John 18:18

“And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.”

King James Version (KJV)

Other Translations of John 18:18

“And the seruants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coales, (for it was colde) and they warmed themselues: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himselfe.”
King James Version (1611) - View original scan of John chapter 18

“Now the slaves and the officers were standing {there,} having made a charcoal fire, for it was cold and they were warming themselves; and Peter was also with them, standing and warming himself.”
New American Standard Version (1995)

“Now the servants and the officers were standing `there', having made a fire of coals; for it was cold; and they were warming themselves: and Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.”
American Standard Version (1901)

“Now the servants and the police had made a fire of coals because it was cold; they were warming themselves in front of it and Peter was there with them, warming himself.”
Basic English Bible

“But the bondmen and officers, having made a fire of coals (for it was cold), stood and warmed themselves; and Peter was standing with them and warming himself.”
Darby Bible

“Now the servants and ministers stood at a fire of coals, because it was cold, and warmed themselves. And with them was Peter also, standing, and warming himself. ”
Douay Rheims Bible

“And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; (for it was cold) and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself. ”
Webster's Bible

“Now because it was cold the servants and the police had lighted a charcoal fire, and were standing and warming themselves; and Peter too remained with them, standing and warming himself.”
Weymouth Bible

“Now the servants and the officers were standing there, having made a fire of coals, for it was cold. They were warming themselves. Peter was with them, standing and warming himself.”
World English Bible

“And the seruantis and mynystris stooden at the coolis, for it was coold, and thei warmyden hem; and Petre was with hem, stondynge and warmynge hym.”
Wycliffe Bible

“and the servants and the officers were standing, having made a fire of coals, because it was cold, and they were warming themselves, and Peter was standing with them, and warming himself.”
Youngs Literal Bible

S Spencer's comment on 2021-04-27 06:21:26:

Thanks Philip.

Great insight!

Chris's comment on 2021-04-27 01:15:47:

Thank you Philip. That was a very good, clear teaching on the "officers of the temple" (in both your pages).

Philip Christian Parks's comment on 2021-04-26 09:14:33:

Who were these "officers" recorded in John 18:3?

These particular band and officers were not Roman soldiers. These were Jewish temple officers and their band of subordinates employed by temple officials to enforce the proper entrance and behavior of the Jews' activities when on the temple's campus, or in the temple's structures, and certainly within the temple proper.

Compare the expression "the captain of the temple" (Ac. 4:1; 5:24, 26) identifying the Jewish officer appointed to preserve the temple's sanctity.

Rome did not involve its legionary officers and captains in such Jewish matters, nor would the Jews care to have such Roman Gentile involvement. Rome seldom involved herself in mitigating Jewish disagreements concerning their laws and traditions. Pilate so much as said so when Caiaphas delivered JESUS to Pilate for judgment (Jn. 18:31): "Take ye HIM, and judge HIM according to your law."

The following explanatory exegesis substantiate that this band and officers were Jews:

1st, they were "from the chief priests and Pharisees" (v.3) and "of the Jews" (v.12). Roman officials would not humiliate themselves into Jewish servitude in such fashion. Doing so would be tantamount to the conquerors serving the conquered.

2nd, John 7:28 and 32 reveals the employment of Jewish officers to accomplish temple tasks and missions. There, CHRIST taught in the temple (v. 28) when "the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take HIM" (v.32). The Pharisees and the chief priests would never send heathen Gentile Roman military officers into the temple for any reason.

Philip Christian Parks's comment on 2021-04-26 09:12:58:

The identity of the "officers" recorded in John 18:3 (continued) =

3rd, the officer that "struck JESUS" (v.22) was just "one of the officers" in this plurality. He was in the close and immediate presence, company, and service of the High Priest (v.19). This officer was a Jew because the high priest would not have allowed a Gentile Roman military soldier (officer) in such close quarters for fear of ceremonial defilement (v.28).

Ironically, this officer and his fellow officers may have previously voiced another opinion concerning CHRIST: "Never man spoke like This Man" (Jn. 7:46).

4th, the officer that struck JESUS (v.22) was a Jew because he thought JESUS disrespected the high priest. A Gentile Roman military officer would consider this confrontation a trivial insult between Jews and would not bother inserting himself in such matters.

5th, the Jews greatly feared potential ceremonial defilement during the Passover (v.28). Therefore, they exercised great care to avoid Gentile contact. These officers were Jews because contact was not a defilement issue (see vv. 3, 12, 18, and 22).

6th, John 19:6 clearly prove the nationality of these officers as Jews. There, the verse implies the officers stand with the chief priests and join their murderous rage demanding Pilate to crucify CHRIST.

7th, Roman military personnel simply would not serve the Jews by accomplishing or enforcing their religious mandates. Rather the reverse would occur. When CHRIST said, "Whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain" (Mt. 5:41), HE referred to Gentile Roman officials who abused their authority by oppressing the Jews into menial governmental service, usually by delivering posts and dispatches, or by forcing Jews to carry their military and personal packs and equipment. Forcing Simon of Cyrene to bear CHRIST's cross is a Scriptural example of such compelling (Mt. 27:32; Mk. 15:21; Lu. 23:26).

Dennis's comment on 2015-04-16 04:50:35:

The same servants and officers who had gone to the garden to abduct Jesus...?

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