VERSE STUDY • KJV

John 18:19-23

¹⁹ The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. ²⁰ Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. ²¹ Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said. ²² And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so? ²³ Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?

Read it in 5 translations

KJV King James Version

¹⁹ The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. ²⁰ Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. ²¹ Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said. ²² And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so? ²³ Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?

BSB Berean Standard Bible

¹⁹ Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and His teaching. ²⁰ “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus answered. “I always taught in the synagogues and at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. ²¹ Why are you asking Me? Ask those who heard My message. Surely they know what I said.” ²² When Jesus had said this, one of the officers standing nearby slapped Him in the face and said, “Is this how You answer the high priest?” ²³ Jesus replied, “If I said something wrong, testify as to what was wrong. But if I spoke correctly, why did you strike Me?”

WEB World English Bible

¹⁹ The high priest therefore asked Jesus about his disciples, and about his teaching. ²⁰ Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues, and in the temple, where the Jews always meet. I said nothing in secret. ²¹ Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them. Behold, these know the things which I said.” ²² When he had said this, one of the officers standing by slapped Jesus with his hand, saying, “Do you answer the high priest like that?” ²³ Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, testify of the evil; but if well, why do you beat me?”

ASV American Standard Version

¹⁹ The high priest therefore asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his teaching. ²⁰ Jesus answered him, I have spoken openly to the world; I ever taught in synagogues, and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and in secret spake I nothing. ²¹ Why askest thou me? ask them that have heard me, what I spake unto them: behold, these know the things which I said. ²² And when he had said this, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so? ²³ Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?

YLT Young’s Literal Translation

¹⁹ The chief priests, therefore, questioned Jesus concerning his disciples, and concerning his teaching; ²⁰ Jesus answered him, ‘I spake freely to the world, I did always teach in a synagogue, and in the temple, where the Jews do always come together; and in secret I spake nothing; ²¹ why me dost thou question? question those having heard what I spake to them; lo, these have known what I said.’ ²² And he having said these things, one of the officers standing by did give Jesus a slap, saying, ‘Thus dost thou answer the chief priest?’ ²³ Jesus answered him, ‘If I spake ill, testify concerning the ill; and if well, why me dost thou smite?’

Surrounding context — John 18

16 But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.

17 Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also [one] of this man’s disciples? He saith, I am not.

18 And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.

19 The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.

20 Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.

21 Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.

22 And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?

23 Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?

24 Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.

25 And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also [one] of his disciples? He denied [it], and said, I am not.

26 One of the servants of the high priest, being [his] kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?

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