Jesus’ Trial Before Annas and Peter’s Denial
John 18:12-27 NKJV
First Jewish Trial Before Annas
Matt. 26:69, 70; Mark 14:66–68; Luke 22:55–57
12 Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. 13 And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. 14 Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.
15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. 16 But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in. 17 Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?”
He said, “I am not.”
18 Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself.
19 The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine.
20 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. 21 Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.”
22 And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?”
23 Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?”
Second Jewish Trial Before Caiaphas
Matt. 26:57–68, 73–75; Mark 14:53–65, 70–72; Luke 22:59–65
24 Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
25 Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?”
He denied it and said, “I am not!”
26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” 27 Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.
Message
I. Jesus Arrested and Taken to Annas (12-18)
See v12.
12 Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him.
Jesus was arrested on Thursday and crucified on Friday. Jesus could have 12 legions of angels to protect Him (Matthew 26:53). But He was voluntarily arrested (John 10:18). He was unfortunate and mistreated so that we might be fortunate and well-treated (2 Corinthians 8:9, Isaiah 53:5-6).
Joseph’s brothers were jealous (Genesis 37:11) and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites (Genesis 37:28). Joseph ended up a slave of an Egyptian (Genesis 39:1) and then a prisoner (Genesis 39:20). Joseph was mistreated and unfortunate. But God enabled him to interpret the dream of Pharaoh, the King of Egypt (Genesis 41:25-27). The interpretation of the dream enabled them to prepare well for the coming famine (Genesis 41:28-36). Pharaoh entrusted Joseph to manage the whole country (Genesis 41:37-40). Joseph rescued his brothers during the famine (Genesis 42-45). But the brothers were afraid of Joseph, fearing that he might punish them (Genesis 50:15-18). But Joseph said in Genesis 50:19–21 NLT.
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.”
Joseph is a shadow of Jesus Christ. They mistreated Jesus, but God intended it all for good. God made Jesus the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords (Philippians 2:9-11, Revelation 19:16) to save the lives of many people.
See v13-14.
13 And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. 14 Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.
Annas was a former high priest who was replaced by Caiaphas under a new Roman governor. However, Annas remained a significant figure in Jewish leadership. The event related to v14 happened in John 11:50 NKJV (See the message on John 11:49-57).
See v15-16.
15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. 16 But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in.
‘another disciple’ in v 15 is maybe John, the author of this book. He was known to the high priest (15). He took Peter into the courtyard of the high priest (16). See v17-18.
17 Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?”
He said, “I am not.”
18 Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself.
As Jesus foretold (John 13:38), Peter disowned Jesus (17). Peter stood and warmed himself near a fire, together with the servants and officers of the high priest (18).
II. Jesus’ Trial Before Annas (19-24)
See v19-24.
19 The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine.
20 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. 21 Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.”
22 And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?”
23 Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?”
24 Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
Annas asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine (19). Regarding ‘His doctrine’, Jesus said in John 7:16-18 NKJV (See the message on John 7:15-24).
16 Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. 18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.
The doctrine of Jesus is not from His own authority but from God who sent Him. This fact can be verified if anyone wills to do His will. Jesus does not seek His own glory but the glory of the One who sent Him. He is true and righteous. When we will to do the will of God who sent Jesus, God will be glorified. Therefore, we shall know that His doctrine is from God.
What Jesus taught is God’s revelation and the truth. The only problem is the unbelief of Annas. Even if Jesus repeats it before Annas, it will waste His time. So, Jesus asked him to refer to those who have heard Him what He said to them (21). They heard, believed and therefore knew what He said (21).
When Jesus said v20-21, one of the officers struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do you answer the high priest like that?” (22) This officer must be spiritually blind and dead. He didn’t know the real problem of their conversation – Annas’s rejection to acknowledge the revelation of God (or the truth) Jesus spoke. To people like this officer, Jesus must seem like a criminal—guilty and a wrongdoer. To such people, Jesus said in John 7:24 NKJV.
Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.
There are many people like this. People scorned Jesus when He was on the cross (Matthew 27:40, 42 44, Mark 15:30-32, Luke 23:35, 37, 39). James also warned the favoritism (James 2:1-4).
Proverbs 20:30 NLT says,
30 Physical punishment cleanses away evil;
such discipline purifies the heart.
Based on the above, evil invites physical punishment. There was no evil in His response to the high priest Annas. Therefore, the strike was unjust (23). Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest (24).
III. Peter’s Denial (25-27)
See v25-27.
25 Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?”
He denied it and said, “I am not!”
26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” 27 Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.
As Jesus foretold, Peter disowned Jesus three times (17, 25, 26). Peter remembered Jesus’ word, went outside, broke down and wept bitterly (Matthew 26:75, Mark 14:72, Luke 22:61-62).
Maybe Peter could not understand his own behaviour, then. He might be shaken by people who belonged to the high priest. However, after his faith had grown and he was filled with the Holy Spirit, one day his message converted 3,000 people to believe in Jesus (Acts 2:41). Peter followed Jesus and glorified God.
