Behold, I will not restrain my lips [from proclaiming Your righteousness], As You know, O Lord.
• Matthew 4:23And He went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news (gospel) of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people [demonstrating and revealing that He was indeed the promised Messiah].
• Matthew 9:35Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages [in Galilee], teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news (gospel) of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness [His words and His works reflecting His Messiahship].
• Matthew 21:23When He entered the temple area, the chief priests and elders of the people came to Him as He was teaching and said, “By what [kind of] authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority [to exercise this power]?”
• Matthew 26:65Then the high priest tore his robes [in mock horror] and exclaimed, “He has blasphemed [by making Himself God’s equal]! What further need have we of witnesses or evidence? See, you have now heard the blasphemy.
• Luke 4:15And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised and glorified and honored by all.
• Luke 19:45Jesus went into the temple [enclosure] and began driving out those who were selling,
• Luke 20:1On one of the days, as Jesus was instructing the people in the temple [area] and preaching the good news (gospel), the chief priests and the scribes along with the elders confronted Him,
• Luke 21:37Now in the daytime Jesus was teaching in [the porches and courts of] the temple, but at night He would go out and spend the night on the mount that is called Olivet.
• John 7:4No one does anything in secret when he wants to be known publicly. If You [must] do these things, show Yourself openly to the world and make Yourself known!”
• Isaiah 45:19I have not spoken in secret, In a corner of a land of darkness; I did not say to the descendants of Jacob, ‘Seek Me in vain [with no benefit for yourselves].’ I, the Lord, speak righteousness [the truth—trustworthy, a straightforward correlation between deeds and words], Declaring things that are upright.
• Isaiah 48:16Come near to Me, listen to this: From the beginning I have not spoken in secret, From the time that it happened, I was there. And now the Lord God has sent Me, and His [Holy] Spirit.”

Commentaries on John 18:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20I spake openly to the world - To every person in the land indiscriminately - to the people at large: the ͅ ͅ, here, is tantamount to the French tout le monde, all the world, i.e. every person within reach. This is another proof that St. John uses the term world to mean the Jewish people only; for it is certain our Lord did not preach to the Gentiles. The answer of our Lord, mentioned in this and the following verse, is such as became a person conscious of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Openly to the world - If his doctrine had tended to excite sedition and tumult, if he had aimed to overthrow the government, he would have trained his friends in secret; he would have retired from public view, and would have laid his plans in private. This is the case with all who attempt to subvert existing establishments. Instead of that, he had proclaimed his views to all. He had done it in every place of public concourse in the synagogue and in the…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-27Verses 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 said nothing concerning the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20-21Jesus's direct response reminded Annas that everything was public knowledge. This exposed the priest's attempt to follow Roman practice.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 19-2119-21. 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.)Read the comment

Topics related to John 18:20

• Court
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Priest
• Prisoners
• Synagogue
• Temple

In the dictionaries

• Jesus
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• Annas
• Judge
• Resort
• Synagogue
• Cohort
• Jesus Christ
• Jesus Christ, the Arrest and Trial of
• John, Gospel of

Commentaries on John 18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings