John 18

After Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the ravine of the brook Kidron, to where there was a garden, which he himself and his disciples entered.

Now Judas, who was betraying him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples.

Judas then, having received the Roman cohort, and also Temple police from the chief priests and the Pharisees, arrived there with lanterns and torches and weapons.

So Jesus, knowing everything that was about to happen to him, went out and said to them, “Who are you looking for?”

They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he” (and Judas also, who was betraying him, was standing with them).

Then, when he said to them, “I am he,” they went backward and fell to the ground.

Therefore he asked them again, “Who are you looking for?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go,”

(he said this with the result that the word he had spoken was fulfilled, ‘Of those whom you have given me I did not lose one.’)

Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. Now the servant’s name was Malchus.

Then Jesus said to Peter, “Put the sword into the sheath! Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given to me?

Then the Roman cohort and the commander, and the Temple police of the Jews, seized Jesus and bound him.

And they led him to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law to Caiaphas, who was high priest that year

(now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was advantageous for one man to die instead of the People).

And Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest and entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest,

but Peter was standing outside at the gate. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the woman who kept the gate and brought in Peter.

Then the servant girl who kept the gate said to Peter, “You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.”

Now the servants and the temple guard 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.

Then the high priest asked Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching.

Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple where all the Jews come together, and I said nothing in secret.

Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard what I said to them. Look, they know what I said.”

And when he had said this, one of the temple police standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that the way you answer the high priest?”

Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong, but if rightly, why do you strike me?”

Then Annas sent him, still tied up, to Caiaphas the high priest.

Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. Then they said to him, “Are you also one of his disciples?” He denied it, and said, “I am not.”

One of the servants of the high priest, being a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?”

Then Peter denied it again, and immediately the rooster crowed.

Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the governor’s headquarters (and it was early), and yet they themselves did not enter into the headquarters so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover.

So Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation are you bringing against this man?”

They answered and said to him, “If this man were not an evildoer, we would not have handed him over to you.”

Therefore 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.”

This happened with the result that the word that Jesus spoke was fulfilled, clearly indicating by what manner of death he was about to die.

So Pilate entered again into the governor’s headquarters and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

Jesus answered, “Are you asking this on your own, or did others say it to you about me?”

Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have 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, then my servants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews, but in fact, my kingdom is not from here.”

So Pilate said to him, “So are you a king?” Jesus answered, “You rightly say that I am a king. For this purpose I have been born, and for this purpose I have come into the world, that I should testify concerning the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.”

Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no guilt in him.

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?”

Then they cried out again, saying, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” (Now Barabbas was a revolutionary).