John 18:19-24
The High Priest Questions Jesus
19 Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.
20 “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. 21 Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”
22 When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.
23 “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” 24 Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
Acts 26:1-32
Jesus Was Open in His Teachings
1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.”
So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense: 2 “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.
4 “The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. 5 They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee. 6 And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today. 7 This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me.8 Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?
9 “I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.
12 “On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
15 “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’
“ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. 16 ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
19 “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 20 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. 21 That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. 22 But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— 23 that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”
24 At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.”
25 “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26 The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”
28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”
29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”
30 The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. 31 After they left the room, they began saying to one another, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.”
32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
John 3:1-21
Jesus Teaches Nicodemus at Night
1 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
Some people still do not believe that Jesus is a historical figure...The four gospels make it clear to believers that He existed...But there are written records of Josephus, Tacitus, and Pliny the Younger, which are outside the Bible of His existence...But Jesus touched many people's lives, openly and privately...This helps and helped to spread His teachings after His death and resurrection...
Before His death, Jesus was questioned by the High Priest...“I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied...“I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together...I said nothing in secret...Why question Me?...Ask those who heard me...Surely they know what I said.”...When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face...“Is this the way You answer the high priest?” he demanded...“If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong... But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike Me?”...Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest...
When Paul was questioned by King Agrippa, he was telling the king how he had looked for followers of Jesus to persecute them, but that had changed...“On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests...About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions...We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’...“Then I asked, ‘Who are You, Lord?’...“ ‘I AM Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied...‘Now get up and stand on your feet...I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of Me...I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles...I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’...“So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven...First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds...That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me...But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike...I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”...At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense...“You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.”...“I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied...“What I am saying is true and reasonable...The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him...I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner...King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets?...I know you do.”...
Jesus taught, the Pharisee, Nicodemus at night...It is implied that by teaching him at night, Nicodemus did not want others to know he was with Jesus at this time...Jesus teaching Nicodemus was more of a private teaching...But this was what Nicodemus wanted...Jesus was open about His teachings, and was willing to help those who wanted to learn more about His Father...
These stories tell us that Jesus' teachings were not done in hiding and in secret...Jesus was often teaching around the synagogues and the temple...Jesus said, "I said nothing in secret."...If others wanted to learn what He was teaching and teaching about, including the High Priest, they could as Jesus said, "Ask those who heard Me...Surely they know what I said."...When Paul was before King Agrippa, he says the same thing about Jesus' teachings...Paul stated that, "I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner."...Anyone who wanted to know about Jesus and what He taught could find out from others...Jesus did not hide what He believed in, He taught it publicly and openly spoke about it -and privately when ask...Jesus spoke openly to the world...His teachings were not done to only His Disciples, or a mere few, but openly and publicly and privately as well...Nicodemus, is an example of a private teaching...Thousands and thousands heard Him speak and saw His miracles...
Jesus teachings spanned both the private and the public and anyone who wanted to hear Him in Israel could have found someone He taught...They could have asked those He taught about His teachings...Or at the very least heard from someone that was taught by Him...All these things make Jesus an easier historical figure to identify with and believe in...He touched many long ago, and He still touches people today...