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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Jesus replied, “Everyone knows what I teach. I have preached regularly in the synagogues and the Temple, where the people gather. I have not spoken in secret.

Context of John 18:20

18It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself. 19Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. “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. 21Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.” 22When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.

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 7:14Not until halfway through the festival did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach.
• John 8:2At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them.
• John 10:23and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade.
• Psalms 22:22I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise you.
• Psalms 40:9I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, Lord, as you know.
• Matthew 4:23Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
• Matthew 9:35Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.
• Matthew 21:23Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”
• Matthew 26:65Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.
• Luke 4:15He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.
• Luke 19:45When Jesus entered the temple courts, he began to drive out those who were selling.
• Luke 20:1One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him.
• Luke 21:37Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives,
• John 7:4No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.”
• Isaiah 45:19I have not spoken in secret, from somewhere in a land of darkness; I have not said to Jacob’s descendants, ‘Seek me in vain.’ I, the Lord, speak the truth; I declare what is right.
• Isaiah 48:16“Come near me and listen to this: “From the first announcement I have not spoken in secret; at the time it happens, I am there.” And now the Sovereign Lord has sent me, endowed with 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