John 18:19

The high priest asked Jesus questions, which went against Jewish legal procedures. In Jewish court, the priest did not directly question the person on the defense. Instead, they gathered evidence from witnesses to prove guilt (see Numbers 35:30; Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15; compare Matthew 18:16). If Jesus said anything that would make him guilty, Annas would use it against him at his trial. Annas tried to follow Roman practice by making Jesus say something about himself that would make him guilty. This was different than using witnesses as Jewish law required.

Jesus finished speaking his final words to his disciples in the upper room (13:31–17:26). Jesus then left the city and went to a garden east of Jerusalem to pray. There, authorities arrested him and took him back into the city for questioning by the Jewish religious leaders. The important "hour" Jesus often mentioned throughout the Gospel had arrived (see 2:4; see also study note on 12:23).