John 18:1-30 ▼

1 After Jesus had said all of this, he went with his disciples across the Kidron valley to a place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered.

2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples.

3 So Judas took a detachment of soldiers and some officers from the high priests and the Pharisees and went there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.

4 Then Jesus, knowing everything that was going to happen, went forward and asked them, |Who are you looking for?|

5 They answered him, |Jesus from Nazareth.| Jesus told them, |I AM.| Judas, the man who betrayed him, was standing with them.

6 When Jesus told them, |I AM,| they backed away and fell to the ground.

7 So he asked them again, |Who are you looking for?| They said, |Jesus from Nazareth.|

8 Jesus replied, |I told you that I am the one, so if you are looking for me, let these men go.|

9 This was to fulfill what he had said, |I did not lose a single one of those you gave me.|

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 told Peter, |Put your sword back into its sheath. Shouldn't I drink the cup that the Father has given me?|

12 Then the soldiers, along with their commander and the Jewish officers, arrested Jesus and tied him up.

13 First they brought him to Annas, because he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year.

14 Caiaphas was the person who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one man die for the people.

15 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Since the other disciple was known to the high priest, he accompanied Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest.

16 Peter, however, stood outside the gate. So this other disciple who was known to the high priest went out and spoke to the gatekeeper and brought Peter inside.

17 The young woman at the gate asked Peter, |You aren't one of this man's disciples, too, are you?| |I am not,| he replied.

18 Meanwhile, the servants and officers were standing around a charcoal fire they had built and were warming themselves because it was cold. Peter was also standing with them, keeping himself warm.

19 Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his own teaching.

20 Jesus answered him, |I have spoken publicly to the world. I have always taught in the synagogue or in the Temple, where all Jews meet together, and I have said nothing in secret.

21 Why do you question me? Question those who heard what I said. These are the people who know what I said.|

22 When he said this, one of the officers standing nearby slapped Jesus on the face and demanded, |Is that any way to answer the high priest?|

23 Jesus answered him, |If I have said anything wrong, tell me what it was. But if I have told the truth, why do you hit me?|

24 Then Annas sent him, with his hands tied, to Caiaphas the high priest.

25 Meanwhile, Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. Some people asked him, |You aren't one of his disciples, too, are you?| He denied it by saying, |I am not!|

26 Then one of the high priest's servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, |I saw you in the garden with Jesus, didn't I?|

27 Peter again denied it, and immediately a rooster crowed.

28 Then Jesus was led from Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters early in the morning. The Jews did not go into the headquarters, to avoid becoming unclean and unable to eat the Passover meal.

29 So Pilate came out to them and asked, |What accusation are you bringing against this man?|

30 They answered him, |If he weren't a criminal, we wouldn't have handed him over to you.|