# John 18.21

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-05-06 | updated: 2026-05-06 -->

**Book:** [John](/codex/john-the-apostle/) · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

## Immediate context (±2 verses)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> 19. The high priest therefore asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his teaching. 20. Jesus answered him, <span class="rl-speech">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.</span>
>
> **21. <span class="rl-speech">Why askest thou me? Ask them that have heard me, what I spake unto them: behold, these know the things which I said.</span>**
>
> 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, <span class="rl-speech">If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?</span> (John 18:19-23, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 19. The high priest therefore asked Jesus about his disciples, and about his teaching. 20. Jesus answered him, <span class="rl-speech">“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.</span>
>
> **21. <span class="rl-speech">Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them. Behold, these know the things which I said.”</span>**
>
> 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, <span class="rl-speech">“If I have spoken evil, testify of the evil; but if well, why do you beat me?”</span> (John 18:19-23, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 19. The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. 20. Jesus answered him, <span class="rl-speech">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.</span>
>
> **21. <span class="rl-speech">Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.</span>**
>
> 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? <sup>with: or, with a rod</sup> 23. Jesus answered him, <span class="rl-speech">If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?</span> (John 18:19-23, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 19. The chief priests, therefore, questioned Jesus concerning his disciples, and concerning his teaching; 20. Jesus answered him, <span class="rl-speech">'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;</span>
>
> **21. <span class="rl-speech">why me dost thou question? question those having heard what I spake to them; lo, these have known what I said.'</span>**
>
> 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, <span class="rl-speech">'If I spake ill, testify concerning the ill; and if well, why me dost thou smite?'</span> (John 18:19-23, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** John the Apostle (traditionally) / narrator + Jesus's direct teaching
- **Audience:** later Christian audience (high-Christological emphasis; against early gnosticism)
- **Location:** first-century Palestine (events); possibly Ephesus (composition)
- **Time period:** events c. 26-33 AD (3-Passover chronology); composed c. AD 85-95

## Theological reading

## Key words

_No Strong's-tagged lexicon matches found in this passage. (Lexicon coverage is curated, ~159 of the most apologetically-loaded Greek/Hebrew terms.)_

## Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.

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## Quoted in

**Concepts:**

- [Jesus Said](/codex/jesus-said/), via [John 18](/codex/john-18/)

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