John 18

Chapter 18.

18 ¹ When Jesus had said these things, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. ² Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. ³ So Judas came there with a detachment of soldiers and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, carrying lanterns, torches, and weapons. ⁴ Then Jesus, knowing all that was about to happen to him, came forward and said to them, "Who are you looking for?"

⁵ They answered him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I AM." Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. ^a a v5 Jesus speaks the divine name our Father gave Moses at the burning bush. The soldiers' reaction in the next verse — falling backward to the ground — shows they heard exactly what he claimed.

⁶ When Jesus said to them, "I AM," they drew back and fell to the ground.

⁷ So he asked them again, "Who are you looking for?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth."

⁸ Jesus answered, "I told you that I AM. So if it's me you're looking for, let these men go." ⁹ This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: "I have not lost a single one of those you gave me."

¹⁰ Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. ¹¹ So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword back in its sheath. Shouldn't I drink the cup my Father has given me?"

¹² So the detachment of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him.

¹³ First they led him 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 would be better for one man to die for the people.

Peter Follows Into the Courtyard

¹⁵ Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, ¹⁶ but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept the door, and brought Peter in. ¹⁷ The servant girl at the door said to Peter, "You also are not one of this man's disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not."

¹⁸ Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.

Questioned in the Night

¹⁹ The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.

²⁰ Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world. I always taught in the synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. ²¹ Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said."

²² When he had said this, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, "Is that how you answer the high priest?"

²³ Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken wrongly, testify about the wrong; but if I spoke rightly, why do you strike me?"

²⁴ Then Annas sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest.

Peter Denies Again

²⁵ Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, "You also are not one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not."

²⁶ One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, "Did I not see you in the garden with him?"

²⁷ Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.

Handed Over to Pilate

²⁸ Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. ²⁹ So Pilate went out to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this man?"

³⁰ They answered him, "If this man were not doing evil, we would not have handed him over to you."

³¹ Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law." The Jews said to him, "It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death."

³² This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

³³ So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, "Are you the King of the Jews?"

³⁴ Jesus answered, "Are you saying this on your own, or did others tell you about me?"

³⁵ Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?"

³⁶ Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from here."

³⁷ Then Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born, and for this I have come into the world—to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice."

³⁸ Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" After he had said this, he went back out to the Jews and told them, "I find no guilt in him.

³⁹ But you have a custom that I release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?"

⁴⁰ They cried out again, "Not this man, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a robber.