John 18

1When Jesus had said these things, he went out with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. A garden was there, and he and his disciples went into it. 2Judas, who was betraying him, also knew the place, since Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3So Judas went there, bringing the detachment of soldiers and temple police sent by the chief priests and the Pharisees. They carried lanterns, torches and weapons. 4Jesus knew everything that was about to happen to him, so he went out to them and asked, “Who is it you are looking for?” 5They answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.” He said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who was betraying him, was standing there with them. 6When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they stepped backward and fell to the ground. 7So he asked them again, “Who is it you are looking for?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they said. 8Jesus replied, “I have told you that I am he. So if it is me you are looking for, let these men go.” 9This was so that his own word would be fulfilled: “I have not lost a single one of those you gave me.” 10Simon Peter had a sword. He pulled it out and struck the high priest’s servant, slicing off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. 11Then Jesus told Peter, “Put your sword back in its sheath! Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?” 12Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander, and the temple police sent by the Jewish leaders, arrested Jesus and tied him up. 13They took him first to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be better for one man to die for the people.

15Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple. That disciple was known to the high priest, and he went in with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard. 16But Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, the one known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman who kept the door, and brought Peter in. 17The servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” He said, “I am not.” 18The servants and the temple police had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing around it warming themselves. Peter was standing with them too, warming himself.

19Meanwhile the high priest began to question Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. 20Jesus answered, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple courts, where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. 21Why do you question me? Question those who heard what I said to them. Look, they know what I said.” 22When he had said this, one of the temple police who stood nearby slapped Jesus and said, “Is that the way you answer the high priest?” 23Jesus answered him, “If I said something wrong, then testify to what was wrong. But if I spoke rightly, why do you strike me?” 24Then Annas sent him on to Caiaphas the high priest, still bound.

25Meanwhile Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they said to him, “You are not one of his disciples too, 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, “Did I not see you with him in the garden?” 27Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster crowed.

28Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They did not go into the headquarters themselves, to avoid becoming ritually unclean, since they wanted to eat the Passover. 29So Pilate came outside to them and asked, “What charge are you making against this man?” 30They answered, “We would not have handed him over to you if this man were not a wrongdoer.” 31So Pilate told them, “You take him, then, and try him under your own law.” The Jewish leaders replied, “We are not permitted to execute anyone.” 32This was so that the word Jesus had spoken would be fulfilled, the word that showed what kind of death he was going to die.

33Then Pilate went back inside the headquarters. He called Jesus to him and asked, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34Jesus answered, “Are you asking this on your own, or have others told you about me?” 35Pilate answered, “Do you think I am a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests are the ones who handed you over to me. What have you done?” 36Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not come from this world. If it did, my servants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” 37Pilate said to him, “So you are a king after all?” Jesus answered, “You are the one who says that I am a king. I was born for this, and I came into the world for this: to testify to the truth. All who belong to the truth listen to my voice.” 38Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After saying this, he went back out to the Jewish leaders and told them, “I find no case against him. 39But you have a custom that I set one prisoner free for you at the Passover. So shall I set the King of the Jews free for you?” 40At that they shouted again, “Not this one! Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a bandit.