John 18:23
Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus isn't just asking why he was struck, but rather pointing out the injustice: if his words were truly wrong, they should be presented as evidence, not met with violence. This highlights that even in suffering, Jesus insists on justice and the proper legal process, not personal retaliation.
Jesus has just been brought before Annas, the former High Priest, and is being questioned about his disciples and teachings. After Jesus insists his ministry was public and open, one of the guards, impatient and disrespectful, strikes Jesus across the face. This verse is Jesus' calm but pointed response to that unprovoked physical assault.
Jesus is being interrogated, and then physically struck. What does He say in response, and what does it reveal about God's heart for justice?
When the officer struck Jesus, it was an act of blatant injustice. Jesus, facing unlawful violence, doesn't retaliate with anger but with a profound appeal to reason and fairness.
A Question of Evidence
Jesus’ response, "If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?" is a brilliant defense. He’s not asking for sympathy; he’s demanding the established legal process.
This isn't about Jesus avoiding suffering, but about upholding the principle that even an accused person has a right to a fair process.
Annas the high priest questions Jesus about His disciples and teaching. Why is Jesus’ answer so direct, and what does it say about His ministry?
The interrogation by Annas (and later Caiaphas) was loaded with suspicion. They were trying to frame Jesus, implying His teaching was subversive and hidden.
Transparency as a Defense
Jesus’ defense is rooted in the radical transparency of His ministry:
Understand the original words
martyreo · Greek Verb
One who bears testimony or evidence regarding facts or truths. In a legal or moral sense, it refers to testifying to the truth of a matter or providing evidence of one's experience or observations.
This verse captures a moment of injustice during Jesus' arrest, highlighting a clash between unlawful violence and his calm insistence on due process and truth, even as he faced a brutal ordeal.
c. AD 30— this verse
Jesus' Arrest and Preliminary Hearing
Following his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus is first taken to the house of Annas, the former high priest, for an initial questioning. This is an unofficial proceeding before his formal trial.
c. AD 30
Jesus Before Annas
Annas questions Jesus about his disciples and his teachings. Jesus responds by asserting the openness of his ministry, challenging Annas to ask those who heard him.
c. AD 30
Jesus is Struck
In response to Jesus' assertion of his teaching's openness, one of the temple officers strikes him. This action is an unlawful act of violence during an interrogation.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Defense and Protest
Jesus, struck without a charge being proven, calmly questions the officer's action. He appeals to the principles of justice, asking for testimony if his words were wrong, and protesting the violence if they were right.
This passage directly relates to Jesus' teaching on turning the other cheek, and Jesus' question here highlights the tension between that teaching and the injustice of being struck without cause.
Psalm 38:13-14This psalm expresses a similar sense of being wrongly accused and struck, where the psalmist declares his silence and lack of defense out of respect for God's will, mirroring Jesus' restraint.
1 Peter 2:23This verse describes Christ's silence and lack of retaliation when reviled, providing a theological framework for Jesus' controlled response to the unjust blow.
Acts 23:3This passage shows Paul quoting Jesus' words here when he is struck, demonstrating how this specific moment became a significant example of righteous response to injustice.
henryJohn 18:13-27: "And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year."
18:13-27 Simon Peter denied his Master. The particulars have been noticed in the remarks on the other Gospels. The beginning of sin is as the letting forth of water. The sin of lying is a fruitful sin; one lie needs another to support it, and that another. If a call to expose ourselves to danger be clear, we may hope God will enable us to honour him; if it be not, we…
calvinJohn 18:19-24: "The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine."
- The high priest then asked Jesus concerning his disciples, and concerning his doctrine. 20. Jesus answered him, I spoke openly in the world; I always taught in the synagogue and in the temple, where all the Jews assemble, and in secret I have spoken nothing. 21. Why askest thou me? Ask those who have heard what I have spoken to them: behold, they know what I have said. 22. When he had said these things,…
Jesus isn't just asking why he was struck, but rather pointing out the injustice: if his words were truly wrong, they should be presented as evidence, not met with violence. This highlights that even in suffering, Jesus insists on justice and the proper legal process, not personal retaliation.
Jesus has just been brought before Annas, the former High Priest, and is being questioned about his disciples and teachings. After Jesus insists his ministry was public and open, one of the guards, impatient and disrespectful, strikes Jesus across the face. This verse is Jesus' calm but pointed response to that unprovoked physical assault.
Jesus has just been brought before Annas, the former High Priest, and is being questioned about his disciples and teachings. After Jesus insists his ministry was public and open, one of the guards, impatient and disrespectful, strikes Jesus across the face. This verse is Jesus' calm but pointed response to that unprovoked physical assault.
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This response strips away the false accusations and highlights the courageous openness of Jesus’ mission.
c. AD 30
Jesus Sent to Caiaphas
After the preliminary questioning by Annas, Jesus is sent bound to Caiaphas, the sitting high priest, for further interrogation and the beginning of the official Sanhedrin trial.
"Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?”" — Jesus isn't just asking why he was struck, but rather pointing out the injustice: if his words were truly wrong, they should be presented as evidence, not met with violence. This highlights that ev…
