< John 18 >

1 After Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples across the Kidron Valley, where they entered a garden.
When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.
2 Now Judas His betrayer also knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with His disciples.
And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.
3 So Judas brought a band of soldiers and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees. They arrived at the garden carrying lanterns, torches, and weapons.
Judas then, having received a band [of men] and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.
4 Jesus, knowing all that was coming upon Him, stepped forward and asked them, “Whom are you seeking?”
Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?
5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. Jesus said, “I am He.” And Judas His betrayer was standing there with them.
They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am [he]. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.
6 When Jesus said, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
As soon then as he had said unto them, I am [he], they went backward, and fell to the ground.
7 So He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered.
Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.
8 “I told you that I am He,” Jesus replied. “So if you are looking for Me, let these men go.”
Jesus answered, I have told you that I am [he]: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:
9 This was to fulfill the word He had spoken: “I have not lost one of those You have given Me.”
That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.
10 Then Simon Peter drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
11 “Put your sword back in its sheath!” Jesus said to Peter. “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given Me?”
Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
12 Then the band of soldiers, with its commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him.
Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him,
13 They brought Him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year.
And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.
14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be better if one man died for the people.
Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.
15 Now Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he also went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest.
And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and [so did] another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.
16 But Peter stood outside at the door. Then the disciple who was known to the high priest went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in.
But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.
17 At this, the servant girl watching the door said to Peter, “Aren’t you also one of this man’s disciples?” “I am not,” he answered.
Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also [one] of this man’s disciples? He saith, I am not.
18 Because it was cold, the servants and officers were standing around a charcoal fire they had made to keep warm. And Peter was also standing with them, warming himself.
And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.
19 Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and His teaching.
The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.
20 “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus answered. “I always taught in the synagogues and at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.
Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.
21 Why are you asking Me? Ask those who heard My message. Surely they know what I said.”
Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.
22 When Jesus had said this, one of the officers standing nearby slapped Him in the face and said, “Is this how You answer the high priest?”
And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?
23 Jesus replied, “If I said something wrong, testify as to what was wrong. But if I spoke correctly, why did you strike Me?”
Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?
24 Then Annas sent Him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest.
Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.
25 Simon Peter was still standing and warming himself. So they asked him, “Aren’t you also one of His disciples?” He denied it and said, “I am not.”
And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also [one] of his disciples? He denied [it], and said, I am not.
26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Didn’t I see you with Him in the garden?”
One of the servants of the high priest, being [his] kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?
27 Peter denied it once more, and immediately a rooster crowed.
Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.
28 Then they led Jesus away from Caiaphas into the Praetorium. By now it was early morning, and the Jews did not enter the Praetorium, to avoid being defiled and unable to eat the Passover.
Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.
29 So Pilate went out to them and asked, “What accusation are you bringing against this man?”
Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?
30 “If He were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed Him over to you.”
They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.
31 “You take Him and judge Him by your own law,” Pilate told them. “We are not permitted to execute anyone,” the Jews replied.
Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:
32 This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to indicate the kind of death He was going to die.
That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.
33 Pilate went back into the Praetorium, summoned Jesus, and asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?
34 “Are you saying this on your own,” Jesus asked, “or did others tell you about Me?”
Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?
35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed You over to me. What have You done?”
Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm.”
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
37 “Then You are a king!” Pilate said. “You say that I am a king,” Jesus answered. “For this reason I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice.”
Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
38 “What is truth?” Pilate asked. And having said this, he went out again to the Jews and told them, “I find no basis for a charge against Him.
Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault [at all].
39 But it is your custom that I release to you one prisoner at the Passover. So then, do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”
But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
40 “Not this man,” they shouted, “but Barabbas!” (Now Barabbas was an insurrectionist.)
Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.

< John 18 >