Verse 19. The bishop asked Jesus about His disciples and about His teaching... about the disciples he asked, where they were and why He gathered them, and about teaching, what and for what purpose did He teach? The high priest asked Jesus Christ about this, wishing to rebuke Him, as if He were an innovator and rebel, of organizing secret meetings and preaching a new doctrine, although he himself had heard the teaching of Jesus Christ more than once.

Verse 20. Jesus answered him: "I did not hesitate to speak to the world... [1015] I taught openly to the whole people, and not only to the disciples.

Verse 20... I am always taught in the congregations and in the church, where the Jews are always suppressed, and there is nothing to say in secret... [1016] nothing that you suppose, that is, disturbing the people or displeasing to God. And did not Jesus Christ often speak to His disciples in secret? Yes, but he did not say anything that the high priest had intended.

Verse 21. Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard that they have said to them, Behold, these are leading, as they are. [1017] These are not the words of one who is proud, but confident in the truth of His teaching. Why do you ask Me? ask the questions of those who heard, not only the disciples, but also others who did not even believe in Me.

Verse 22. And this I said to him, the only one of the servants who were coming to strike Jesus on the cheek, saying, "Thus dost thou rebuke the bishops?" [1018] Heaven tremble, the earth be terrified at such audacity of the slaves and the long-suffering of the Lord! Oh, the most insane! What offensive did the Lord answer? Did He not rather honor the high priest by not exposing the high priest, who with deceitful intent inquired about what he knew? Though He may have scattered them all, smitten them, or destroyed them in some other cruel way, He is long-suffering, and utters words that can tame all atrocities, but not them.

Verse 23.Jesus answered him, "If you speak evil, bear witness to evil: if it is good, that you beat me?" [1019] Bear witness to evil, i.e., say what evil has been said, rebuke him who has said evil (

Jesus Christ justified Himself so that in the event of His silence He would not be considered proud, of which He was accused).

Verses 24–27. And His ambassador Anna was bound to Caiaphas as a bishop. And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. And he said unto him, Thou art food and His disciple; He denied it, and said, "Bear it." The word is one of the servants of the bishops, this southerner, whom Peter cut off his ear: "Have I not seen thee in the vineyard with Him? For Peter has denied... [1020] A very thorough explanation of these words is made in the interpretation of the words of the twenty-sixth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew: "And when he went in, sat down with the servants, he saw the end" (v. 58).

Verse 27... And cry out the loops. [1021] Read the explanation of the same words in the Gospel of Matthew (26, 74).

Verse 28. And Jesus was led from Caiaphas to the praetor. And it was morning, and they did not enter into the praetor, that they should not be defiled, but that they should eat the Passover. [1022] And this is explained in the interpretation of the twenty-seventh chapter (v. 1) of the Gospel of Matthew: "And in the morning, all the bishops and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus, that they had killed Him. [1023]

Verses 29–31. And Pilate went out to them, and said, "Bring this speech against this man; And he answered and said to him, "If this wicked man had not been, they would not have delivered him up to thee." And Pilate said unto them, Take Him, and judge Him according to your law. [1024] The explanation of all this can be found in the interpretation of the words: "And Jesus stood before the hegemon" (Matt. 27:11). [1025] But why did Jesus Christ remain silent when the Jews said that He was a villain? Since He was not asked about this, He only listens patiently.

Verse 31... And when Judah said to him, "We are not fit to kill anyone..."[1026] of course, to be crucified on the cross. The Jews said this not so much because they were dependent on Roman rule and were deprived of their own power, but because they wanted to crucify Jesus Christ on the cross, to give Him over to the most difficult and shameful death, which was not permitted to them by law. And that the Jews killed in other ways is evidenced by the stoning of Stephen.

Verse 32. That the word of Jesus may be fulfilled, when he speaks, signifying by what death he desires to die. [1027] Thus the Jews said, that the word of Jesus Christ might be fulfilled. His words must be fulfilled: "And if I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all things unto Myself" (John 12:32), after which the same remark of the Evangelist is made: "And these are the words, signifying by what death I desire to die" (John 12:33), i.e. pointing to his death on the cross.

Verses 33–35. And Pilate went into the praetor, and invited Jesus, and said unto him, Thou art the King of the Jews; Jesus answered him, "Do you say this about yourself, or do you speak to you about Me? Pilate answered: "I am the food of the Jews; Thy generation and the bishop have delivered Thee over to me... [1028] See the explanation of the words: And ask His hegemon, saying, Are you the King of the Jews? (Matt. 27:11).