John 18

1 When Jesus had said these things he went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley, where there was a garden, into which he entered, he and his disciples. [a] 2 Now Judas, the one handing him over, also knew the place, because Jesus had often gathered there with his disciples. 3 So Judas took the cohort, and attendants from the chief priests and from the Pharisees, and comes there with lanterns and lamps and weapons. [b]

4 Then Jesus, knowing everything that was coming upon him, went out and says to them, “Whom are you looking for?” 5 They answered him, “Jesus the Nazorean.” He says to them, “I am.” And Judas, the one handing him over, was standing with them. [c] 6 So when he said to them, “I am,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 So again he asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” And they said, “Jesus the Nazorean.” 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am. So if you are looking for me, let these men go” 9 — so that the word he had spoken might be fulfilled: “Of those you have given me I lost not one of them.” [d]

10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the chief priest’s slave and cut off his right ear. And the slave’s name was Malchus. 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put the sword into its sheath. The cup the Father has given me — am I not to drink it?”

12 So the cohort and the commander of a thousand and the attendants of the Jews seized Jesus and bound him, [e] 13 and they led him to Annas first; for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was chief priest that year. 14 Now it was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it is an advantage that one man die on behalf of the people. [f]

15 Now Simon Peter was following Jesus, and another disciple. And that disciple was known to the chief priest, and he went in with Jesus into the courtyard of the chief priest; 16 but Peter stood at the door outside. So the other disciple, the one known to the chief priest, went out and spoke to the doorkeeper and brought Peter in. 17 So the servant girl, the doorkeeper, says to Peter, “You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He says, “I am not.” [g] 18 Now the slaves and the attendants were standing there, having made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were warming themselves; and Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.

19 So the chief priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. 20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I always taught in a synagogue and in the temple, where all the Jews come together, and I said nothing in secret. 21 Why do you question me? Question those who have heard what I said to them. Look — these know what I said.” 22 And when he had said these things, one of the attendants standing by gave Jesus a slap, saying, “Is this how you answer the chief priest?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If I spoke wrongly, testify about the wrong; but if well, why do you beat me?” 24 So Annas sent him, bound, to Caiaphas the chief priest. [h]

25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You are not also one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” 26 One of the chief priest’s slaves, a relative of the man whose ear Peter cut off, says, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” 27 So Peter denied it again; and immediately a rooster crowed.

28 Then they lead Jesus from Caiaphas to the praetorium. And it was early morning; and they themselves did not enter the praetorium, so that they would not be defiled but might eat the Passover. [i] 29 So Pilate went outside to them and says, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30 They answered and said to him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have handed him over to you.” 31 So Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death” 32 — so that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spoke signifying by what kind of death he was about to die. [j]

33 So Pilate entered the praetorium again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this from yourself, or did others tell you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What did you do?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my attendants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” [k] 37 So Pilate said to him, “So then you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.”

38 Pilate says to him, “What is truth?” And having said this he went out again to the Jews and says to them, “I find no ground for a charge in him. [l] 39 But you have a custom that I release one man to you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” 40 So they shouted back again, saying, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber. [m]