John 19:11
Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.
Original Language Analysis
ἀπεκρίθη
answered
G611
ἀπεκρίθη
answered
Strong's:
G611
Word #:
1 of 24
to conclude for oneself, i.e., (by implication) to respond; by hebraism (compare h6030) to begin to speak (where an address is expected)
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
2 of 24
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Ἰησοῦς
Jesus
G2424
Ἰησοῦς
Jesus
Strong's:
G2424
Word #:
3 of 24
jesus (i.e., jehoshua), the name of our lord and two (three) other israelites
ἔχει
Thou couldest have
G2192
ἔχει
Thou couldest have
Strong's:
G2192
Word #:
5 of 24
to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or conditio
ἐξουσίαν
power
G1849
ἐξουσίαν
power
Strong's:
G1849
Word #:
6 of 24
privilege, i.e., (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely, magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token o
οὐδεμίαν
at all against
G3762
οὐδεμίαν
at all against
Strong's:
G3762
Word #:
7 of 24
not even one (man, woman or thing), i.e., none, nobody, nothing
κατ'
G2596
κατ'
Strong's:
G2596
Word #:
8 of 24
(prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined)
μὴ
G3361
μὴ
Strong's:
G3361
Word #:
11 of 24
(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas g3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether
δεδομένον
given
G1325
δεδομένον
given
Strong's:
G1325
Word #:
14 of 24
to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection)
ἄνωθεν·
from above
G509
ἄνωθεν·
from above
Strong's:
G509
Word #:
15 of 24
from above; by analogy, from the first; by implication, anew
διὰ
G1223
διὰ
Strong's:
G1223
Word #:
16 of 24
through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
18 of 24
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
παραδιδούς
he that delivered
G3860
παραδιδούς
he that delivered
Strong's:
G3860
Word #:
19 of 24
to surrender, i.e yield up, entrust, transmit
Cross References
Romans 13:1Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.John 3:27John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.Acts 2:23Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:Daniel 4:17This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.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.John 7:30Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.James 1:17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.Daniel 4:25That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.Matthew 6:13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.Acts 4:28For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
Historical Context
Roman governors held imperium, the power of life and death over non-citizens in their provinces. Pilate understood his authority as deriving from Caesar. Jesus reframes it: all authority, including Rome's, flows from God. This teaching would later anchor Christian political theology—submission to government as divine institution (1 Peter 2:13-14) while recognizing God alone as ultimate sovereign.
Questions for Reflection
- How does recognizing all human authority as God-given change our response to unjust leaders?
- What does 'degrees of sin' based on privilege and knowledge mean for those raised in Christian contexts?
- How did Jesus maintain both sovereign authority and willing submission in His suffering?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Thou couldest have no power at all against me (οὐκ εἶχες ἐξουσίαν κατ' ἐμοῦ οὐδεμίαν/ouk eiches exousian kat' emou oudemian)—Jesus asserts absolute sovereignty even from the prisoner's dock. The word exousia means delegated authority, not inherent power. Pilate's authority exists only because it is given thee from above (δεδομένον σοι ἄνωθεν/dedomenon soi anōthen).
Anōthen (from above) deliberately echoes John 3:3, 7—the same 'from above' required for new birth now describes Pilate's God-given authority. All human government derives from divine appointment (Romans 13:1). Pilate thinks he holds Jesus's fate; Jesus reveals that Pilate is an instrument in God's sovereign plan.
He that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin—Jesus doesn't exonerate Pilate but acknowledges degrees of guilt. Caiaphas, who delivered (paradidous) Jesus, sinned against greater light—knowledge of Scripture, covenant privilege, messianic expectation. With greater revelation comes greater responsibility (Luke 12:48).