João 18

1 Tendo Jesus dito isto, saiu com seus discípulos para o outro lado do ribeiro de Cedrom, onde havia um jardim, e com eles ali entrou.

2 Ora, Judas, que o traía, também conhecia aquele lugar, porque muitas vezes Jesus se reunira ali com os discípulos.

3 Tendo, pois, Judas tomado a coorte e uns guardas da parte dos principais sacerdotes e fariseus, chegou ali com lanternas archotes e armas.

4 Sabendo, pois, Jesus tudo o que lhe havia de suceder, adiantou-se e perguntou-lhes: A quem buscais?

5 Responderam-lhe: A Jesus, o nazareno. Disse-lhes Jesus: Sou eu. E Judas, que o traía, também estava com eles.

6 Quando Jesus lhes disse: Sou eu, recuaram, e cairam por terra.

7 Tornou-lhes então a perguntar: A quem buscais? e responderam: A Jesus, o nazareno.

8 Replicou-lhes Jesus: Já vos disse que sou eu; se, pois, é a mim que buscais, deixai ir estes;

9 para que se cumprisse a palavra que dissera: Dos que me tens dado, nenhum deles perdi.

10 Então Simão Pedro, que tinha uma espada, desembainhou-a e feriu o servo do sumo sacerdote, cortando-lhe a orelha direita. O nome do servo era Malco.

11 Disse, pois, Jesus a Pedro: Mete a tua espada na bainha; não hei de beber o cálice que o Pai me deu?

12 Então a coorte, e o comandante, e os guardas dos judeus prenderam a Jesus, e o maniataram.

13 E conduziram-no primeiramente a Anás; pois era sogro de Caifás, sumo sacerdote naquele ano.

14 Ora, Caifás era quem aconselhara aos judeus que convinha morrer um homem pelo povo.

15 Simão Pedro e outro discípulo seguiam a Jesus. Este discípulo era conhecido do sumo sacerdote, e entrou com Jesus no pátio do sumo sacerdote,

16 enquanto Pedro ficava da parte de fora, � porta. Saiu, então, o outro discípulo que era conhecido do sumo sacerdote, falou � porteira, e levou Pedro para dentro.

17 Então a porteira perguntou a Pedro: Não és tu também um dos discípulos deste homem? Respondeu ele: Não sou.

18 Ora, estavam ali os servos e os guardas, que tinham acendido um braseiro e se aquentavam, porque fazia frio; e também Pedro estava ali em pé no meio deles, aquentando-se.

19 Então o sumo sacerdote interrogou Jesus acerca dos seus discípulos e da sua doutrina.

20 Respondeu-lhe Jesus: Eu tenho falado abertamente ao mundo; eu sempre ensinei nas sinagogas e no templo, onde todos os judeus se congregam, e nada falei em oculto.

21 Por que me perguntas a mim? pergunta aos que me ouviram o que é que lhes falei; eis que eles sabem o que eu disse.

22 E, havendo ele dito isso, um dos guardas que ali estavam deu uma bofetada em Jesus, dizendo: É assim que respondes ao sumo sacerdote?

23 Respondeu-lhe Jesus: Se falei mal, dá testemunho do mal; mas, se bem, por que me feres?

24 Então Anás o enviou, maniatado, a Caifás, o sumo sacerdote.

25 E Simão Pedro ainda estava ali, aquentando-se. Perguntaram- lhe, pois: Não és também tu um dos seus discípulos? Ele negou, e disse: Não sou.

26 Um dos servos do sumo sacerdote, parente daquele a quem Pedro cortara a orelha, disse: Não te vi eu no jardim com ele?

27 Pedro negou outra vez, e imediatamente o galo cantou.

28 Depois conduziram Jesus da presença de Caifás para o pretório; era de manhã cedo; e eles não entraram no pretório, para não se contaminarem, mas poderem comer a páscoa.

29 Então Pilatos saiu a ter com eles, e perguntou: Que acusação trazeis contra este homem?

30 Responderam-lhe: Se ele não fosse malfeitor, não to entregaríamos.

31 Disse-lhes, então, Pilatos: Tomai-o vós, e julgai-o segundo a vossa lei. Disseram-lhe os judeus: A nós não nos é lícito tirar a vida a ninguém.

32 Isso foi para que se cumprisse a palavra que dissera Jesus, significando de que morte havia de morrer.

33 Pilatos, pois, tornou a entrar no pretório, chamou a Jesus e perguntou-lhe: És tu o rei dos judeus?

34 Respondeu Jesus: Dizes isso de ti mesmo, ou foram outros que to disseram de mim?

35 Replicou Pilatos: Porventura sou eu judeu? O teu povo e os principais sacerdotes entregaram-te a mim; que fizeste?

36 Respondeu Jesus: O meu reino não é deste mundo; se o meu reino fosse deste mundo, pelejariam os meus servos, para que eu não fosse entregue aos judeus; entretanto o meu reino não é daqui.

37 Perguntou-lhe, pois, Pilatos: Logo tu és rei? Respondeu Jesus: Tu dizes que eu sou rei. Eu para isso nasci, e para isso vim ao mundo, a fim de dar testemunho da verdade. Todo aquele que é da verdade ouve a minha voz.

38 Perguntou-lhe Pilatos: Que é a verdade? E dito isto, de novo saiu a ter com os judeus, e disse-lhes: Não acho nele crime algum.

39 Tendes, porém, por costume que eu vos solte alguém por ocasião da páscoa; quereis, pois, que vos solte o rei dos judeus?

40 Então todos tornaram a clamar dizendo: Este não, mas Barrabás. Ora, Barrabás era salteador.

João 18 Commentary

Chapter 18

Christ taken in the garden. (1-12) Christ before Annas and Caiaphas. (13-27) Christ before Pilate. (28-40)

Verses 1-12 Sin began in the garden of Eden, there the curse was pronounced, there the Redeemer was promised; and in a garden that promised Seed entered into conflict with the old serpent. Christ was buried also in a garden. Let us, when we walk in our gardens, take occasion from thence to mediate on Christ's sufferings in a garden. Our Lord Jesus, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth and asked, Whom seek ye? When the people would have forced him to a crown, he withdrew, ch. 6:15 , but when they came to force him to a cross, he offered himself; for he came into this world to suffer, and went to the other world to reign. He showed plainly what he could have done; when he struck them down he could have struck them dead, but he would not do so. It must have been the effect of Divine power, that the officers and soldiers let the disciples go away quietly, after the resistance which had been offered. Christ set us an example of meekness in sufferings, and a pattern of submission to God's will in every thing that concerns us. It is but a cup, a small matter. It is a cup that is given us; sufferings are gifts. It is given us by a Father, who has a father's authority, and does us no wrong; a father's affection, and means us no hurt. From the example of our Saviour we should learn how to receive our lighter afflictions, and to ask ourselves whether we ought to oppose our Father's will, or to distrust his love. We were bound with the cords of our iniquities, with the yoke of our transgressions. Christ, being made a sin-offering for us, to free us from those bonds, himself submitted to be bound for us. To his bonds we owe our liberty; thus the Son makes us free.

Verses 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 miracles of Jesus, by which he had done so much good, and which proved his doctrine. Thus the enemies of Christ, whilst they quarrel with his truth, wilfully shut their eyes against it. He appeals to those who heard him. The doctrine of Christ may safely appeal to all that know it, and those who judge in truth bear witness to it. Our resentment of injuries must never be passionate. He reasoned with the man that did him the injury, and so may we.

Verses 28-32 It was unjust to put one to death who had done so much good, therefore the Jews were willing to save themselves from reproach. Many fear the scandal of an ill thing, more than the sin of it. Christ had said he should be delivered to the Gentiles, and they should put him to death; hereby that saying was fulfilled. He had said that he should be crucified, lifted up. If the Jews had judged him by their law, he had been stoned; crucifying never was used among the Jews. It is determined concerning us, though not discovered to us, what death we shall die: this should free us from disquiet about that matter. Lord, what, when, and how, thou hast appointed.

Verses 33-40 Art thou the King of the Jews? that King of the Jews who has been so long expected? Messiah the Prince; art thou he? Dost thou call thyself so, and wouldest thou be thought so? Christ answered this question with another; not for evasion, but that Pilate might consider what he did. He never took upon him any earthly power, never were any traitorous principles or practices laid to him. Christ gave an account of the nature of his kingdom. Its nature is not worldly; it is a kingdom within men, set up in their hearts and consciences; its riches spiritual, its power spiritual, and it glory within. Its supports are not worldly; its weapons are spiritual; it needed not, nor used, force to maintain and advance it, nor opposed any kingdom but that of sin and Satan. Its object and design are not worldly. When Christ said, I am the Truth, he said, in effect, I am a King. He conquers by the convincing evidence of truth; he rules by the commanding power of truth. The subjects of this kingdom are those that are of the truth. Pilate put a good question, he said, What is truth? When we search the Scriptures, and attend the ministry of the word, it must be with this inquiry, What is truth? and with this prayer, Lead me in thy truth; into all truth. But many put this question, who have not patience to preserve in their search after truth; or not humility enough to receive it. By this solemn declaration of Christ's innocence, it appears, that though the Lord Jesus was treated as the worst of evil-doers, he never deserved such treatment. But it unfolds the design of his death; that he died as a Sacrifice for our sins. Pilate was willing to please all sides; and was governed more by worldly wisdom than by the rules of justice. Sin is a robber, yet is foolishly chosen by many rather than Christ, who would truly enrich us. Let us endeavour to make our accusers ashamed as Christ did; and let us beware of crucifying Christ afresh.