John Calvin Commentary John 18:20

"Jesus answered him, I have spoken openly to the world; I ever taught in synagogues, and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and in secret spake I nothing." — John 18:20 (ASV)

I spoke openly in the world. It is a childish error into which some have fallen, who think that this reply of Christ condemns those who expound the word of God in private settings, when the tyranny of wicked men does not allow them to expound it publicly. For Christ does not argue about what is lawful and what is not lawful, but his intention was to counter the insolent malice of Caiaphas.

This passage, however, appears to be inconsistent with another saying of Christ, where he instructs the apostles to proclaim on the house-tops what he had whispered in their ear (Matthew 10:27); and again, when he declares that it is not given to all to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 13:14).

I answer, when he says in this passage that he spoke nothing in secret, this refers to the substance of the doctrine, which was always the same, though the form of teaching it varied. For he did not speak differently among the disciples to instruct them in something different; nor did he act cunningly, as if he purposely intended to conceal from the people what he spoke to a small number of persons in the house. He could, therefore, testify with a good conscience that he had openly declared and honestly proclaimed the substance of his doctrine.