João 18

¹ WHEN Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron to a place where there was a garden. Into this he entered with his disciples.

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

³ So Judas, getting a battalion of soldiers and some subordinate officers of the high priests and the Pharisees, came there with torches and lamps and weapons.

⁴ Jesus, knowing all things that were coming upon him, came forward and said to them, "Whom are you seeking?"

⁵ They answered him, "Jesus the Nazarene." He said to them, "I am he." Judas the traitor was standing with them.

⁶ When he said to them, "I am he," they moved backward and fell to the ground.

⁷ Again he questioned them, "Whom are you seeking?" They said, "Jesus the Nazarene."

⁸ Jesus answered, "I have told you that I am he. If then you are seeking for me, let these go."

⁹ He said this that the word might be fulfilled which he had spoken, "Of those whom thou hast given me I have lost none."

¹⁰ Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck a servant of the High Priest, cutting off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.

¹¹ Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into its sheath. The cup that my Father has given me '97 shall I not drink it?"

¹² So the battalion and the Tribune and the Jewish policemen arrested Jesus and bound him

¹³ and took him first to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was High Priest that year.

¹⁴ Caiaphas was the man who had advised the Jews that it was best that one man should die for the people.

¹⁵ Simon 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 court of the High Priest.

¹⁶ Peter stood by the gate outside. The other disciple, who was known to the High Priest, went out and spoke to the girl at the door and brought in Peter.

¹⁷ The girl at the door said to Peter, "You are not one of this man's disciples, too, are you?" He said, "I am not."

¹⁸ The servants and policemen were standing there. They had made a fire, for it was cold, and were warming themselves. Peter was with them, standing and warming himself.

¹⁹ The High Priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.

²⁰ Jesus answered him, "I have spoken frankly to the world. I constantly taught in synagogues and in the Temple courts where all the Jews assemble, and I have spoken nothing in secret.

²¹ Why do you question me? Question my hearers what I said to them. Certainly they know what I said."

²² When he said this, a policeman, who was standing by, gave Jesus a slap, saying, "Do you answer the High Priest that way?"

²³ Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken wrongly, bear witness against me of the wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?"

²⁴ Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the High Priest.

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

²⁶ One of the servants of the High Priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, "Did I not see you in the garden with him?"

²⁷ Again Peter denied, and immediately a cock crowed.

²⁸ They led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Castle. It was early morning. The Jews did not enter the Castle, wishing to avoid defilement, so that they might eat the Passover.

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

³⁰ They answered, "If he were not an evil-doer, we should not have handed him over to you."

³¹ Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your law." The Jews said to him, "It is not lawful for us to put any one to death."

³² They said this that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled '97 the word he had spoken indicating by what death he was to die.

³³ Pilate entered the Castle again and called Jesus and said to him, "Are you the King of the Jews?"

³⁴ Jesus answered, "Do you say this of yourself or did others tell you about me?"

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

³⁶ Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my subordinates would be fighting to prevent my being delivered up to the Jews. But now my kingdom is not from here."

³⁷ Pilate said to him, "Are you not a king then?" Jesus answered, "I am a king, as you say. For this I was born and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth listens to my voice."

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

³⁹ But you have a custom that I should release for you one at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?"

⁴⁰ They shouted again, saying, "Not this man, but Barabbas!" Barabbas was a robber.