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BibleStudyIt John 18

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Soldiers take Jesus to the leader of the priests

18 When Jesus had finished praying, he and his disciples went out. They went across the Kidron valley. On the other side, there was a garden. Jesus and his disciples went into it. 2 Judas, who sold Jesus to his enemies, knew the garden. He knew the place because Jesus and his disciples had met there often. 3 The leaders of the priests and the Pharisees sent a group of soldiers and some officers with Judas. He led these soldiers and officers to the garden. [ a ] The soldiers had weapons and they carried lights.

4 Jesus knew everything that would soon happen to him. He went towards them and he asked them, ‘Who are you looking for?’ 5 They answered, ‘Jesus, who comes from Nazareth.’ Jesus said, ‘That is who I am.’

Judas, who sold Jesus to his enemies, was standing there with the soldiers. 6 When Jesus said the words, ‘I am,’ the soldiers quickly moved away from him. [ b ] They fell down to the ground. 7 So Jesus asked them again, ‘Who are you looking for?’ They said, ‘Jesus, who comes from Nazareth.’ 8 Jesus replied, ‘I have told you already, that is who I am. Since it is me that you are looking for, let these other men go.’ 9 Jesus said this because earlier he had said, ‘I have lost none of those people that you gave to me.’ This made what he had spoken earlier really happen.

10 Simon Peter had a sword. He took hold of it and he attacked the servant of the leader of the priests. He cut off the servant's right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. 11 Then Jesus said to Peter, ‘Put your sword away in its place! My Father has decided what great pain I must have. I will obey him completely.’

12 The group of soldiers, with their captain and the Jewish officers, took hold of Jesus. They tied him with ropes. 13 They led him first to Annas, who was the father of Caiaphas's wife. Caiaphas was the leader of the priests that year. 14 It was Caiaphas who had already spoken to the Jewish leaders. He had told them, ‘It is better that one man should die on behalf of the people.’ [ c ]

Peter says that he does not know Jesus

15 Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. That other disciple and the leader of the priests knew each other. So that disciple went with Jesus into the yard of the house of the leader of the priests. 16 But Peter stayed outside by the gate. Then the other disciple went out again. He spoke to the girl who was watching at the gate. Then he brought Peter into the yard. 17 The girl who was at the gate asked Peter, ‘Are you another of this man's disciples?’ Peter replied, ‘No, I am not!’

18 It was cold. So the servants and the officers had made a fire. They were standing around it to make themselves warm. Peter went to stand with them, so that he could make himself warm too.

The leader of the priests asks Jesus questions

19 The leader of the priests asked Jesus questions about his disciples. He also asked about what Jesus taught. 20 Jesus answered him, ‘I have always taught in the Jewish meeting places, or at the temple. Those are public places where all the Jews meet together. I have said nothing secretly. 21 So you do not need to ask me these questions. You can ask the people who heard me when I taught them. They know what I said.’

22 When Jesus said this, one of the soldiers hit him on the face. The soldier said, ‘You should not speak to the leader of the priests like that!’ 23 Jesus replied, ‘If I said something wrong, tell us what it is. But if I said something that is true, you should not have hit me.’ [ d ] 24 Then Annas sent Jesus to Caiaphas, the leader of the priests. [ e ] Jesus still had ropes tied round his arms.

Peter says again that he does not know Jesus

25 Simon Peter was still standing there by the fire to make himself warm. The other people there said to him, ‘You must also be one of that man's disciples.’ But Peter said, ‘No, I am not.’

26 One of the people there was a servant of the leader of the priests. He belonged to the same family as the man whose ear Peter had cut off. This servant said to Peter, ‘I am sure that I saw you in the garden with Jesus.’ 27 Again, Peter said, ‘No, that is not true.’ Immediately a cockerel sang.

Pilate asks Jesus questions

28 The Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas's house to the Roman ruler's big house. [ f ] It was early in the morning. The Jewish leaders wanted to follow the Jewish rules so that they could eat the Passover meal. They did not go into the ruler's house, because it would have made them unclean. [ g ]

29 So Pilate, the Roman ruler, went outside to meet them. He asked them, ‘What wrong thing do you say that this man has done?’ 30 They replied, ‘We would not have brought him to you if he had done nothing wrong.’ 31 Pilate said to them, ‘You yourselves take him away. You should judge him by your own laws.’ The Jewish leaders replied, ‘We do not have authority to kill anyone when they have done something bad.’ [ h ] 32 Jesus had already told people how he would die. These things happened to make his words become true. [ i ]

33 Pilate went back inside his palace. He told Jesus to come and stand in front of him. He asked Jesus, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ 34 Jesus said, ‘Is that your own idea, or have other people spoken to you about me?’ 35 Pilate replied, ‘I am not a Jew, am I? It was your own people and the leaders of your priests who brought you to me. What have you done?’

36 Jesus said, ‘My kingdom does not belong to this world. If it did, my disciples would have fought for me. They would have fought so that the Jewish leaders could not take hold of me. No, my kingdom belongs to another place.’ 37 Pilate said to him, ‘So that means you really are a king!’

Jesus answered, ‘You have said that I am a king! I was born for this reason: I came into the world to tell people the truth about God. Everyone who believes the truth listens to my message.’ 38 Pilate said, ‘I do not know what truth is.’

When Pilate had said that, he went outside again to the Jewish people there. He said to them, ‘I do not see that this man is guilty of anything wrong. I have no reason to punish him. 39 But every year we do something for you Jews. We let one man go free from the prison at the time of your Passover festival. Do you want me to let the king of the Jews go free?’ 40 They shouted their answer, ‘No, we do not want him! Let Barabbas go free!’ (Barabbas was a man who had attacked people and robbed them.)

Footnotes

  1. 18:3 The soldiers were Roman soldiers. The officers were Jews who may have worked like police at the temple.
  2. 18:6 The Jews used ‘I am’ as the name of God. When Jesus said, ‘I am,’ they would have recognized this name. He was saying that he is God.
  3. 18:14 See John 11:50 .
  4. 18:23 Jesus was not saying anything wrong. He was telling the leader of the priests to ask people who had heard him teach. This was the right thing to do. It was what the Jewish rules said.
  5. 18:24 Annas was the first leader of the priests and Caiaphas was the present leader.
  6. 18:28 During the time that Jesus lived on the earth, the Romans ruled over Israel. The Roman ruler (Pilate) lived and worked in a special house. It was called the Praetorium. It had a big yard inside, where people waited to see the ruler.
  7. 18:28 The Jews had special rules about who could go to their festivals. They had to keep themselves clean and ready to worship God. So they could not go into the houses of people who did not believe in God. If the Jewish leaders had gone into Pilate's house, they would not have been clean for the Passover.
  8. 18:31 The Jewish leaders wanted to kill Jesus. But the Romans did not let them kill anyone. Only the Roman ruler could cause his soldiers to do that.
  9. 18:32 The Romans fixed a person onto a big cross of wood to kill him. Then they let the person hang there until he died. Jesus had said that people would ‘lift him up’. This is what he meant. And when Jesus said something, it had to happen.

Jesus Is Arrested ( A )

18 When Jesus finished praying, he left with his followers and went across the Kidron Valley. He went into a garden there, his followers still with him.

2 Judas, the one responsible for handing Jesus over, knew where this place was. He knew because Jesus often met there with his followers. 3 So Judas led a group of soldiers to the garden, along with some guards from the leading priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns, and weapons.

4 Jesus already knew everything that would happen to him. So he went out and asked them, “Who are you looking for?”

5 They answered, “Jesus from Nazareth.”

He said, “I am Jesus.” [ a ] (Judas, the one responsible for handing Jesus over, was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “I am Jesus,” the men moved back and fell to the ground.

7 He asked them again, “Who are you looking for?”

They said, “Jesus from Nazareth.”

8 Jesus said, “I told you that I am Jesus. So if you are looking for me, let these other men go free.” 9 This was to show the truth of what Jesus said earlier: “I have not lost anyone you gave me.”

10 Simon Peter had a sword, which he pulled out. He struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) 11 Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back in its place! I must drink from the cup [ b ] the Father has given me.”

Jesus Is Brought Before Annas ( B )

12 Then the soldiers with their commander and the Jewish guards arrested Jesus. They tied him 13 and brought him to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas. Caiaphas was the high priest that year. 14 He was also the one who had told the other Jewish leaders that it would be better if one man died for all the people.

Peter Lies About Knowing Jesus ( C )

15 Simon Peter and another one of Jesus’ followers went with Jesus. This follower knew the high priest. So he went with Jesus into the yard of the high priest’s house. 16 But Peter waited outside near the door. The follower who knew the high priest came back outside and spoke to the gatekeeper. Then he brought Peter inside. 17 The girl at the gate said to Peter, “Are you also one of the followers of that man?”

Peter answered, “No, I am not!”

18 It was cold, so the servants and guards had built a fire. They were standing around it, warming themselves, and Peter was standing with them.

The High Priest Questions Jesus ( D )

19 The high priest asked Jesus questions about his followers and what he taught them. 20 Jesus answered, “I have always spoken openly to all people. I always taught in the synagogues and in the Temple area. All the Jews come together there. I never said anything in secret. 21 So why do you question me? Ask the people who heard my teaching. They know what I said.”

22 When Jesus said this, one of the guards standing there hit him. The guard said, “You should not talk to the high priest like that!”

23 Jesus answered, “If I said something wrong, tell everyone here what was wrong. But if what I said is right, then why do you hit me?”

24 So Annas sent Jesus to Caiaphas the high priest. He was still tied.

Peter Lies Again ( E )

25 Simon Peter was standing at the fire, keeping himself warm. The other people said to Peter, “Aren’t you one of the followers of that man?”

Peter denied it. He said, “No, I am not.”

26 One of the servants of the high priest was there. He was a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off. The servant said, “I think I saw you with him in the garden!”

27 But again Peter said, “No, I was not with him!” As soon as he said this, a rooster crowed.

Jesus Is Brought Before Pilate ( F )

28 Then the guards took Jesus from Caiaphas’ house to the Roman governor’s palace. It was early in the morning. The Jews there would not go inside the palace. They did not want to make themselves unclean, [ c ] because they wanted to eat the Passover meal. 29 So Pilate went outside to them and asked, “What do you say this man has done wrong?”

30 They answered, “He is a bad man. That is why we brought him to you.”

31 Pilate said to them, “You take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.”

The Jewish leaders answered, “But your law does not allow us to punish anyone by killing them.” 32 (This was to show the truth of what Jesus said about how he would die.)

33 Then Pilate went back inside the palace. He called for Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

34 Jesus said, “Is that your own question, or did other people tell you about me?”

35 Pilate said, “I’m not a Jew! It was your own people and their leading priests who brought you before me. What have you done wrong?”

36 Jesus said, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If it did, my servants would fight so that I would not be handed over to the Jewish leaders. No, my kingdom is not an earthly one.”

37 Pilate said, “So you are a king.”

Jesus answered, “You are right to say that I am a king. I was born for this: to tell people about the truth. That is why I came into the world. And everyone who belongs to the truth listens to me.”

38 Pilate said, “What is truth?” Then he went out to the Jewish leaders again and said to them, “I can find nothing against this man. 39 But it is one of your customs for me to free one prisoner to you at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to free this ‘king of the Jews’?”

40 They shouted back, “No, not him! Let Barabbas go free!” (Barabbas was a rebel.)

Footnotes

  1. John 18:5 “I am Jesus” Literally, “I am,” which could have the same meaning here that it has in 8:24, 28, 58; 13:19. Also in verse 8.
  2. John 18:11 cup A symbol of suffering. Jesus used the idea of drinking from a cup to mean accepting the suffering he would face in the terrible events that were soon to come.
  3. John 18:28 unclean Going into a non-Jewish place would ruin the special cleansing the Jews did to make themselves fit for worship. See Jn. 11:55.

18 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 And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.

3 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 therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?

5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.

6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.

7 Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.

8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:

9 That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.

10 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 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 and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him,

13 And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.

14 Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

15 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 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 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 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 The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.

20 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 askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.

22 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 answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?

24 Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.

25 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 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 then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.

28 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 Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?

30 They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.

31 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 That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.

33 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?

34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?

35 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 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 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 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 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 Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.

Judas Betrays Jesus

18 When Jesus had spoken these words, ( A ) He went away with His disciples across ( B ) the [ a ] ravine of the Kidron, where there was ( C ) a garden which He entered [ b ] with His disciples. 2 Now Judas, who was [ c ] betraying Him, also knew the place, because Jesus had ( D ) often met there with His disciples. 3 ( E ) So Judas, having obtained ( F ) the Roman [ d ] cohort and ( G ) officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, *came there with lanterns, ( H ) torches, and weapons. 4 Jesus therefore, ( I ) knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, came out into the open and *said to them, “ ( J ) Whom are you seeking?” 5 They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He *said to them, “I am He .” And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them. 6 Now then, when He said to them, “I am He ,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 He then asked them again, “ ( K ) Whom are you seeking?” And they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.” 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am He ; so if you are seeking Me, let these men go on their way.” 9 This took place so that the word which He spoke would be fulfilled: “ ( L ) Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one.” 10 Then Simon Peter, ( M ) since he had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave’s name was Malchus. 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put the sword into the sheath; ( N ) the cup which the Father has given Me, am I not to drink it?”

Jesus before the Priests

12 ( O ) So ( P ) the Roman [ e ] cohort, the [ f ] commander, and the ( Q ) officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him, 13 and brought Him to ( R ) Annas first; for he was the father-in-law of ( S ) Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14 Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that ( T ) it was in their best interest for one man to die in behalf of the people.

15 ( U ) Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and he entered with Jesus into ( V ) the courtyard of the high priest, 16 ( W ) but Peter was standing at the door outside. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in. 17 ( X ) Then the slave woman who was the doorkeeper *said to Peter, “ ( Y ) You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?” He *said, “I am not.” 18 Now the slaves and the ( Z ) officers were standing there , having made ( AA ) a charcoal fire, for it was cold and they were ( AB ) warming themselves; and Peter was also with them, standing and warming himself.

19 ( AC ) The high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching. 20 Jesus answered him, “I ( AD ) have spoken openly to the world; I always ( AE ) taught in [ g ] synagogues and ( AF ) in the temple area , where all the Jews congregate; and I said nothing in secret. 21 Why are you asking Me? Ask those who have heard what I spoke to them. Look: these people know what I said.” 22 But when He said this, one of the ( AG ) officers, who was standing nearby, ( AH ) struck Jesus, saying, “Is that the way You answer the high priest?” 23 ( AI ) Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?” 24 ( AJ ) So Annas sent Him bound to ( AK ) Caiaphas the high priest.

Peter’s Denial of Jesus

25 ( AL ) Now ( AM ) Simon Peter was still standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “ ( AN ) You are not one of His disciples as well, are you?” He denied it , and said, “I am not.” 26 One of the slaves of the high priest, who was related to the one ( AO ) whose ear Peter cut off, *said, “Did I not see you in ( AP ) the garden with Him?” 27 Peter then denied it again, and immediately ( AQ ) a rooster crowed.

Jesus before Pilate

28 ( AR ) Then they *brought Jesus from ( AS ) Caiaphas into ( AT ) the [ h ] Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter ( AU ) the [ i ] Praetorium, so that ( AV ) they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover. 29 ( AW ) Therefore Pilate came out to them and *said, “What accusation are you bringing against this Man?” 30 They answered and said to him, “If this Man were not [ j ] a criminal, we would not have handed Him over to you.” 31 So Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law.” The Jews said to him, “We are not [ k ] permitted to put anyone to death.” 32 This happened so that ( AX ) the word of Jesus which He said, indicating what kind of death He was going to die, would be fulfilled.

33 Therefore Pilate ( AY ) entered the Praetorium again, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, “ ( AZ ) You are the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Are you saying this [ l ] on your own, or did others tell you about Me?” 35 Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed You over to me; what have You done?” 36 Jesus answered, “ ( BA ) My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not [ m ] of this realm.” 37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “ ( BB ) You say correctly that I am a king. For this purpose I have been born, and for this I have come into the world: ( BC ) to testify to the truth. ( BD ) Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.” 38 Pilate *said to Him, “What is truth?”

And after saying this, he ( BE ) came out again to the Jews and *said to them, “ ( BF ) I find no grounds at all for charges in [ n ] His case. 39 ( BG ) However, you have a custom that I release one prisoner [ o ] for you at the Passover; therefore do you wish that I release [ p ] for you the King of the Jews?” 40 So they shouted again, saying, “ ( BH ) Not this Man, but Barabbas.” Now Barabbas was a rebel.

Footnotes

  1. John 18:1 Lit winter torrent ; or wadi
  2. John 18:1 Lit and
  3. John 18:2 Or handing Him over
  4. John 18:3 Normally 600 men (the number varied)
  5. John 18:12 Normally 600 men (the number varied)
  6. John 18:12 I.e., commander of the cohort
  7. John 18:20 Lit a synagogue
  8. John 18:28 I.e., governor’s official residence
  9. John 18:28 I.e., governor’s official residence
  10. John 18:30 Lit one doing evil
  11. John 18:31 I.e., under Roman law
  12. John 18:34 Lit from yourself
  13. John 18:36 Lit from here
  14. John 18:38 Lit Him
  15. John 18:39 Or to you
  16. John 18:39 Or to you

Jesus Arrested ( A )

18 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. ( B ) On the other side there was a garden, ( C ) and he and his disciples went into it. ( D )

2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. ( E ) 3 So Judas came to the garden, guiding ( F ) a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. ( G ) They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.

4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, ( H ) went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” ( I )

5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” ( J ) they replied.

“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

7 Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?” ( K )

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.

8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.” [ a ] ( L )

10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)

11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup ( M ) the Father has given me?”

12 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials ( N ) arrested Jesus. They bound him 13 and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, ( O ) the high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people. ( P )

Peter’s First Denial ( Q )

15 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, ( R ) he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, ( S ) 16 but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in.

17 “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter.

He replied, “I am not.” ( T )

18 It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire ( U ) they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself. ( V )

The High Priest Questions Jesus ( W )

19 Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.

20 “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues ( X ) or at the temple, ( Y ) where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. ( Z ) 21 Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”

22 When Jesus said this, one of the officials ( AA ) nearby slapped him in the face. ( AB ) “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.

23 “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” ( AC ) 24 Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas ( AD ) the high priest.

Peter’s Second and Third Denials ( AE )

25 Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. ( AF ) So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?”

He denied it, saying, “I am not.” ( AG )

26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, ( AH ) challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” ( AI ) 27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow. ( AJ )

Jesus Before Pilate ( AK )

28 Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. ( AL ) By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, ( AM ) because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. ( AN ) 29 So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?”

30 “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.”

31 Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.”

“But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. 32 This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die. ( AO )

33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, ( AP ) summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” ( AQ )

34 “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”

35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”

36 Jesus said, “My kingdom ( AR ) is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. ( AS ) But now my kingdom is from another place.” ( AT )

37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. ( AU ) Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” ( AV )

38 “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. ( AW ) 39 But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?”

40 They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising. ( AX )

Footnotes

  1. John 18:9 John 6:39
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