John 18:19-40 ▼

19 Then the chief priest questioned Jesus concerning his disciples and his teaching.

20 Jesus answered him: I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, where the Jews come together, and in secret I have spoken nothing.

21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard, what things I said to them. Behold, they know what I have said.

22 When he had spoken thus, one of the attendants, who was standing by, struck Jesus with his open hand, saying: Do you answer the chief priest thus?

23 Jesus answered him: If I have spoken evil, testify of the evil; but if well, why do you strike me?

24 Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the chief priest.

25 And Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. Then they said to him: Are not you also one of his disciples? He denied, and said: I am not.

26 One of the servants of the chief priest, who was a kinsman of him whose ear Peter had cut off, said: Did I not see you in the garden with him?

27 Then Peter denied again. And immediately the cock crew.

28 Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the governor's palace. It was the morning hour. And, in order that they might not be denied, but that they might eat the passover, they did not go into the governor's palace.

29 Then Pilate came out to them, and said: What accusation do you bring against this man?

30 They answered and said to him: If this man were not an evil-doer, we would not have delivered him to you.

31 Then Pilate said to them: Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law. Then the Jews said to him: It is not lawful for us to put any one to death;

32 that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spoke, signifying by what death he was about to die.

33 Then Pilate again entered the governor's palace, and called Jesus, and said to him: Are you the king of the Jews?

34 Jesus answered him: Do you say this of yourself, or did others speak to you of me?

35 Pilate answered: Am I a Jew? Your own nation, and the chief priests have delivered you to me; what have you 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 might not be delivered up to the Jews. But now my kingdom is not hence.

37 Then Pilate said to him: You are a king, then? Jesus answered; You say that I am a king. For this purpose was I born, and for this purpose I came into the world, that I might testify to the truth. Every one that is of the truth, hears my voice.

38 Pilate said to him: What is truth? And when he had said this, he again came out to the Jews, and said to them: I find no fault in him.

39 But you have a custom, that I release to you one during the passover. Are you willing, then, that I should release to you the king of the Jews?

40 They all, then, cried out, saying: Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.