John 18

1After saying these things, Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron brook, where there was a garden into which he and his disciples entered.

2Judas, who was betraying him, also knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples.

3So Judas took the cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees and came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.

4Jesus therefore, knowing all the things coming upon him, went out and said to them, "Whom are you seeking?"

5They answered him, "Jesus the Nazarene." Jesus said to them, "I am." Judas also, who was betraying him, was standing with them.

6When therefore he said to them, "I am," they drew back and fell to the ground.

7So he asked them again, "Who are you seeking?" They said, "Jesus the Nazarene."

8Jesus answered, "I said to you that I am. If therefore you seek me, let these go their way."

9so that the word he spoke might be fulfilled, that of those you have given me I lost none.

10Simon Peter therefore, having a sword, drew it, struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. That servant's name was Malchus.

11Jesus therefore said to Peter, "Put the sword into the sheath. The cup that the Father has given me—shall I not drink it?"

12So the cohort, the captain, and the officers of the Jews seized Jesus and bound him.

13They led him first to Annas, for he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.

14Now Caiaphas was the one who counseled the Jews that it is beneficial for one man to die for the people.

15Simon Peter was following Jesus, and another disciple as well. That disciple was known to the high priest and entered with Jesus into the high priest's courtyard.

16But Peter remained standing outside the door, so the other disciple, the one known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the doorkeeper and brought Peter in.

17So the servant girl who guarded the door said to Peter, “Aren’t you also one of this man’s disciples?” He said, “I am not.”

18The servants and officers were standing there, having made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were warming themselves. Peter was with them, standing and warming himself.

19So the high priest asked Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching.

20Jesus answered him, "I have spoken publicly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews gather, and in private I said nothing."

21Why do you question me? Question those who have heard what I said to them. Look, these know what I said.

22When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by slapped Jesus, saying, "Do you answer the high priest so?"

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

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

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

26One of the high priest's servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter cut off, said, "Didn't I see you in the garden with him?"

27Peter denied again, and immediately the rooster crowed.

28They brought Jesus therefore from Caiaphas into the Praetorium. It was early morning, and they themselves did not enter the Praetorium, so as not to become defiled, but to eat the Passover.

29Then Pilate came out to them and said, "What charge do you bring against this man?"

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

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

32so that Jesus' word might be fulfilled, which he spoke signifying what kind of death he was about to die.

33Pilate therefore entered the praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"

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

35Pilate answered, "I'm not a Jew, am I? Your nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?"

36Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not come from this world; if it came from this world, my servants would strive to keep me from being handed over to the Jews, but now my kingdom does not come from here."

37Pilate therefore asked him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You yourself say that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is from the truth hears my voice."

38Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" After saying this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, "I find no accusation in him."

39But you have a custom that I release one to you at Passover. Therefore, do you wish me to release to you the king of the Jews?

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