John 18

After saying these things, Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron stream. There was a garden there, which he and his disciples entered. Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas took the detachment of soldiers, along with officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, and came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing everything that was coming upon him, stepped forward and said to them, “Whom are you looking for?” They answered him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was also standing with them. When he said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. So he asked them again, “Whom are you looking for?” They said, “Jesus the Nazarene.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.” This was so that the word he had spoken might be fulfilled: “Of those you have given me, I have lost none.” Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, “Put the sword into its sheath. Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” Then the detachment, its commander, and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus, bound him, and took him first to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it was better for one man to die for the people. Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. That disciple was known to the high priest and entered the high priest’s courtyard with Jesus. But Peter was standing outside at the door. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman keeping the door, and brought Peter in. The slave girl keeping the door said to Peter, “Are you not also one of this man’s disciples?” He said, “I am not.” The slaves and officers had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they stood warming themselves. Peter too was standing with them, warming himself. Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I always taught in a synagogue and in the temple, where all the Jews gather, and I said nothing in secret. Why do you question me? Ask those who heard what I said to them. Look, they know what I said.” When he said this, one of the officers standing nearby slapped Jesus and said, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If I spoke wrongly, bear witness to the wrong. But if rightly, why do you strike me?” Then Annas sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest. Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said to him, “Are you not also one of his disciples?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the high priest’s slaves, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” Again Peter denied it, and at once a rooster crowed. Then they took Jesus from 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. So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What charge do you bring against this man?” They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have handed him over to you.” Then Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.” The Jews said to him, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death.” This was so that the word Jesus had spoken might be fulfilled, indicating what kind of death he was going to die. Then Pilate went back into the headquarters, called Jesus, and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight so that I would not be handed over to the Jews. But now my kingdom is not from here.” Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world: to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After saying this, he went out to the Jews again and said to them, “I find no ground for a charge against him. But you have a custom that I release someone to you at the Passover. So do you want me to release the King of the Jews to you?” Then they cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

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