4:10 When he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables.
10:10 In the house once again, the disciples asked him about this.
12:18 Sadducees 1 (who say there is no resurrection) 2 also came to him and asked him, 3
1 sn The Sadducees controlled the official political structures of Judaism at this time, being the majority members of the Sanhedrin. They were known as extremely strict on law and order issues (Josephus, J. W. 2.8.2 [2.119], 2.8.14 [2.164-166]; Ant. 13.5.9 [13.171-173], 13.10.6 [13.293-298], 18.1.2 [18.11], 18.1.4 [18.16-17], 20.9.1 [20.199]; Life 2 [10-11]). They also did not believe in resurrection or in angels, an important detail in v. 25. See also Matt 3:7, 16:1-12, 22:23-34; Luke 20:27-38; Acts 4:1, 5:17, 23:6-8.
2 sn This remark is best regarded as a parenthetical note by the author.
3 tn Grk “and asked him, saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
4 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of previous action in the narrative.
5 sn “Are you the king of the Jews?” Pilate was interested in this charge because of its political implications of sedition against Rome.
6 tn Grk “answering, he said to him.” The participle ἀποκριθείς (apokriqeis) is redundant, but the syntax of the phrase has been modified for clarity.
7 sn The reply “You say so” is somewhat enigmatic, like Jesus’ earlier reply to the Jewish leadership (mentioned in Matt 26:64 and Luke 22:70).