John 18
1 After saying these things, Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden; he and his disciples entered it.
2 Judas, who was betraying him, also knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples.
3 So Judas arrived there with a cohort and guards from the chief priests and Pharisees, carrying lanterns, torches, and weapons.
4 Jesus, knowing everything that was going to happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Who are you looking for?”
5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” He said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who was betraying him, was also standing there with them.
6 When he said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
7 So he asked them again, “Who are you looking for?” They said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these others go.”
9 This was to fulfill the word he had spoken: “I have not lost any of those you gave me.”
10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
11 Jesus said to Peter, “Put the sword back in its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup the Father has given me?”
12 Then the cohort, the commander, and the Jewish guards arrested Jesus and bound him.
13 They took him first to Annas, because he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.
14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was better for one man to die for the people.
15 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. That disciple was known to the high priest, and he went in with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard.
16 Peter, however, stayed outside by the door. So the other disciple, the one known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman at the gate, and brought Peter in.
17 The servant girl who was the gatekeeper said to Peter, “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” He said, “I am not.”
18 The servants and guards had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were standing around it, warming themselves. Peter was also with them, standing and warming himself.
19 Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.
20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in the synagogue and in the temple, where all the Jews gather, and I have said nothing in secret.
21 Why are you questioning me? Ask those who heard what I said to them. Look, they know what I said.”
22 When he said this, one of the guards standing there struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?”
23 Jesus answered him, “If I spoke wrongly, testify about what was wrong. But if I spoke well, why do you strike me?”
24 Then Annas sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest.
25 Simon Peter was standing there, warming himself. So they said to him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?” 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, said, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?”
27 Peter denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed.
28 Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They did not enter the headquarters, so they would not be defiled but could eat the Passover.
29 So Pilate came out to them and said, “What charge are you bringing against this man?”
30 They answered him, “If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.”
31 Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.” The Jews said to him, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death.”
32 This was to fulfill the word Jesus had spoken, indicating the kind of death he was going to die.
33 Then Pilate went back into the governor’s headquarters, summoned Jesus, and said to him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
34 Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own, or have others told you about me?”
35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own people and the chief priests 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 guards would fight so that I would not be handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.”
37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. I was born for this, and I came into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to 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 fault in him.
39 But you have a custom that I release someone to you at Passover. So, do you want me to release the king of the Jews to you?”
40 Then they shouted again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Barabbas was a robber.
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