John 18:14

14 It was Caiaphas who had said to the Jews that it was in their interest for one man to be put to death for the people.

John 18:14 Meaning and Commentary

John 18:14

Now Caiaphas was he which gave council to the Jews
The chief priests and Pharisees, who met in council about Jesus, ( John 11:47-52 ) , the counsel he gave was,

that it was expedient that one man should die for the people;
and which advice was given out of ill will and malice to Christ, and to prevent, as he thought, the people of the Jews being destroyed by the Romans; though the words have a very good sense which he did not understand. The people Christ was to die for, was not all the, people of the world, nor only the people of the Jews, nor all of them; but all the elect of God, whom God has chosen for his special and peculiar people, and has given to Christ as such: these Christ were to die for, and did, not merely as a martyr, to confirm his doctrine to them, or as an example to teach them meekness, patience, and courage, but in the room and stead of them, as a surety for them; and it was expedient that he should, in such sense, die for them, because of his suretyship engagements, that he might make satisfaction to the law and justice of God, and procure the salvation of his people, and send forth the Spirit to make application of it to them.

John 18:14 In-Context

12 Then the band and the chief captain and the police took Jesus and put cords round him.

13 They took him first to Annas, because Annas was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was the high priest that year.

14 It was Caiaphas who had said to the Jews that it was in their interest for one man to be put to death for the people.

15 And Simon Peter went after Jesus with another disciple. Now that disciple was a friend of the high priest and he went in with Jesus into the house of the high priest;

16 But Peter was kept outside at the door. Then this other disciple, who was a friend of the high priest, came out and had a word with the girl who kept the door, and took Peter in.