John 18:3-40

31Judas then, having received 2the Roman 3cohort and 4officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and 5torches and weapons. 4So Jesus, 6knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to them, “7Whom do you seek?” 5They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He said to them, “I am He.” And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them. 6So when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7Therefore He again asked them, “8Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.” 8Jesus answered, “I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way,” 9to fulfill the word which He spoke, “9Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one.” 10Simon Peter then, 10having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave’s name was Malchus. 11So Jesus said to Peter, “Put the sword into the sheath; 11the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?”

1212So 13the Roman 14cohort and the 15commander and the 16officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him, 13and led Him to 17Annas first; for he was father-in-law of 18Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that 19it was expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people.

1520Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered with Jesus into 21the court of the high priest, 1622but 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. 1723Then the slave-girl who kept the door said to Peter, “24You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” 18Now the slaves and the 25officers were standing there, having made 26a charcoal fire, for it was cold and they were 27warming themselves; and Peter was also with them, standing and warming himself.

1928The high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching. 20Jesus answered him, “I 29have spoken openly to the world; I always 30taught in 31synagogues and 32in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret. 21Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; they know what I said.” 22When He had said this, one of the 33officers standing nearby 34struck Jesus, saying, “Is that the way You answer the high priest?” 2335Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?” 2436So Annas sent Him bound to 37Caiaphas the high priest.

2538Now 39Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “40You are not also one of His disciples, are you?” He denied it, and said, “I am not.” 26One of the slaves of the high priest, being a relative of the one 41whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in 42the garden with Him?” 27Peter then denied it again, and immediately 43a rooster crowed.

2844Then they led Jesus from 45Caiaphas into 46the 47Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter into 48the 49Praetorium so that 50they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover. 2951Therefore Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?” 30They answered and said to him, “If this Man were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him to you.” 31So Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law.” The Jews said to him, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death,” 32to fulfill 52the word of Jesus which He spoke, signifying by what kind of death He was about to die.

33Therefore Pilate 53entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, “54Are You the King of the Jews?” 34Jesus answered, “Are you saying this 55on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?” 35Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?” 36Jesus answered, “56My kingdom 57is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not 58of this realm.” 37Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “59You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, 60to testify to the truth. 61Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” 38Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?”

And when he had said this, he 62went out again to the Jews and said to them, “63I find no guilt in Him. 3964But you have a custom that I release someone 65for you at the Passover; do you wish then that I release 66for you the King of the Jews?” 40So they cried out again, saying, “67Not this Man, but Barabbas.” Now Barabbas was a robber.