John 18:22-40

22But when He said this, one of the 1officers, who was standing nearby, 2struck Jesus, saying, “Is that the way You answer the high priest?” 233Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?” 244So Annas sent Him bound to 5Caiaphas the high priest.

256Now 7Simon Peter was still standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “8You are not one of His disciples as well, are you?” He denied it, and said, “I am not.” 26One of the slaves of the high priest, who was related to the one 9whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in 10the garden with Him?” 27Peter then denied it again, and immediately 11a rooster crowed.

2812Then they brought Jesus from 13Caiaphas into 14the 15Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter 16the 17Praetorium, so that 18they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover. 2919Therefore Pilate came out to them and said, “What accusation are you bringing against this Man?” 30They answered and said to him, “If this Man were not 20a criminal, we would not have handed Him over 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 21permitted to put anyone to death.” 32This happened so that 22the word of Jesus which He said, indicating what kind of death He was going to die, would be fulfilled.

33Therefore Pilate 23entered the Praetorium again, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, “24You are the King of the Jews?” 34Jesus answered, “Are you saying this 25on your own, or did others tell you about Me?” 35Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed You over to me; what have You done?” 36Jesus answered, “26My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not 27of this realm.” 37Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “28You say correctly that I am a king. For this purpose I have been born, and for this I have come into the world: 29to testify to the truth. 30Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.” 38Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?”

And after saying this, he 31came out again to the Jews and said to them, “32I find no grounds at all for charges in 33His case. 3934However, you have a custom that I release one prisoner 35for you at the Passover; therefore do you wish that I release 36for you the King of the Jews?” 40So they shouted again, saying, “37Not this Man, but Barabbas.” Now Barabbas was a rebel.