Skip to content

Commentaries
English
John
  
19The high priest then questioned about his disciples and his teaching.20Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together; I have said nothing secretly.21Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me, what I said to them; they know what I said".22When he had said this, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, "Is that how you answer the high priest?"23Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken wrongly, bear witness to the wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?"24Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.


The preliminary investigation was not about Jesus’ guilt, his personality and the claims he made. It was about his disciples and the method of his teaching. At that time, there were many secret societies. The investigators wanted to find out speedily, whether there was a danger of unrest on the part of his followers, so that they might quell any revolt.
Jesus denied the existence of any such society, rather they knew that he taught openly during the day in synagogues, and in the temple itself, where many came to hear. If the leaders had wished to know him honestly, they could have resorted to his venues and heard the details of his sayings and his call. In this way Jesus responded to the old high priest without fear. All of a sudden, one of the servants, anxious to curry favor with the high priest, struck Jesus. Jesus did not hit back or show anger. At the same time he did not minimize the gravity of the crime, but challenged the felon to state the reason for the injury. Since Jesus was innocent, the servant needed to apologize and show repentance.
This challenge was indirectly addressed to Annas, for he was responsible for the servant’s behavior. He had permitted the offense. This kind of charge is made today against anyone who strikes another without just cause, or permits his followers to intimidate the innocent. Our Lord loves those of little account and says, "Inasmuch as you have done it to the least of these, you have done it to me".
After Annas had noticed that Jesus did not submit to his threats, but rather stood as himself the judge and questioned him about truth and justice, he sent Jesus to his son-in-law Caiaphas, the wily fox, to be rid of that problem.