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

18(Now the slaves and the guards were standing around a charcoal fire they had made, warming themselves because it was cold. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.) 19While this was happening, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. Jesus replied, “I have spoken publicly to the world. I always taught in the synagogues and in the temple courts, where all the Jewish people assemble together. I have said nothing in secret. 21Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said. They know what I said.” 22When Jesus had said this, one of the high priest’s officers who stood nearby struck him on the face and said, “Is that the way 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 half over, Jesus went up to the temple courts and began to teach.
• John 8:2Early in the morning he came to the temple courts again. All the people came to him, and he sat down and began to teach them.
• John 10:23It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple area in Solomon’s Portico.
• Psalms 22:22I will declare your name to my countrymen! In the middle of the assembly I will praise you!
• Psalms 40:9I have told the great assembly about your justice. Look! I spare no words! O Lord, you know this is true.
• Matthew 4:23Jesus went throughout all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of disease and sickness among the people.
• Matthew 9:35Then Jesus went throughout all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and sickness.
• Matthew 21:23Now after Jesus entered the temple courts, the chief priests and elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?”
• Matthew 26:65Then the high priest tore his clothes and declared, “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? Now you have heard the blasphemy!
• Luke 4:15He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by all.
• Luke 19:45Then Jesus entered the temple courts and began to drive out those who were selling things there,
• Luke 20:1Now one day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the gospel, the chief priests and the experts in the law with the elders came up
• Luke 21:37So every day Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, but at night he went and stayed on the Mount of Olives.
• John 7:4For no one who seeks to make a reputation for himself does anything in secret. If you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.”
• Isaiah 45:19I have not spoken in secret, in some hidden place. I did not tell Jacob’s descendants, ‘Seek me in vain!’ I am the Lord, the one who speaks honestly, who makes reliable announcements.
• Isaiah 48:16Approach me! Listen to this! From the very first I have not spoken in secret; when it happens, I am there.” So now, the sovereign Lord has sent me, accompanied by 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