John 18:13-28

13and took him first to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas. Caiaphas, the chief priest that year,

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

15Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. The other disciple was well-known to the chief priest. So that disciple went with Jesus into the chief priest’s courtyard.

16Peter, however, was standing outside the gate. The other disciple talked to the woman who was the gatekeeper and brought Peter into the courtyard.

17The gatekeeper asked Peter, “Aren’t you one of this man’s disciples too?” Peter answered, “No, I’m not!”

18The servants and the guards were standing around a fire they had built and were warming themselves because it was cold. Peter was standing there, too, and warming himself with the others.

19The chief priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teachings.

20Jesus answered him, “I have spoken publicly for everyone to hear. I have always taught in synagogues or in the temple courtyard, where all the Jews gather. I haven’t said anything in secret.

21Why do you question me? Question those who heard what I said to them. They know what I’ve said.”

22When Jesus said this, one of the guards standing near Jesus slapped his face and said, “Is that how you answer the chief priest?”

23Jesus replied to him, “If I’ve said anything wrong, tell me what it was. But if I’ve told the truth, why do you hit me?”

24Annas sent Jesus to Caiaphas, the chief priest. Jesus was still tied up.

25Simon Peter continued to stand and warm himself by the fire. Some men asked him, “Aren’t you, too, one of his disciples?” Peter denied it by saying, “No, I’m not!”

26One of the chief priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked him, “Didn’t I see you with Jesus in the garden?”

27Peter again denied it, and just then a rooster crowed.

28Early in the morning, Jesus was taken from Caiaphas’ house to the governor’s palace. The Jews wouldn’t go into the palace. They didn’t want to become unclean, since they wanted to eat the Passover.