Exposition of John, Chapter 18 · Verse 5
Verſe 12. Then the band, and the captain, and officers of the Jewes took Jeſus, and bound him,
13. And led him away to Annas firſt, (for he was father in law to Caiaphas) which was the High Priest that ſame year.
14. Now Caiaphas was he which gave counſel to the Jewes, that it was expedient that one man ſhould die for the people.
In theſe verſes is recorded how Chriſt was taken and bound in the garden, and carried away to the High Prieſts, Annas and Caiaphas the laſt of which is deſcribed from that coun…el which he gave before this time concerning Chriſt, ch 11 50. to ſhew that he was Chriſts inveterate enemy, and would be very earneſt to have his own project take effect F…r clearing this purpoſe, Conſider, 1. As for that corruption, that this Prieſthood is reckoned by yeares, ſee what is ſaid on chap. 11.49, 50. But the greater difficulty is, which of the two, Annas, or Caiaphas, was the High Prieſt that year. The Parentheſis in our Tranſlation (which hath no ground in the Original, and is contrary to the way of placing it in our old Tranſlation) would ſeem to imply that Annas was he, who indeed before this time had this office, and was before Caiaphas in dignity, Luke 3.2. And afterward we finde him in office, Acts 4.6. But for clearing of it; in general, it need not ſtumble us that we finde in Scripture both of them called High Prieſts at once. For in the Jewiſh Church the High Prieſt, (called alſo the chief Prieſt) had his Sagan, or deputy, who in caſe of his infirmity or pollution, did miniſter for him, and is called the ſecond Prieſt, 2 Kings 25.18. Jer. 52.24. and ſo both of them might be in place at once. Now in particular, not only the Jewiſh hiſtory, but the Scripture it ſelf makes it apparent, that Caiaphas was the High or chief Prieſt at that time; for, ſo he is called, chap. 11.49 and here alſo, the parentheſis being laid aſide, 1. Therefore alſo it is that Chriſt is ſent by Annas to him, v. 24. as to the High Prieſt, and it is before him, and the Councel convened in his houſe, (as the other Evangeliſts record) that Chriſt is examined and condemned, whereas the Councel might have been convened at Annas houſe, had he been in chief office. So the meaning of v. 13. is only this, That Chriſt being taken is brought firſt to Annas his houſe; partly, as being neareſt to them, and partly, out of reſpect to him, as having been ſometime High Prieſt, and now father in law to the High Prieſt; and to refreſh him with a ſpectacle ſo grateful to him, ſeeing (as may be gathered from v. 24.) he went not to the Councel himſelf, but ſent Chriſt thither. Conſider, 2. As for the place wherein Peter denied his Maſter, and Chriſt was examined before the High Prieſt, Albeit John do inſert Peters firſt fall, and part of Chriſts examination, before he mention that he was ſent to Caiaphas, v. 24. and ſo ſhould ſeem to paſſe over any thing he endured in the hall of Caiaphas: And albeit it be all one, as to the truth of the doctrine in it ſelf, whether theſe things fell out in Annas or Caiaphas hall: Yet the other Evangeliſts make it clear (ſee Matth. 26.57, 58. &c.) that theſe things were done before Caiaphas and in his hall. And we are to conceive that Chriſt being brought to Annas, he ſent him immediatly to Caiaphas his houſe where the Councel was conveened, where Peter denied him, and he was examined. And ſo that v. 24, is immediatly to be ſubjoyned to v. 13. it being ſubjoyned there to his examination, not as done after that, but only th…t John may clear how Chriſt came to be examined before the high Prieſt, even becauſe Annas had ſent him thither, though he had not mentioned it before. And for this cauſe alſo it is, that, v. 14. Caiaphas is deſcribed, from his inveterate malice, as ſuppoſing that Chriſt was now brought before him, as is alſo ſet down in the Margent of our Bibles, out of ſome Original copies.
From this purpoſe Learn, 1. Albeit the Lord ſeem not to regard who wrong his children and people; yet he doth take notice of all of them, in due time to requite it; for, here, he takes notice who took Chriſt, both of the band, and their Captain, and of the officers of the Jews. See Iſa. 47.6. 2. Chriſt being taken and bound, doth ſerve to teach; Partly, that every one of Adams poſterity, is by nature a bond-ſervant and ſlave to ſin, and liable to juſtice; for, he behooved to be bound, to expiate this ſlavery of his own. Partly, That by Chriſts being bound, ſuch as are given to him, have a right purchaſed to be free from this ſlavery and bondage, whereof they are made partakers by coming to him; for, by his being bound, his own are freed. And they ought to be ſo much the more ſtrictly tyed in the bonds of love to him, and ſhould endeavour to enjoy their priviledge, and freedome from the ſlavery of ſin and terrours of the Law, and from a ſpirit of bondage. 3. As it is a ſad judgement on men, when they delight to ſee the bonds of Chriſt and his followers; So it may be their lot to be made a grateful ſpectacle to their enemies, and this Chriſt hath ſanctified in his own perſon; for, they led him away to Annas firſt, &c Which was an evidence of his wicked diſpoſition, that he longed for ſuch a ſight; And is an inſtruction to Saints, informing them what their lot may be, ſince their Head and Lord was carried from place to place, (even to Herod, as is marked by the reſt) to be a ſpectacle to his enemies. See 1 Cor. 4.9. 4 Let Churches or perſons glory never ſo much in their priviledges; Yet all men are but liars, and the moſt eminent of them may degenerate ſo far, as to corrupt the Ordinances of God, and become moſt bitter enemies unto Jeſus Chriſt and his truth; for, albeit the Church of the Jews had as fair promiſes as any particular Church; yet even there, the Ordinance of the Prieſthood is degenerate from the firſt inſtitution, and become an annual or yearly office; and the high Prieſt and his Father-in-law are they who take moſt pleaſure in beholding the ſufferings of Chriſt; Yea, who have greateſt hand in them. 5. Chriſt, in his ſuffering, met with all extremities and diſadvantages, that ſo he might ſanctifie ſuch lots unto his people, and might purchaſe to them (when he ſaw it good for them) more tender uſage in their ſufferings; for, therefore it is marked, v. 14. who this Caiaphas was, Not only to ſhew that the malicious deſigns and projects of perſecutors are not forgotten by God, however he ſpare them for a time; But that we might know, Chriſt had to do with an inveterate and bitter enemy. And from this it floweth, that ſometime his followers finde bitter uſage and extream violence, very eaſie and ſweet, and, (on the other hand) that ſometime they finde even enemies and perſecutors more milde and compaſſionate. See Pſ. 106.46. Jer. 15.11.