John 18:14

14 But it was Caiaphas who counselled the Jews that it was better that one man should perish 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 The band therefore, and the chiliarch, and the officers of the Jews, took Jesus and bound him:

13 and they led him away to Annas first; for he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.

14 But it was Caiaphas who counselled the Jews that it was better that one man should perish for the people.

15 Now Simon Peter followed Jesus, and the other disciple. But that disciple was known to the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest;

16 but Peter stood at the door without. The other disciple therefore, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the porteress and brought in Peter.