The Meaning of John 18:29 Explained

John 18:29

KJV: Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?

YLT: Pilate, therefore, went forth unto them, and said, 'What accusation do ye bring against this man?'

Darby: Pilate therefore went out to them and said, What accusation do ye bring against this man?

ASV: Pilate therefore went out unto them, and saith, What accusation bring ye against this man?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Pilate  then  went out  unto  them,  and  said,  What  accusation  bring ye  against  this  man? 

What does John 18:29 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Pilate evidently addressed the Jews who had assembled outside his headquarters, or perhaps in its courtyard, from a balcony or overlook. He wanted to know their formal charge against Jesus. Pilate probably knew something of Jesus" arrest since Roman soldiers had participated in it ( John 18:3; John 18:12). Moreover Jesus was a popular figure in Galilee and Jerusalem. The high priest may well have communicated with Pilate about Him before Jesus appeared on Pilate"s doorstep.

Context Summary

John 18:25-32 - Pilate's Weak Evasion
It may be that while Peter was thus denying his Lord, Jesus was passing from Annas to Caiaphas, and in doing so cast on the stumbling disciple that look of mingled sorrow and love which broke his heart. John does not dwell on the trial before Caiaphas, because the other evangelists have already described it; but passes on to tell more minutely of the vacillation and weakness of Pilate. The Roman governor first sought to rid himself of the responsibility of deciding the ease. He refused to consider that it came within his jurisdiction, because it seemed connected with some religious dispute involving a technical knowledge which he did not possess. He suggested, therefore, that the Jewish leaders should deal with it under their own statutes. There was no apparent need for Roman law to interfere. When, however, the murderous intent of the high priests emerged, it became evident that their charges against Jesus were of a much more serious character, and Pilate was compelled to give his earnest attention to them. How little he realized the momentous issues to be decided that day! [source]

Chapter Summary: John 18

1  Judas betrays Jesus
6  The officers fall to the ground
10  Peter cuts off Malchus' ear
12  Jesus is taken, and led unto Annas and Caiaphas
15  Peter's denial
19  Jesus examined before Caiaphas
25  Peter's second and third denial
28  Jesus arraigned before Pilate
36  His kingdom
40  The Jews prefer Barabbas

Greek Commentary for John 18:29

Went out [εχηλτεν εχω]
Note both εχ — ex and εχω — exō (went out outside), since the Sanhedrin would not come into Pilate‘s palace. Apparently on a gallery over the pavement in front of the palace (John 19:13). Accusation Old word for formal charge, in N.T. only here, 1 Timothy 5:19; Titus 1:6. Against this man Objective genitive after κατηγοριαν — katēgorian A proper legal inquiry. [source]
Pilate []
Note the abruptness with which he is introduced as one well known. Two derivations of the name are given. Pilatus, one armed with the pilum or javelin, like Torquatus, one adorned with a collar (torques ). Or, a contraction from Pileatus, wearing the pileus or cap, which was the badge of manumitted slaves. Hence some have supposed that he was a freedman. Tacitus refers to him as connected with Christ's death. “The author of that name (Christian), or sect, was Christ, who was capitally punished in the reign of Tiberius, by Pontius Pilate” (“Annals,” xv. 44). He was the sixth Roman procurator of Judea. [source]
What accusation []
Not implying Pilate's ignorance of the charge, but his demand for the formal accusation. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 18:29

1 Timothy 5:19 Receive not [μη παραδεχου]
Present middle imperative with μη — mē (prohibition) of παραδεχομαι — paradechomai to receive, to entertain. Old verb. See Acts 22:18. Accusation (κατηγοριαν — katēgorian). Old word (from κατηγορος — katēgoros). In N.T. only here, Titus 1:6; John 18:29 in critical text. Except For this double construction see note on 1 Corinthians 14:5; 1 Corinthians 15:2. At the mouth of (επι — epi). Idiomatic use of επι — epi (upon the basis of) as in 2 Corinthians 13:1. [source]
1 Timothy 5:19 Accusation [κατηγοριαν]
Old word (from κατηγορος — katēgoros). In N.T. only here, Titus 1:6; John 18:29 in critical text. [source]
2 John 1:10 Bring [φέρει]
For the use of the verb see John 18:29; Acts 25:18; 2 Peter 2:11; 2 Peter 1:17, 2 Peter 1:18; 1 Peter 1:13. [source]

What do the individual words in John 18:29 mean?

Went therefore - Pilate out to them and said What accusation bring you against the man this
Ἐξῆλθεν οὖν Πιλᾶτος ἔξω πρὸς αὐτοὺς καὶ φησίν Τίνα κατηγορίαν φέρετε ‹κατὰ› τοῦ ἀνθρώπου τούτου

Ἐξῆλθεν  Went 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἐξέρχομαι 
Sense: to go or come forth of.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Πιλᾶτος  Pilate 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Πειλᾶτος 
Sense: the sixth Roman procurator of Judah and Samaria who ordered Christ to be crucified.
ἔξω  out 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἔξω  
Sense: without, out of doors.
φησίν  said 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: φημί  
Sense: to make known one’s thoughts, to declare.
κατηγορίαν  accusation 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: κατηγορία  
Sense: accusation, charge.
φέρετε  bring  you 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: φέρω  
Sense: to carry.
‹κατὰ›  against 
Parse: Preposition
Root: κατά 
Sense: down from, through out.
ἀνθρώπου  man 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: ἄνθρωπος  
Sense: a human being, whether male or female.
τούτου  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.