John 18

Jesus Arrested

1After saying these things, Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden, which he entered along with his disciples. 2Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3So Judas took a cohort of soldiers and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, and they went there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. 4Then Jesus, knowing everything that would happen to him, went out and said to them, “Who are you looking for?” 5They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” (Judas, who betrayed him, was also standing with them.) 6When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7So again he asked them, “Who are you looking for?” They said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.” 9He said this to fulfill the word he had spoken: “I have not lost a single one of those yoʋ have given me.” 10Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) 11But Jesus said to Peter, “Put yoʋr sword back in its sheath; shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”

Jesus Brought Before Annas

12Then the cohort of soldiers, along with its commander and the Jewish officers, arrested Jesus, bound him, 13and led him aaway first to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14(It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it was better for one man to bperish for the people.)

Peter Denies Jesus

15Now Simon Peter was following Jesus, as was cthe other disciple. That disciple was known to the high priest, so he went with Jesus into the high priest's courtyard, 16but Peter stood outside at the gate. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the gatekeeper, and brought Peter in. 17Then the servant girl who was the gatekeeper said to Peter, “Yoʋ are not also one of this man's disciples, are yoʋ?” He said, “I am not.” 18(Now the servants and the officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing there warming themselves. Peter was also standing with them, warming himself.)

The High Priest Questions Jesus

19Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in the synagogues and in the temple courts, where dthe Jews always assemble together. I have said nothing in secret. 21Why do yoʋ question me? Question those who heard what I said to them. Behold, they know what I said.” 22When Jesus said this, one of the officers standing nearby slapped him and said, “Is that how yoʋ answer the high priest?” 23Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify as to what was wrong; but if I have spoken well, why are yoʋ hitting me?” 24e(Annas had sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.)

Peter Denies Jesus Again

25Meanwhile, Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “Yoʋ are not also one of his disciples, are yoʋ?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” 26But one of the servants of the high priest, who was a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Did I not see yoʋ with him in the garden?” 27Peter denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed.

Jesus Brought Before Pilate

28Then the Jews led Jesus away from Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters. It was now early in the morning. They themselves did not go into the governor's headquarters so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. 29So Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30They answered him, “If he were not fan evildoer, we would not have handed him over to yoʋ.” 31Pilate said to them, “You take him and judge him according to your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” 32(This happened to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was going to die.)

33Then Pilate went into his headquarters again, called Jesus over, and said to him, “Are yoʋ the king of the Jews?” 34Jesus answered ghim, “Do yoʋ say this of yoʋr own accord, or have others spoken to yoʋ about me?” 35Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Yoʋr own nation and the chief priests have handed yoʋ over to me. What have yoʋ done?” 36Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would be fighting to keep me from being delivered up to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” 37Pilate said to him, “So yoʋ are a king?” Jesus answered, “Yoʋ have said yoʋrself that I am a king. The reason I was born and the reason I came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 38Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

The Crowd Calls For Jesus' Crucifixion

After he said this, he again went out to the Jews and said to them, “I find no fault in him. 39But hyou have a custom that I release for you one man at the Passover. So do you want me to release for you the king of the Jews?” 40They iall cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” (Now Barabbas was an insurrectionist.)