Then Annas sent Him
The word "Then" indicates a sequence of events, suggesting that this action follows a prior interrogation by Annas. Annas, though not the acting high priest at the time, held significant influence and authority, having previously served in that role. His involvement underscores the political and religious complexities of the trial of Jesus. The Greek word for "sent" (ἀπέστειλεν, apesteilen) implies a formal dispatch, indicating Annas's authoritative role in the proceedings. This action sets the stage for the subsequent trial before Caiaphas, highlighting the orchestrated nature of the events leading to the crucifixion.

still bound
The phrase "still bound" emphasizes the physical restraint of Jesus, symbolizing the unjust treatment He endured. The Greek word for "bound" (δεδεμένον, dedemenon) conveys the idea of being tied or fastened, reflecting the severity of His captivity. This imagery serves as a poignant reminder of the fulfillment of prophetic scriptures, such as Isaiah 53:7, which speaks of the suffering servant. The binding of Jesus also symbolizes the spiritual bondage of humanity, which He came to break through His sacrificial death and resurrection.

to Caiaphas the high priest
Caiaphas, the acting high priest, was the son-in-law of Annas and played a crucial role in the trial of Jesus. His position as high priest made him a central figure in the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council. The historical context reveals that Caiaphas held the office from AD 18 to 36, a period marked by Roman occupation and political tension. The transfer of Jesus to Caiaphas signifies the continuation of the legal proceedings, as Caiaphas sought to find grounds for condemning Jesus. This moment highlights the fulfillment of Jesus's own predictions about His suffering and death at the hands of the religious leaders, as seen in passages like Matthew 16:21. The involvement of Caiaphas underscores the religious leaders' rejection of Jesus as the Messiah, despite the evidence of His divine authority and mission.

(24) Now Annas had sent him bound. . . .--Better, Annas therefore sent Him bound. . . . The reading is uncertain; some MSS. read "Therefore;" some read "Now;" some omit the word altogether. On the whole, the evidence is in favour of "therefore." The tense is an aorist, and cannot properly have a pluperfect force. The rendering of the Authorised version is based upon the opinion that Jesus had before been sent to Caiaphas, and that all which followed from John 18:13 (see margin there) had taken place after the close of the investigation before Annas. This view is certainly more probable than that the words "high priest" should be used of Annas and Caiaphas indiscriminately (comp. Note on John 18:15), but both do violence to the ordinary meaning of language, and, if the interpretation which is adopted in these Notes is correct, neither is necessary.

Jesus was still "bound;" as He had been from John 18:12.

Verse 24. - The οϋν is quite in John's style, and the verse should read, Annas therefore sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest; i.e. to the full court of the Sanhedrin, under the presidency of Caiaphas, now got together for the judicial sifting and verdict. If John had intended a pluperfect sense to be given to the verb, why not use that tense? The relative clauses, where the aorist is used for the pluperfect, are not relevant here (Meyer). In other cases the context clearly reveals the occasion of such a sense (see Matthew 16:5; Matthew 26:48). John is not unaware of the momentous consequences of this act of Annas, seeing that he refers to them, nor of the fact of the accusation made by the false witnesses, nor of the judicial condemnation which followed Christ's own claim to be the Son of God. The subsequent narrative implies such condemnation (Vers. 29, 30, 35; John 19:11). The author of this narrative does not ignore the fact of the appearance before Caiaphas, nor the issue; but in consequence of the wide diffusion of the synoptic Gospels, he merely called attention to the facts which they had omitted so far as they bore directly on the human character of the Lord. The theological bias with which the evangelist is credited by some would be strangely subserved both by the omission of the scene before Caiaphas, and by the faithful record of this purely human and beautiful trait in the personal character of Jesus. The fact that the fourth evangelist should have recorded facts of which he was eye-witness, and omitted others which would have forcibly sustained his main thesis, is an invincible evidence of historicity.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Then
οὖν (oun)
Conjunction
Strong's 3767: Therefore, then. Apparently a primary word; certainly, or accordingly.

Annas
Ἅννας (Hannas)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 452: Annas, high priest at Jerusalem. Of Hebrew origin; Annas, an Israelite.

sent
Ἀπέστειλεν (Apesteilen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 649: From apo and stello; set apart, i.e. to send out literally or figuratively.

Him,
αὐτὸν (auton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

[ still ] bound,
δεδεμένον (dedemenon)
Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1210: To bind, tie, fasten; I impel, compel; I declare to be prohibited and unlawful. A primary verb; to bind.

to
πρὸς (pros)
Preposition
Strong's 4314: To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.

Caiaphas
Καϊάφαν (Kaiaphan)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2533: Caiaphas, Jewish high priest. Of Chaldee origin; the dell; Caiaphas, an Israelite.

the
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

high priest.
ἀρχιερέα (archierea)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 749: High priest, chief priest. From arche and hiereus; the high-priest; by extension a chief priest.


John 18:24 NIV
John 18:24 NLT
John 18:24 ESV
John 18:24 NASB
John 18:24 KJV

John 18:24 BibleApps.com
John 18:24 Biblia Paralela
John 18:24 Chinese Bible
John 18:24 French Bible
John 18:24 Catholic Bible

NT Gospels: John 18:24 Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas (Jhn Jo Jn)