John Calvin Commentary John 18:22

"And when he had said this, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?" — John 18:22 (ASV)

When he had said these things. This is added to inform us, first, how great was the rage of the enemies of Christ, and how tyrannical their government was; and second, what sort of discipline existed among those priests.

They sit like judges, but they are as cruel as ferocious beasts. A council is assembled, in which the utmost gravity should have prevailed; yet a single officer is so daring and presumptuous that, in the midst of the judicial proceedings and in the presence of the judges, he strikes the person accused, who was not found to be in any respect guilty.

We need not wonder, therefore, that the doctrine of Christ is condemned by such a barbarous assembly, from which not only all justice but also all humanity and modesty are banished.