John 18:3-40

31So Judas, having obtained 2the Roman 3cohort and 4officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns, 5torches, and weapons. 4Jesus therefore, 6knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, came out into the open and said to them, “7Whom are you seeking?” 5They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He said to them, “I am He.” And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them. 6Now then, when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7He then asked them again, “8Whom are you seeking?” And they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.” 8Jesus answered, “I told you that I am He; so if you are seeking Me, let these men go on their way.” 9This took place so that the word which He spoke would be fulfilled: “9Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one.” 10Then Simon Peter, 10since he had 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, am I not to drink it?”

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

1520Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and he entered with Jesus into 21the courtyard 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 woman who was the doorkeeper 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 area, where all the Jews congregate; and I said nothing in secret. 21Why are you asking Me? Ask those who have heard what I spoke to them. Look: these people know what I said.” 22But when He said this, one of the 33officers, who was 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 still standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “40You 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 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 brought Jesus from 45Caiaphas into 46the 47Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter 48the 49Praetorium, so that 50they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover. 2951Therefore 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 52a 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 53permitted to put anyone to death.” 32This happened so that 54the word of Jesus which He said, indicating what kind of death He was going to die, would be fulfilled.

33Therefore Pilate 55entered the Praetorium again, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, “56You are the King of the Jews?” 34Jesus answered, “Are you saying this 57on 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, “58My 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 59of this realm.” 37Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “60You say correctly that I am a king. For this purpose I have been born, and for this I have come into the world: 61to testify to the truth. 62Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.” 38Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?”

And after saying this, he 63came out again to the Jews and said to them, “64I find no grounds at all for charges in 65His case. 3966However, you have a custom that I release one prisoner 67for you at the Passover; therefore do you wish that I release 68for you the King of the Jews?” 40So they shouted again, saying, “69Not this Man, but Barabbas.” Now Barabbas was a rebel.