John 18
1After Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the ravine of the brook Kidron, to where there was a garden, which he himself and his disciples entered.
2Now Judas, who was betraying him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples.
3So Judas, having received the Roman cohort and also temple police from the chief priests and the Pharisees, arrived there with lanterns and torches and weapons.
4So Jesus, knowing everything that was about to happen to him, went out and said to them, “Who are you looking for?”
5They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he” (and Judas also, who was betraying him, was standing with them).
6Then, when he said to them, “I am he,” they went backward and fell to the ground.
7Therefore he asked them again, “Who are you looking for?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
8Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go,”
9(he said this with the result that the word he had spoken was fulfilled: ‘Of those whom you have given me I did not lose one.’)
10Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. Now the servant’s name was Malchus.
11Then Jesus said to Peter, “Put the sword into the sheath! Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given to me?
12Then the Roman cohort and the commander, and the temple police of the Jews, seized Jesus and bound him.
13And they led him to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law to Caiaphas, who was high priest that year
14(now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was advantageous for one man to die instead of the People).
15And Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest and entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest,
16but Peter was standing outside at the gate. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the woman who kept the gate and brought in Peter.
17Then the servant girl who kept the gate said to Peter, “You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.”
18Now the servants and the temple guard were standing there, having made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were warming themselves. And Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.
19Then the high priest asked Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching.
20Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple where all the Jews come together, and I said nothing in secret.
21Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard what I said to them. Look, they know what I said.”
22And when he had said this, one of the temple police standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that the way you answer the high priest?”
23Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong, but if rightly, why do you strike me?”
24Then Annas sent him, still tied up, to Caiaphas the high priest.
25Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. Then they said to him, “Are you also one of his disciples?” He denied it, and said, “I am not.”
26One of the servants of the high priest, being a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?”
27Then Peter denied it again, and immediately the rooster crowed.
28Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the governor’s headquarters (and it was early), and yet they themselves did not enter into the headquarters so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover.
29So Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation are you bringing against this man?”
30They answered and said to him, “If this man were not an evildoer, we would not have handed him over to you.”
31Therefore Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.”
32This happened with the result that the word that Jesus spoke was fulfilled, clearly indicating by what manner of death he was about to die.
33So Pilate entered again into the governor’s headquarters and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
34Jesus answered, “Are you asking this on your own, or did others say it to you about me?”
35Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?”
36Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then my servants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews, but in fact, my kingdom is not from here.”
37So Pilate said to him, “So are you a king?” Jesus answered, “You rightly say that I am a king. For this purpose I have been born, and for this purpose I have come into the world, that I should testify concerning the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.”
38Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no guilt in him.
39But you have a custom, that I release one man to you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?”
40Then they cried out again, saying, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” (Now Barabbas was a revolutionary).