John 18:28
Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.
Original Language Analysis
Ἄγουσιν
led they
G71
Ἄγουσιν
led they
Strong's:
G71
Word #:
1 of 28
properly, to lead; by implication, to bring, drive, (reflexively) go, (specially) pass (time), or (figuratively) induce
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Ἰησοῦν
Jesus
G2424
Ἰησοῦν
Jesus
Strong's:
G2424
Word #:
4 of 28
jesus (i.e., jehoshua), the name of our lord and two (three) other israelites
ἀπὸ
from
G575
ἀπὸ
from
Strong's:
G575
Word #:
5 of 28
"off," i.e., away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative)
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
6 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
εἰς
into
G1519
εἰς
into
Strong's:
G1519
Word #:
8 of 28
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
9 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πραιτώριον
the hall of judgment
G4232
πραιτώριον
the hall of judgment
Strong's:
G4232
Word #:
10 of 28
the praetorium or governor's courtroom (sometimes including the whole edifice and camp)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
14 of 28
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
αὐτοὶ
they themselves
G846
αὐτοὶ
they themselves
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
15 of 28
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
εἰς
into
G1519
εἰς
into
Strong's:
G1519
Word #:
18 of 28
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
19 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πραιτώριον
the hall of judgment
G4232
πραιτώριον
the hall of judgment
Strong's:
G4232
Word #:
20 of 28
the praetorium or governor's courtroom (sometimes including the whole edifice and camp)
μὴ
G3361
μὴ
Strong's:
G3361
Word #:
22 of 28
(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas g3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether
μιανθῶσιν
they should be defiled
G3392
μιανθῶσιν
they should be defiled
Strong's:
G3392
Word #:
23 of 28
to sully or taint, i.e., contaminate (ceremonially or morally)
ἀλλ'
but
G235
ἀλλ'
but
Strong's:
G235
Word #:
24 of 28
properly, other things, i.e., (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations)
Cross References
John 18:33Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?John 19:9And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.John 19:14And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!Matthew 27:27Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.Acts 11:3Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.Acts 3:13The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.Acts 10:28And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.John 11:55And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.Deuteronomy 16:2Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover unto the LORD thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which the LORD shall choose to place his name there.Micah 2:1Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.
Historical Context
Jewish tradition taught that Gentile homes were unclean due to potential presence of dead bodies or idolatry. This required Pilate to conduct proceedings outdoors, creating the public spectacle John describes. The chronological note confirms Jesus died as Passover lambs were slaughtered (19:14), fulfilling 1 Corinthians 5:7—'Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.'
Questions for Reflection
- How does the religious leaders' concern for ceremonial purity while murdering the Son of God expose the danger of externalized religion?
- What modern equivalents exist to straining gnats while swallowing camels (Matthew 23:24)—maintaining religious appearance while violating God's heart?
- How does their desire to 'eat the passover' while killing the true Passover Lamb illustrate humanity's capacity for self-deception?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment (εἰς τὸ πραιτώριον, eis to praitōrion, 'the praetorium')—Pilate's official residence, likely Herod's palace on Jerusalem's western hill. And it was early (πρωΐ, prōi, 'early morning')—after a sleepless night of mock trials.
They themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled (ἵνα μὴ μιανθῶσιν, hina mē mianthōsin)—Entering a Gentile residence would cause ceremonial uncleanness, preventing Passover participation. John's irony is devastating: they strain at ritual purity while engineering history's greatest injustice. But that they might eat the passover—they plot to kill the Passover Lamb while obsessing over ceremonial qualification to eat the shadow.