Vincent Word Studies - John 18:28 - 18:28

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Vincent Word Studies - John 18:28 - 18:28


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

Led (ἄγουσιν)

Present tense, lead.

Hall of judgment (πραιτώριον)

A Latin word, proetorium, transcribed. Originally, the general's tent. In the Roman provinces it was the name for the official residence of the Roman governor, as here. Compare Act 23:35. It came to be applied to any spacious villa or palace. So Juvenal: “To their crimes they are indebted for their gardens, palaces (proetoria), etc.” (“Sat.,” i., 75). In Rome the term was applied to the proetorian guard, or imperial bodyguard. See on Phi 1:13. Rev., palace.

Early (πρωΐ́)

Used technically of the fourth watch, 3-6 a.m. See Mar 13:35. The Sanhedrim could not hold a legal meeting, especially in capital cases, before sunrise; and in such cases judicial proceedings must be conducted and terminated by day. A condemnation to death, at night, was technically illegal. In capital cases, sentence of condemnation could not be legally pronounced on the day of trial. If the night proceedings were merely preliminary to a formal trial, they would have no validity; if formal, they were, ipso facto, illegal. In either case was the law observed in reference to the second council. According to the Hebrew computation of time, it was held on the same day.

Be defiled (μιανθῶσιν)

Originally, to stain, as with color. So Homer: “Tinges (μιήνῃ) the white ivory with purple.” Not necessarily, therefore, in a bad sense, like μολύσω, to besmear or besmirch with filth (1Co 8:7; Rev 3:4). In classical Greek, μιαίνω, the verb here used, is the standing word for profaning or unhallowing. So Sophocles:

“Not even fearing this pollution (μίασμα) dire,

Will I consent to burial. Well I know

That man is powerless to pollute (μιαίνειν) the gods.”

“Antigone,” 1042-1044.

And Plato: “And if a homicide... without purification pollutes the agora, or the games, or the temples,” etc. (“Laws,” 868). See on 1Pe 1:4. The defilement in the present case was apprehended from entering a house from which all leaven had not been removed.

Eat the Passover

The purpose of this work forbids our entering upon the much-vexed question of the apparent inconsistency between John and the Synoptists as to the time of celebrating the Passover.