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

18It was cold. So the servants and the officers had made a fire. They were standing around it to make themselves warm. Peter went to stand with them, so that he could make himself warm too. 19The leader of the priests asked Jesus questions about his disciples. He also asked about what Jesus taught. Jesus answered him, ‘I have always taught in the Jewish meeting places, or at the temple. Those are public places where all the Jews meet together. I have said nothing secretly. 21So you do not need to ask me these questions. You can ask the people who heard me when I taught them. They know what I said.’ 22When Jesus said this, one of the soldiers hit him on the face. The soldier said, ‘You should not speak to the leader of the priests like that!’

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 7:14In the middle of the time of the festival, Jesus went to the temple. He started to teach in the yard there.
• John 8:2Early the next morning, Jesus returned to the temple in Jerusalem. All the people came to him. He sat down and he began to teach them.
• John 10:23Jesus was walking in the yard of the temple, under a place with a roof. The place was called Solomon's porch.
• Psalms 22:22I will tell my people how great you are. I will praise you when we meet together.
• Psalms 40:9In the great meeting of your people, I have told them about your justice. I cannot keep quiet! You know that this is true, Lord.
• Matthew 4:23Jesus travelled everywhere in Galilee. He taught the people in the Jewish meeting places. He told them the good news about God's kingdom. He also caused sick people to become well again from all their different pains and illnesses.
• Matthew 9:35Jesus went to visit all the towns and villages near there. He taught the people in the Jewish meeting places. He told them the good news about God's kingdom. He also caused sick people to become well again from all their different pains and illnesses.
• Matthew 21:23Then Jesus returned to the yard of the temple. While he was teaching the people there, the leaders of the priests and important Jews went to him. They asked him, ‘What authority do you have to do these things? Tell us. Who gave you the authority to do them?’
• Matthew 26:65Then Caiaphas tore his clothes to show that he was angry. He said, ‘Jesus has spoken bad words against God. We do not need anyone else to speak against him. You have heard him speak bad words against God.
• Luke 4:15He taught people in the Jewish meeting places. Everyone said good things about him.
• Luke 19:45Jesus went into the yard of the temple. Some people were selling things there. He began to make them all leave that place.
• Luke 20:1One day, Jesus was teaching people in the yard of the temple. He was telling people the good news about God. Then the leaders of the priests and the teachers of God's Law came to him. With them were some other important Jews.
• Luke 21:37Every day Jesus was teaching people in the temple. Each night he went out of the city and he stayed on the hill that is called the Mount of Olives.
• John 7:4Nobody does things secretly if he wants everyone to know him. You are doing these things, so you should show yourself to everybody.’
• Isaiah 45:19I have not spoken secretly, as I hid in a dark place. I did not say to Jacob's descendants, “Look for me, but you will not find me.” I am the Lord. I speak what is right. My message is true.
• Isaiah 48:16Come near to me! Listen to my message! From the beginning, I have not spoken secretly. When these things happen, I will already be there.’ Now the Almighty Lord has sent me, with the power of his 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