John 18

Jesus Is Arrested—Matthew 26:47–56; Mark 14:43–52; Luke 22:47–54a

1 After Jesus finished his prayer, he went with his disciples to the other side of the Kidron Valley. They entered the garden that was there.2 Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place because Jesus and his disciples often gathered there.

3 So Judas took a troop of soldiers and the guards from the chief priests and Pharisees and went to the garden. They were carrying lanterns, torches, and weapons.
4 Jesus knew everything that was going to happen to him. So he went to meet them and asked, “Who are you looking for?”5 They answered him, “Jesus from Nazareth.”Jesus told them, “I am he.”Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with the crowd.

6 When Jesus told them, “I am he,” the crowd backed away and fell to the ground.
7 Jesus asked them again, “Who are you looking for?”They said, “Jesus from Nazareth.”8 Jesus replied, “I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these other men go.”

9 In this way what Jesus had said came true: “I lost none of those you gave me.”
10 Simon Peter had a sword. He drew it, attacked the chief priest’s servant, and cut off the servant’s right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)11 Jesus told Peter, “Put your sword away. Shouldn’t I drink the cup of suffering that my Father has given me?”12 Then the army officer and the Jewish guards arrested Jesus. They tied Jesus up13 and took him first to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas. Caiaphas, the chief priest that year,

14 was the person who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one man die for the people.

Peter Denies Jesus—Matthew 26:69–75; Mark 14:66–72; Luke 22:54b–62

15 Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. The other disciple was well-known to the chief priest. So that disciple went with Jesus into the chief priest’s courtyard.

16 Peter, however, was standing outside the gate. The other disciple talked to the woman who was the gatekeeper and brought Peter into the courtyard.
17 The gatekeeper asked Peter, “Aren’t you one of this man’s disciples too?”Peter answered, “No, I’m not!”18 The servants and the guards were standing around a fire they had built and were warming themselves because it was cold. Peter was standing there, too, and warming himself with the others.

The Chief Priest Questions Jesus

19 The chief priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teachings.20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken publicly for everyone to hear. I have always taught in synagogues or in the temple courtyard, where all the Jews gather. I haven’t said anything in secret.

21 Why do you question me? Question those who heard what I said to them. They know what I’ve said.”
22 When Jesus said this, one of the guards standing near Jesus slapped his face and said, “Is that how you answer the chief priest?”23 Jesus replied to him, “If I’ve said anything wrong, tell me what it was. But if I’ve told the truth, why do you hit me?”24 Annas sent Jesus to Caiaphas, the chief priest. Jesus was still tied up.

Peter Denies Jesus Again—Matthew 26:69–75; Mark 14:66–72; Luke 22:54b–62

25 Simon Peter continued to stand and warm himself by the fire. Some men asked him, “Aren’t you, too, one of his disciples?”Peter denied it by saying, “No, I’m not!”26 One of the chief priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked him, “Didn’t I see you with Jesus in the garden?”27 Peter again denied it, and just then a rooster crowed.

Pilate Questions Jesus—Matthew 27:11–14; Mark 15:1–5; Luke 23:1–4

28 Early in the morning, Jesus was taken from Caiaphas’ house to the governor’s palace.The Jews wouldn’t go into the palace. They didn’t want to become unclean,t since they wanted to eat the Passover.

29 So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What accusation are you making against this man?”
30 The Jews answered Pilate, “If he weren’t a criminal, we wouldn’t have handed him over to you.”31 Pilate told the Jews, “Take him, and try him by your law.”The Jews answered him, “We’re not allowed to execute anyone.”

32 In this way what Jesus had predicted about how he would die came true.
33 Pilate went back into the palace, called for Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”34 Jesus replied, “Did you think of that yourself, or did others tell you about me?”35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own people and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?”36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom doesn’t belong to this world. If my kingdom belonged to this world, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. My kingdom doesn’t have its origin on earth.”37 Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?”Jesus replied, “You’re correct in saying that I’m a king. I have been born and have come into the world for this reason: to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to me.”38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”After Pilate said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I don’t find this man guilty of anything.

39 You have a custom that I should free one person for you at Passover. Would you like me to free the king of the Jews for you?”
40 The Jews shouted again, “Don’t free this man! Free Barabbas!” (Barabbas was a political revolutionary.)

John 18

1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Kidron, where was a garden, into which he entered, himself and his disciples.2 Now Judas also, who betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus oft-times resorted thither with his disciples.3 Judas then, having received the band of soldiers, and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.4 Jesus therefore, knowing all the things that were coming upon him, went forth, and saith unto them, Whom seek ye?5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, who betrayed him, was standing with them.6 When therefore he said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.7 Again therefore he asked them, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.8 Jesus answered, I told you that I am he; if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:9 that the word might be fulfilled which he spake, Of those whom thou hast given me I lost not one.10 Simon Peter therefore having a sword drew it, and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. Now the servant’s name was Malchus.11 Jesus therefore said unto Peter, Put up the sword into the sheath: the cup which the Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?12 So the band and the chief captain, and the officers of the Jews, seized Jesus and bound him,13 and led him to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.14 Now Caiaphas was he that gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that disciple was known unto the high priest, and entered in with Jesus into the court of the high priest;16 but Peter was standing at the door without. So the other disciple, who was known unto the high priest, went out and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.17 The maid therefore that kept the door saith unto Peter, Art thou also one of this man’s disciples? He saith, I am not.18 Now the servants and the officers were standing there, having made a fire of coals; for it was cold; and they were warming themselves: and Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.19 The high priest therefore asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his teaching.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.21 Why askest thou me? Ask them that have heard me, what I spake unto them: behold, these know the things which I said.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?23 Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?24 Annas therefore sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said therefore unto him, Art thou also one of his disciples? He denied, and said, I am not.26 One of the servants of the high priest, being a kinsman of him whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?27 Peter therefore denied again: and straightway the cock crew.28 They lead Jesus therefore from Caiaphas into the Praetorium: and it was early; and they themselves entered not into the Praetorium, that they might not be defiled, but might eat the passover.29 Pilate therefore went out unto them, and saith, What accusation bring ye against this man?30 They answered and said unto him, If this man were not an evildoer, we should not have delivered him up unto thee.31 Pilate therefore said unto them, Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law. The Jews said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:32 that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying by what manner of death he should die.33 Pilate therefore entered again into the Praetorium, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?34 Jesus answered, Sayest thou this of thyself, or did others tell it thee concerning me?35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end have I been born, and to this end am I come into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find no crime in him.39 But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?40 They cried out therefore again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.)