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Monday, December 29th, 2025
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Read the Bible

Geneva Bible

John 18:21

Why askest thou mee? aske them which heard mee what I sayde vnto them: beholde, they knowe what I sayd.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Court;   Jesus, the Christ;   Jesus Continued;   Priest;   Prisoners;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Caiaphas;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Persecution;   Priest, Priesthood;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Annas;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Caiaphas, Joseph;   John the Apostle;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Trial of Jesus;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Annas;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Annas ;   Annas (2);   False Witness;   Peter;   Pilate;   Self-Control;   Trial of Jesus;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Officer;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Annas;   Jesus Christ, the Arrest and Trial of;   Ostraca;   Peter, Simon;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Why do you question me? Question those who heard what I told them. Look, they know what I said.”
King James Version (1611)
Why askest thou me? Aske them which heard me, what I haue said vnto them: behold, they know what I said.
King James Version
Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.
English Standard Version
Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said."
New American Standard Bible
"Why are you asking Me? Ask those who have heard what I spoke to them. Look: these people know what I said."
New Century Version
So why do you question me? Ask the people who heard my teaching. They know what I said."
Amplified Bible
"Why question Me? Question those who have heard what I said to them. They know what I said."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; they know what I said."
Legacy Standard Bible
Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; behold, they know what I said."
Berean Standard Bible
Why are you asking Me? Ask those who heard My message. Surely they know what I said."
Contemporary English Version
Why are you questioning me? Why don't you ask the people who heard me? They know what I have said."
Complete Jewish Bible
so why are you questioning me? Question the ones who heard what I said to them; look, they know what I said."
Darby Translation
Why demandest thou of me? Demand of those who have heard, what I have spoken to them; behold, they know what I have said.
Easy-to-Read Version
So why do you question me? Ask the people who heard my teaching. They know what I said."
George Lamsa Translation
Why do you ask me? ask those who heard what I have spoken to them; behold, they know everything which I said.
Good News Translation
Why, then, do you question me? Question the people who heard me. Ask them what I told them—they know what I said."
Lexham English Bible
Why are you asking me? Ask those who heard what I have said to them! Behold, these people know what I said."
Literal Translation
Why do you question Me? Question those hearing what I spoke to them: behold, these know what I said!
American Standard Version
Why askest thou me? ask them that have heard me, what I spake unto them: behold, these know the things which I said.
Bible in Basic English
Why are you questioning me? put questions to my hearers about what I have said to them: they have knowledge of what I said.
Hebrew Names Version
Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them. Behold, these know the things which I said."
International Standard Version
Why do you question me? Question those who heard what I said. These are the people who know what I said."
Etheridge Translation
Why askest thou me ? Ask them who have heard what I have said with them. Behold, they know every thing that I have said.
Murdock Translation
Why dost thou interrogate me? Ask them who have heard, what I said to them: lo, they know what I have said.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Why askest thou me? Aske the which hearde me, what I haue sayd vnto the: Beholde, they can tell what I sayde.
English Revised Version
Why askest thou me? ask them that have heard me, what I spake unto them: behold, these know the things which I said.
World English Bible
Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them. Behold, these know the things which I said."
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Why askest thou me? Ask them that heard me, what I said to them: behold, they know what I said.
Weymouth's New Testament
Why do you question me? Question those who heard what it was I said to them: these witnesses here know what I said."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
What axist thou me? axe hem that herden, what Y haue spokun to hem; lo! thei witen, what thingis Y haue seid.
Update Bible Version
Why do you ask me? Ask those that have heard [me], what I spoke to them: look, these know the things which I said.
Webster's Bible Translation
Why dost thou ask me? ask them who heard me, what I have said to them: behold, they know what I have said.
New English Translation
Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said. They know what I said."
New King James Version
Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said."
New Living Translation
Why are you asking me this question? Ask those who heard me. They know what I said."
New Life Bible
Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard what I said to them. They know what I said."
New Revised Standard
Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Why questionest thou me? question them who have heard, what I spake unto them. See! these, know what, I, said.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Why askest thou me? Ask them who have heard what I have spoken unto them. Behold they know what things I have said.
Revised Standard Version
Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me, what I said to them; they know what I said."
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Why axest thou me? Axe them whiche hearde me what I sayde vnto the. Beholde they can tell what I sayde.
Young's Literal Translation
why me dost thou question? question those having heard what I spake to them; lo, these have known what I said.'
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Why axest thou me? Axe the yt haue herde, what I haue spoken vnto the: beholde, they can tell what I haue sayde.
Mace New Testament (1729)
why do you question me? ask those who heard me, what discourse I had with them: they know very well what I said.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Why ask me what I said? Ask those that heard me."

Contextual Overview

13 And led him away to Annas first (for he was father in lawe to Caiaphas, which was the hie Priest that same yeere) 14 And Caiaphas was he, that gaue counsel to the Iewes, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. 15 Nowe Simon Peter folowed Iesus, & another disciple, and that disciple was knowen of the hie Priest: therefore he went in with Iesus into the hall of the hie Priest: 16 But Peter stood at the doore without. Then went out the other disciple which was knowen vnto the hie Priest, and spake to her that kept the doore, and brought in Peter. 17 Then saide the maide that kept the doore, vnto Peter, Art not thou also one of this mans disciples? He sayd, I am not. 18 And the seruants and officers stoode there, which had made a fire of coles: for it was colde, & they warmed themselues. And Peter also stood among them, and warmed himselfe. 19 ( The hie Priest then asked Iesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. 20 Iesus answered him, I spake openly to the world: I euer taught in the Synagogue and in the Temple, whither the Iewes resort continually, and in secret haue I sayde nothing. 21 Why askest thou mee? aske them which heard mee what I sayde vnto them: beholde, they knowe what I sayd. 22 When he had spoken these thinges, one of the officers which stoode by, smote Iesus with his rod, saying, Answerest thou the hie Priest so?

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

ask: Matthew 26:59, Matthew 26:60, Mark 14:55-59, Luke 22:67, Acts 24:12, Acts 24:13, Acts 24:18-20

Reciprocal: Matthew 26:55 - I sat

Cross-References

Genesis 11:5
But the Lord came downe, to see the citie and towre, which the sonnes of men builded.
Genesis 11:7
Come on, let vs goe downe, and there confound their language, that euery one perceiue not anothers speache.
Genesis 18:1
Againe the Lord appeared vnto him in the plaine of Mamre, as he sate in his tent doore about the heate of the day.
Genesis 18:24
If there be fiftie righteous within the citie, wilt thou destroy and not spare the place for the fiftie righteous that are therein?
Exodus 3:8
Therefore I am come downe to deliuer them out of the hande of the Egyptians, and to bring them out of that lande into a good lande and a large, into a lande that floweth with milke and honie, euen into the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hiuites, and the Iebusites.
Exodus 33:5
(For the Lord had said to Moses, Say vnto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiffe necked people, I wil come suddenly vpon thee, and consume thee: therefore now put thy costly rayment from thee, that I may know what to do vnto thee)
Deuteronomy 8:2
And thou shalt remember all ye way which the Lorde thy God led thee this fourtie yeere in the wildernesse, for to humble thee and to proue thee, to knowe what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keepe his commandements or no.
Deuteronomy 13:3
Thou shalt not hearken vnto the wordes of the prophet, or vnto that dreamer of dreames: for the Lord your God prooueth you, to knowe whether ye loue the Lord your God with al your heart, and with all your soule.
Joshua 22:22
The Lorde God of gods, the Lorde God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel himselfe shal know: if by rebellion, or by transgression against ye Lord we haue done it, saue thou vs not this day.
Job 34:22
There is no darkenesse nor shadowe of death, that the workers of iniquitie might be hid therein.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Why askest thou me?.... He seems surprised at the high priest's conduct, that he should put such questions to him, who stood bound before him; was brought there as a criminal, and was the defendant, and not obliged to accuse himself; nor could it be thought, that whatever evidence or testimony he should give, would have much weight with the persons before whom he stood.

Ask them which heard me, what I said unto them; he appeals to his hearers, many of whom were then present; and these his enemies, even his worst enemies, so clear was his case, so free was his doctrine from sedition and blasphemy, so innocent was he in the whole of his deportment and conduct, that he even submits to have his case issued and determined by what his hearers should say of him; and these not his friends, but his enemies; see Isaiah 50:8;

behold, they, or these,

know what I have said; pointing at some persons present, perhaps the very officers who had been sent to take him before, but returned without him, declaring that never man spake like him.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Why askest thou me? Ask them ... - Jesus here insisted on his rights, and reproves the high priest for his unjust and illegal manner of extorting a confession from him. If he had done wrong, or taught erroneous and seditious doctrines, it was easy to prove it, and the course which he had a right to demand was that they should establish the charge by fair and incontrovertible evidence. We may here learn:

  1. That, though Jesus was willing to be reviled and persecuted, yet he also insisted that justice should be done him.
  2. He was conscious of innocence, and he had been so open in his conduct that he could appeal to the vast multitudes which had heard him as witnesses in his favor.
  3. It is proper for us, when persecuted and reviled, meekly but firmly to insist on our rights, and to demand that justice shall be done us. Laws are made to protect the innocent as well as to condemn the guilty.
  4. Christians, like their Saviour, should so live that they may confidently appeal to all who have known them as witnesses of the sincerity, purity, and rectitude of their lives, 1 Peter 4:13-16.

 
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