John 18:21

John 18:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.
• New International Version (NIV)Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.”

Context of John 18:21

19Then the high priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and about His teaching. 20Jesus 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. Why 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?” 23Jesus replied, “If I have said anything wrong, make a formal statement about the wrong; but if [I spoke] properly, why did you strike Me?”

John 18:21 word by word

τί με ἐρωτᾷς; ἐρώτησον τοὺς ἀκηκοότας τί ἐλάλησα αὐτοῖς. ἴδε οὗτοι οἴδασιν ἃ εἶπον ἐγώ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Whyτίςtis · which?G5101
• askest thouἐπερωτάωeperōtaō · to questionG1905
• meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• them whichὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• heard meἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
• I have saidλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
• unto themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• beholdὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
• theyοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• knowεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
• whatὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004

Cross-references for John 18:21

• Matthew 26:59Now the chief priests and the whole Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) tried to get false witnesses to testify against Jesus, so that they might [have a reason to] put Him to death.
• Mark 14:55Now the chief priests and the entire Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) were trying to obtain testimony against Jesus [which they could use] to have Him [condemned and] executed, but they were not finding any.
• Luke 22:67“If You are the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), tell us.” But He said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe [what I say],
• Acts 24:12Neither in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor elsewhere in the city did they find me carrying on a discussion or disputing with anybody or causing a crowd to gather.

Commentaries on John 18:21

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21Why askest thou me? Ask them … - Jesus here insisted on his rights, and reproves the high priest for his unjust and illegal manner of extorting a confession from him. If he had done wrong, or taught erroneous and seditious doctrines, it was easy to prove it, and the course which he had a right to demand was that they should establish the charge by fair and incontrovertible evidence. We may here learn: 1.That, though Jesus was willing to be reviled and…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 18:21

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

In the dictionaries

• Annas
• Judge
• Resort
• Cohort
• Jesus Christ
• Jesus Christ, the Arrest and Trial of
• John, Gospel of
• Ostraca
• Peter, Simon

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