The Gospel of John: The Jewish trial of Jesus

Christ’s Precious Promises and the Call to Godliness

Then he'll pray for us.

2nd Peter chapter 1. Simeon Peter a servant an apostle of Jesus Christ. To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of God and Savior Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness Through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence. By which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises.

So that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature. Having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire for this very reason make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue and virtue with knowledge and knowledge with self-control and Self-control with steadfastness and steadfastness with godliness and godliness with brotherly affection and brotherly affection with love.

For if these qualities are yours and are increasing they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful In the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind Having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

Therefore brothers be all the more diligent to conform your calling and election. And if you practice these qualities, you will never fall. For in this way, there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities though, you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I Think it right as long as I am in this body to stir you up by way of reminder since I know that the putting off of my body will soon be as Our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me and I will make every effort so that after my departure You may be able at any time to recall these things.

For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we've made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. But we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father and the voice was born to him by the majestic glory.

This is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased. We ourselves heard this very voice voice born from heaven. For we were with him on the holy mountain and we have the prophetic word made more fully confirmed.

To which you would do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place. Until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts knowing this first of all. That no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation.

For no prophecy was ever pronounced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Mm-hmm.

Let's pray our Father. We thank you so much for the tremendous blessings that are found in Christ Jesus. We thank you Lord that you have given us everything that we possibly need for life and godliness.

Everything we need to live lives that are pleasing to you. All of these tremendous blessings Lord are found in Christ Jesus and Lord. We thank you for that. We thank you that you have chosen us. That you have redeemed us.

That you have Placed us in your kingdom. That you have placed us in your family and adopted us as sons and daughters. We thank you for the Spirit Lord that seals us. That is our guarantee for the day of salvation.

And Lord. These are tremendous blessings and we pray Lord that we would live in them. That we would remember these things daily. When difficulties come and when persecutions come when apathy comes. Lord point us to your promises.

Point us to the Lord Jesus Christ. And Lord now as we continue our worship through the sermon. We pray that we would be mindful of what the Word of God states. We pray that we would Be focused. That we would apply these truths to our lives.

That we would live them out daily. We pray Lord for wisdom. We pray for guidance and we pray for your mercy upon us. Thank you Lord in Jesus name. Amen.

The Arrest of Jesus and the Structure of John’s Interwoven Narrative

Well, let's turn to John 18, please. I was told last week it was rather chilly in here. Is it cold this morning. Wave your hand if you're cold. There are a few. Raymond maybe if you can turn off the AC that would be great.

That would be wonderful. And in fact if you turn on the fans on a low speed It'll bring some of that warm air down off the ceiling make people a little more comfortable. I get up here. I'm totally unmindful of it.

I don't Realize whether it's cold or warm or whatever. All right, John 18 we now enter into addressing the trials of our Lord Jesus.

We.

Read in John 18 12 and following the arrest of Jesus. And he was bound and then taken to be tried before the religious and civil authorities, which we have in the next few chapters of John's gospel. Now before us today in verses 12 through 29 We have recorded for us Jesus being brought before anus.

Who is the father-in-law of Caiaphas? Caiaphas who's described as the high priest that year and in this account, we also read a Peter's lapse of faith in that he denied having known Jesus and. So here's the passage that we want to give attention to today and as we read take notice that there are four sections in this and in order to identify these four distinct session sections I I put a space between the paragraphs.

Okay between the sections of this of this episode and so beginning with John 18 12 we read. Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him and They led him away to Annas first.

For he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people and Simon Peter followed Jesus and so did another disciple.

Now that disciple was known to the high priest and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest but Peter stood at the door outside and. Then the other disciple who was known to the high priest went out and spoke to her who kept the door and brought Peter in.

Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter You are not also one of this man's disciples. Are you? He said I am NOT and now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coal stood there for it was cold and they warmed themselves and Peter stood with them and warmed himself.

The high priest then asked Jesus about his disciples and his doctrine. They answered him. Jesus answered him. I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in the synagogues and in the temple where the Jews always meet and in secret.

I've said nothing. Why do you ask me ask those who have heard me what I said to them? Indeed. They know what I said.

And.

When he had said these things one of the officers who stood by Struck Jesus with the palm of his hand saying do you answer the high priest like that? And Jesus answered him if I have spoken evil bear witness of the evil, but if well, why do you strike me?

And then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself and therefore they said to him you are not also one of his disciples. Are you? He denied it and said I am NOT.

And one of the servants of the high priest a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off said Did I not see you in the garden with him? Peter then denied again and immediately a rooster crowed. Now John took two events Jesus before Annas and Peter's denial and Has interwoven these two events into this passage that we have before us and So these two separate events are told as if they were happening simultaneous to one another in time.

And.

So you have first the record of Jesus being arrested bound taken to Annas verses 12 through 14. Which is then followed secondly by the account of Peter's first denial of Jesus verses 15 through 18.

And.

Then John goes back again and further speaks of the interrogation of Jesus by Annas in verses 19 through 24 and then John once again goes back to Peter at the fireside and Recounts Peter's further denial of Jesus.

And so the narrative this episode alternates between these two events Jesus before Annas and Peter's denials and So the narrative structure of this episode may therefore be seen in this way and notice the pattern we have a B a B a 1 B 1 a 2 b 2 this is the narrative structure or form in which this episode is set for and So in a 1 and a 2 Jesus addresses Jesus is before Annas and then b 1 b 2 relate to Peter's denials of Jesus.

Why this narrative pattern? Well one commentator described it this way. This pericope in other words this episode contains a brief introduction followed by an intercalation a Rhetorical technique that encloses of Sandwiches one scene in the middle of a different scene so that each scene affects the interpretation of the other.

The framing scene that would be of course Jesus before Annas and the framed or embedded Scene that would be Peter's denials are placed on par with each other with neither having logical or chronological priority.

Either scene may comment on the other by way of comparison contrast you can't help. But compare and contrast these two as they are recorded together. Fowler a scholar described their function in relation.

Well intercalation is narrative slight of hand a crafty manipulation of the discourse level that creates the illusion that two episodes are taking place simultaneously and An intercalation neither episode has begun until both have begun Are taking place it and neither is concluded until both are concluded.

By means of the intercalation the reader is expected to hear the denial of Peter at the very moment Jesus is placing his reputation on Peter's witness. So there's irony here. And what that that scholar was intending when Jesus was placing his reputation on Peter's witness.

When Jesus was before Annas he says hey My disciples heard me teach call one of them their witnesses and Peter's right outside a witness denying Jesus by the fire. And so there's irony here. Being presented or Jesus is clearly set forth as being alone before his accusers.

Well, this is just one instance and the reason we pointed this out. This is just one instance that reveals the literary sophistication of the biblical writers. You know, we live in a modern world, which has this wrong attitude this assumption that People centuries ago were primitive and ignorant and uneducated.

That's not the case at all. The biblical writers, you know We're very learned and skilled in their art of writing and that's reflected here in this episode in particular. They were guided and enabled by the Holy Spirit granted, but they weren't passive.

The Holy Spirit used these writers and their literary skill and sophistication To tell the story and that's what we have before us. It's really quite quite amazing as a piece of literature. Now actually what this manner of relating Peter's denials as Jesus entering his trial serves to illustrate and accentuate is That Jesus faced his trial alone.

With no support even from the one who seen most resolved and courageous among his disciples and It also serves to show how weak and vulnerable the disciples Were once they were separated from the presence of their master.

Peter was real courageous a few minutes before when he was with Jesus in the garden. Not now, even though he's just separated perhaps by a few dozen yards. Thankfully, of course due to Christ's death and resurrection His ascension and enthronement is given the gift of the Holy Spirit to his people.

His people will never again be found to be in a place or situation without Him being with them and we ought to understand that and live accordingly in faith. And so here is the outline for this episode.

First Jesus was arrested bound taken to Annas. Second Peter's first denial of Jesus. Third the interrogation of Jesus by Annas and fourth Peter second and third denials of Jesus. Let's work through these.

Jesus Before Annas and the Expedited Death of One Man for the People

First Jesus was arrested bound and taken to Annas. We read of our Lord's arrest when in the garden verse 12. Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him.

And we addressed this some last week. We saw how this detachment included both Roman and Jewish officers now I'm assuming when they arrived at the house of Annas the Roman soldiers probably went to their quarters and Just the Jewish officers came in with Jesus before Annas.

That's an assumption that I'm making but I think that's probably right and.

So.

You'll recall that Judas had gathered these and then went to the garden to arrest Jesus. It was in the garden in our Lord's privacy and security a place of rest and retirement. That he was rested from his own disciples and his trial soon after commenced.

They first brought Jesus before Annas and I think I made notation of this in our notes. I don't know but this account of Jesus before Annas is unique to John's gospel. It's not found in the synoptic Gospels.

This is unique. Now the identity and stature of this man Annas is quite interesting. Annas himself at one time was a high priest. He served from ad6 to ad15. Now this may be ad30 when this trial is taking place.

I don't know. So it was perhaps 15 years Since Annas had served as a high priest. Annas was one of the most revered high priests of the first century. In fact a total of eight high priests were from his family in the first century.

He had five sons each of them later served at height as high priests and here of course Caiaphas his son-in-law is mentioned as high priest. There's quite a bit of nepotism. I suspect that was taking place.

Now it was the Roman governor who had removed Annas from office again about 15 years prior to this time. And this must have been a cause of real objection and reaction on the part of the Jews. And it's because the Old Testament law, of course said a high priest would serve throughout His life.

The duration of the high priest's Function was until death kind of like our judicial appointments today or some of them. It said that the turnover a high priest was frequent in the first century. Largely because the Romans would replace them as one wrote the office of high priest was inherited according to the Old Testament.

But Hellenistic Kings these would have been Roman Leaders put over Palestine. Accustomed to removing and appointing priests as political favors or in response to bribes. Here the great and his Roman successors changed high priest with some frequency.

There were 28 from Herod to AD 70 and again, each high priest According to the Old Testament was to live out the rest serve the rest of his life as high priest. This must have been a continual Problem in the minds and hearts of the Jews.

Now John declared in our text before us that Caiaphas the son-in-law to Annas was high priest that year. Actually, Caiaphas served as high priest from AD 18 to AD 36. Among all the high priests of the first century Caiaphas was the longest-serving.

Why then was Jesus first taken to Annas?

It.

May be that the Jews continued to look to Annas as a man of great authority Perhaps even as the more legitimate high priest for again Once the high priest was appointed he was to serve for the remainder of his life.

The high priest also served as the leader of the 70 Jewish men of the Sanhedrin the he was the president of the Sanhedrin the governing body over the Jews and So again Herod would replace these high priests in order to maintain control over them who had authority over the Jewish people and so perhaps they brought Jesus to Annas because really every but all the Jews Still kind of regarded him as the legitimate high priest, even though his son-in-law was the official high priest in that day.

Again, interestingly only John records our Lord having brought Jesus before Annas and Although his Annas his name is mentioned by Luke. It is in this fourth gospel in which Annas is shown most regard.

Luke mentioned him once in his gospel and once in the book of Acts. There he says Annas and Caiaphas as if they were high priest site Rating or ruling or serving side by side and you could only have one high priest at a time but Luke nevertheless described them as both high priests.

Luke 3 1 and 2 and you see what I have in bold and italic font while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests and Luke is introducing the days when John the Baptist came upon the scene and Then in Acts 4 verses 5 through 7 We also read it came to pass on the next day that their rulers elders and scribes as well as Annas the high priest Caiaphas.

John and Alexander notice here Annas is described as the high priest but in John 18 Caiaphas is the high priest and so Luke may be reflecting the common Again opinion of the Jews and preference of the Jews.

They really regarded Annas as the one who is legitimate even though Caiaphas was in that official role appointed by Herod. Now notice that in the passage in Acts Which is recorded which records events some after the some weeks after the events of Luke of John 18 Luke identifies Annas is the high priest.

Caiaphas is mentioned, but only mentioned after him. Again, this would suggest Caiaphas was the official high priest. But the people still regarded Annas is a legitimate high priest and we'll see that reinforced when we consider John 18 later in the passage.

Now after John had mentioned Caiaphas he explained that he had referenced him earlier in his gospel. And so we read in verse 14 John describing who Caiaphas was. Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

Of course, this brings up the sacrifice of Christ to the forefront which was to occur, of course. This is a reference to what we have recorded back in John chapter 11 and there we read the following when the Jews were Conspiring that many of the Jews who had come to Mary had seen the things Jesus did believed in him but some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did and then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council together and said what shall we do for this man works many signs.

If we let him alone like this everyone will believe in him and The Romans will come and take away both our place and nation and one of them Caiaphas. Being a high priest that year said to them, you know, nothing at all nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people and not that the whole nation should perish and.

Then John explains why he said this now this he did not say on his own authority. But being a high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation and not for that nation only. But also he would gather together and won the children of God who are scattered abroad.

That would be Gentiles from all over the world.

And.

So God had given authority to the high priests of Israel and when Jesus died and rose, of course God took away their position and Entrusted spiritual Israel's leadership to his Apostles. That's why there were twelve.

He gave the Apostles authority over the twelve tribes of Israel. And so then there was no longer a legitimate Jewish high priest. Of course Jesus is the only true high priest that the people of God resort to Since the death of Christ and so the twelve Apostles are now ruling over the twelve tribes of Israel.

But when Caiaphas served as Israel's high priest, he was legitimate at the time. God used him as an instrument through which he communicated this prophecy to his people again as John 18 for records now as Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

Caiaphas of course was not aware. He was given a prophecy of what would happen. He was just speaking out of expediency. It's better that Jesus dies and all of us get wiped out by the Romans and We lose our liberty our freedom.

But he unwittingly was of course declaring a prophecy of actually what took place. Now these aren't brigands had bound. Jesus brought him before Caiaphas but John did not yet record the interrogation that Annas gave to Jesus.

Instead we read with verse 15 the opening first denial of Peter and so there's no detail about At this point yet of Annas interrogating Jesus. He's brought before Annas. There are some words about the identity of Annas and Caiaphas and Then it's interrupted with this matter of Peter's first denial of Jesus.

And so let's read these verses again. Simon Peter followed Jesus so did another disciple now that disciple was known to the high priest and Went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. But Peter stood at the door outside.

And then the other disciple who was known to the high priest went out spoke to her who kept the door brought Peter in. And the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter you are not also one of these man's disciples.

Are you? Way, the Greek language is poses a question. It can either imply a positive answer or a negative answer and she's actually expecting a negative answer. No, I'm not. It may have even been a cynical question.

She was posing that you don't want to hear them. Also, are you? He said I'm not. And now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coal stood there for it was cold they warmed themselves and Peter stood with them and warmed himself.

All four Gospels record both our Lord's prediction of Peter's defection and the account of his denial. What is perhaps most unsettling about Peter's failure is that not only had he done so after our Lord had specifically and directly warned him Of the danger before him that he would deny him.

But that Peter was a true disciple of Jesus when he failed in so egregious a manner. And this is clear in John's account in at least two ways. First if you look at verse 15 closely Peter is described as Following Jesus.

That's what disciples do. Don't think he followed Jesus Even after he'd been arrested. That's what a disciple is. That's what a disciple does. He follows Christ and There's a number of places in the Gospels where this is pronounced even the New Testament.

Perhaps one of the most notable is what Matthew records of our Lord's words if anyone desires to come after me Let him deny himself take up his cross and follow me. That's what true Christians do. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and Loses his own soul or what will the man give in exchange for his soul? If you're not following Jesus in faith in Fellowship and obedience you don't have salvation.

You're not a Christian because a true disciple is a true Christian. Now as you go back and look at the synoptic gospel accounts Matthew Mark and Luke of the betrayal of Peter and How he came with Jesus following Jesus and the Brigham to?

To add us is or to the to the house of Caiaphas they're recorded different they record differently how Peter is described and. So for Peter is described in this way both in Matthew and Mark, but Peter followed him at a distance to the high priest courtyard and Luke Wrote more simply, but Peter followed at a distance.

But John seems to have described Peter more directly as a disciple. Simon Peter followed Jesus you see that. And so again, this is what disciples are this is what disciples do. They follow Jesus and so really what is Tragic is that Peter?

Denied Jesus even though he was a true disciple of Jesus Christ. Another way in which John showed Peter to have defected from Christ as a true disciple is in the manner that his companion is Described the author of the fourth gospel wrote and Simon Peter followed Jesus and so did another disciple.

Clearly implying Peter was a disciple as well as this other fellow. There's another disciple. Peter was a disciple of Jesus Christ. So was this other one who had accompanied him and. So what is very disconcerting about Peter's failure?

Is that he was a true disciple of Jesus Christ when he denied his Lord and that he did so three times. Even after our Lord had warned him and had exhorted him that he pray that he not enter temptation.

When in the garden Jesus had told all of his disciples watch and pray that you may not enter temptation. The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak. Well, this of course should serve to show you and me.

Though we may be true Christians true followers of Jesus. We are capable of the grossest of failures before our Lord and others. Just as Peter was all too proud. Self-sufficient prayerless even sleeping when he should have been praying for God's mercy and grace toward him.

Even as he was presuming on his love and commitment to Jesus. So it is that any one of us who are quite weak may do so as disciples and. And so we might say we are in more danger when we're following Jesus at a distance.

When we are not readily identified by others as his disciples Peter denied it and he stood among them. Warming himself with the very ones that had arrested and abused Jesus already. Now one question that must be asked.

Who is this that John described as another disciple? Verse 15. Who was with Peter? Of course, we would accept the understanding that John the Apostle was referring to himself. Not all commentators agree with this.

However, we won't get into detail. I didn't put it in our notes, but they would argue. No Galilean fishermen could have had an association or acquaintance with the high priest in Jerusalem. It could not have been John.

Some actually say it had to been Judas Iscariot who was with Peter. I think that's kind of silly I think it clearly was John the Apostle and. The idea that his family in Galilee is his dad was quite a wealthy fisherman you recall had several boats could have indeed been Associated have a friendship with the high priest is not out of the question.

And in fact Eusebius in the 4th century in his church history Described John himself. John the Apostle is from a priestly family. Interestingly, of course most often in John's gospel John refers to himself as the one whom Jesus loved here he's described as another disciple and I've given several instances in the gospel John 13 John 19 John 20.

Repeatedly when.

John referred to himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved. Top of page six notes. It's interesting that John did not receive the same treatment as Peter. They were both disciples and apparently the people or some of the people knew John there in the household of Annas.

Granted maybe those singled out Peter to be a disciple of Jesus could he rather stood out when he cut off the ear of Malchus when in the garden. But it's also the case that John might have passed possible scrutiny because of his familiarity with the family of the high priest.

We read in verses 15 through 17 once again, but focusing on another disciple who was with Peter. Simon Peter followed Jesus. So did another disciple now that disciple was known to the high priest. Went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest.

Notice this other disciple did not follow Jesus like Peter, but rather he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter stood at the door outside and then the other disciple who was known to the high priest went out spoke to her who kept the door and brought Peter in and Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter you're not also one of this man's disciples.

Are you? So while the brigands escorted Jesus under arrest John had apparently followed Jesus somewhat closer than had Peter. John had went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. Peter did not venture in but John did so.

He was known by those of the household of the high priest where he knew the family of the high priest and had I would Suspect visited there before. It was John who had gained admittance for Peter apparently the slave girl that.

The servant girl at the gate knew John Accepted John's word. Hey, let Peter in and she let Peter in. Interestingly he gained admittance for Peter. Peter entered with an unfamiliarity that John possessed.

John apparently was pretty familiar with the place as one wrote unlike the other disciple. Peter was not accustomed to entering the headquarters of persons in high society. And the Unfamiliarity of these surroundings added to the general sense of uneasiness that made him lose his nerve.

That's probably right for all the confidence with which in the upper room He declared his readiness to lay down his life as master. The event was to prove that his master knew Peter better than Peter knew himself.

Certainly true. Now this first portion of John's account of Peter's denials concludes with Peter standing by the fire Alongside the very ones who arrested Jesus and maybe the Roman soldiers were at the fire, too.

I don't know Verse 18 record now the servants and officers. Those could have been Jewish officers of the temple who had made a fire of coal or charcoal. Stood there for it was cold and they warmed themselves and Peter stood with them and warmed himself.

And so here although Peter was perhaps but a few dozen yards from Jesus who had may have been taken indoors Peter now stood at a distance from Jesus failed to own Jesus as his Lord and Savior. And so may the Lord not allow any of us to be so removed from fellowship In our Lord's presence that we would fail to own him before others who deny him and are opposed to him.

Peter seems to be described and set forth is really someone who's rather Incentive he's standing there with the ones who arrested Jesus warming himself. Well Jesus is in being interrogated. Now after having related this First of three denials Peter recorded the interrogation of Jesus by Annas and so he goes back now into this third section.

And so again, we read the high priest and asked Jesus about his disciples and his doctrine. Jesus answered him. I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues in the temple where the Jews always meet and in secret.

I've said nothing. Why do you ask me ask those who have heard me what I said to them? Indeed. They know what I said and When he had said these things one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus With the palm of his hand saying do you answer the high priest like that?

And Jesus answered him if I have spoken evil bear witness of the evil, but if well Why do you strike me and then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest? Now the first question to answer is who is this high priest mentioned in verse 19?

We saw earlier that Caiaphas is the high priest. Annas was his father-in-law and So some argue verse 19 is Caiaphas now. That's not correct. Here Annas is described as the high priest. This was Annas interrogating him.

But John refers to him as the high priest and so when Jesus was arrested they escorted him to the house of Annas and Then here in verse 19 the writer of the gospel began to relate the interrogation of Jesus by the high priest.

And I put that in quotations again. This would have been Annas who was not officially the high priest, but probably the one that the Jews most Regarded as a legitimate high priest and so we should understand.

This is a reference to Annas. Even though technically he was not the high priest Caiaphas was. Now Annas essentially asked Jesus two questions one about his disciples and the other about his doctrine.

Or what it was that he taught. We should understand this question to inquire what distinguished Jesus. What Jesus himself would regard as his central message that he was proclaiming to his disciples and actually thinking about it.

It's a good question for us to Maybe take to heart. It's a good question to initially ask of someone who claims to be a Christian. Who speaks to others regarding the Christian faith? Who are your followers or with whom do you walk?

That's a good question to ask professing Christians. What is the central primary message that you're attempting to make known and convince people to embrace? That's a good question to ask people, isn't it?

There's a whole lot of people who claim to be Christian. One capsulated an Annas's inquiry. The high priest here surely. Annas, of course Questioned Jesus about two matters his disciples and his teaching.

Teaching is another word for doctrine. I didn't look at the ESV, but it probably says teaching doesn't it rather than doctrine in the new? King James Version. Does it say doctrine in the ESV in that verse?

I think it probably says teaching. The former question may have dealt with the size of his following and the potential for any possible conspiracy. The latter question suggests that the fundamental concern of the Jewish authorities was theological.

Even though later they presented the case to pilot as being political at the core of their concern was Jesus's claim as to who he was and Consequently their fear that he was leading the people astray into apostasy.

That's what Anna's thought of this Jesus. Others described Anna's his concerns this way. He really wanted to know just how influential Jesus had become and how large a following he had gathered. This was a more concern to Anna's than the truth or falsity of Jesus's teaching.

How many followers have you got tell me about him? What are you teaching them? Jesus refused to answer Anna's directly. Instead he stated he had taught openly and widely and that there were those who had heard him that were available to testify legitimate witnesses of what he had taught them.

John and Peter were just outside call them. This is 2021 Record Jesus's answer to Anna's. I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple where the Jews always meet and in secret I've said nothing.