John 18:30

30 “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.”

John 18:30 in Other Translations

30 They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.

30 They answered him, "If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you."

30 “We wouldn’t have handed him over to you if he weren’t a criminal!” they retorted.

30 They said, "If he hadn't been doing something evil, do you think we'd be here bothering you?"

30 They answered him, "If this man weren't a criminal, we wouldn't have handed Him over to you."

John 18:30 Meaning and Commentary

John 18:30

They answered and said unto him
Offended at the question put to them, and filled with indignation that they should be so interrogated, with an air of haughtiness and insolence reply to him:

if he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto
thee;
insinuating, that he was guilty of some very wicked action; not merely of a breach of some of their laws peculiar to them; for then they would have tried and judged him according to them, and not have brought him before him; but they suggest, that he was guilty of some crimes recognizable by Caesar's court; and which they did not care to mention expressly, lest they should not succeed, not having it may be as yet, their witnesses ready; and hoped he would have took their own word for it, without any further proof, they being men of such rank and dignity, and of so much knowledge, learning, and religion; and therefore took it ill of him, that he should ask such persons as they were, so famous for their prudence, integrity, and sanctity, such a question: however, they own themselves to be the betrayers and deliverers up of our Lord, which Christ had before foretold, and which Stephen afterwards charged them with.

John 18:30 In-Context

28 Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover.

29 So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?”

30 “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.”

31 Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” “But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected.

32 This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die.