John 18

1 After Jesus had said all of this, he went with his disciples across the Kidron valley to a place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered.ISV — John 18:1

2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples.ISV — John 18:2

3 So Judas took a detachment of soldiers and some officers from the high priests and the Pharisees and went there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.ISV — John 18:3

4 Then Jesus, knowing everything that was going to happen, went forward and asked them, “Who are you looking for?”ISV — John 18:4

5 They answered him, “Jesus from Nazareth.” ^{a18:5 Or Jesus the Nazarene; the Gk. Nazoraios may be a word play between Heb. netser, meaning branch (cf. Isa 11:1), and the name Nazareth.} Jesus told them, “I AM.” Judas, the man who betrayed him, was standing with them.ISV — John 18:5

6 When Jesus ^{b18:6 Lit. he} told them, “I AM,” they backed away and fell to the ground.ISV — John 18:6

7 So he asked them again, “Who are you looking for?” They said, “Jesus from Nazareth.” ^{c18:7 Or Jesus the Nazarene; the Gk. Nazoraios may be a word play between Heb. netser, meaning branch (cf. Isa 11:1), and the name Nazareth.}ISV — John 18:7

8 Jesus replied, “I told you that I am the one, ^{d18:8 The Gk. lacks the one} so if you are looking for me, let these men go.”ISV — John 18:8

9 This was to fulfill what he had said, “I did not lose a single one of those you gave me.” ^{e18:9 Cf. John 17:12}ISV — John 18:9

10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.ISV — John 18:10

11 Jesus told Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Shouldn’t I drink the cup that the Father has given me?” ( ; ; )ISV — John 18:11

12 Then the soldiers, along with their commander and the Jewish officers, arrested Jesus and tied him up.ISV — John 18:12

13 First they brought him to Annas, because he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year.ISV — John 18:13

14 Caiaphas was the person who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one man die for the people. ( ; ; )ISV — John 18:14

15 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Since the other disciple was known to the high priest, he accompanied Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest.ISV — John 18:15

16 Peter, however, stood outside the gate. So this other disciple who was known to the high priest went out and spoke to the gatekeeper and brought Peter inside.ISV — John 18:16

17 The young woman at the gate asked Peter, “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples, too, are you?” “I am not,” he replied.ISV — John 18:17

18 Meanwhile, the servants and officers were standing around a charcoal fire they had built and were warming themselves because it was cold. Peter was also standing with them, keeping himself warm. ( ; ; )ISV — John 18:18

19 Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his own teaching.ISV — John 18:19

20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken publicly to the world. I have always taught in the synagogue or in the Temple, where all Jews meet together, and I have said nothing in secret.ISV — John 18:20

21 Why do you question me? Question those who heard what I said. These are the people who know what I said.”ISV — John 18:21

22 When he said this, one of the officers standing nearby slapped Jesus on the face and demanded, “Is that any way to answer the high priest?”ISV — John 18:22

23 Jesus answered him, “If I have said anything wrong, tell me what it was. ^{f18:23 Lit. about the wrong} But if I have told the truth, why do you hit me?”ISV — John 18:23

24 Then Annas sent him, with his hands tied, to Caiaphas the high priest. ( ; ; )ISV — John 18:24

25 Meanwhile, Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. Some people ^{g18:25 Lit. They} asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples, too, are you?” He denied it by saying, “I am not!”ISV — John 18:25

26 Then one of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “I saw you in the garden with Jesus, ^{h18:26 Lit. him} didn’t I?”ISV — John 18:26

27 Peter again denied it, and immediately a rooster crowed. ( ; ; )ISV — John 18:27

28 Then Jesus was led from Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters ^{i18:28 Lit. to the praetorium} early in the morning. The Jews ^{j18:28 Lit. they} did not go into the headquarters, to avoid becoming unclean ^{k18:28 i.e. ceremonially unqualified} and unable to eat the Passover meal.ISV — John 18:28

29 So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What accusation are you bringing against this man?”ISV — John 18:29

30 They answered him, “If he weren’t a criminal, we wouldn’t have handed him over to you.”ISV — John 18:30

31 Pilate told them, “You take him and try him according to your Law.” The Jewish leaders ^{l18:31 i.e. Judean leaders; lit. The Jews} told him, “It is not legal for us to put anyone to death.”ISV — John 18:31

32 This was to fulfill what Jesus had said ^{m18:32 Lit. the word of Jesus that he said} when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.ISV — John 18:32

33 So Pilate went back into the governor’s headquarters, ^{n18:33 Lit. into the praetorium} summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”ISV — John 18:33

34 Jesus replied, “Are you asking this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about me?”ISV — John 18:34

35 Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? It is your own nation and high priests who have handed you over to me. What have you done?”ISV — John 18:35

36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom belonged to this world, my servants would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. ^{o18:36 i.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews} But for now my kingdom is not from here.”ISV — John 18:36

37 Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. I was born for this, and I came into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is committed to the truth listens to my voice.”ISV — John 18:37

38 Pilate asked him, “What is ‘truth’?” and then he went out to the Jewish leaders ^{p18:38 i.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews} again and told them, “I find no basis for a charge against him.ISV — John 18:38

39 But you have a custom that I release one person for you at Passover. Do you want me to release for you the king of the Jews?”ISV — John 18:39

40 At this, they shouted out again, “Not this fellow, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a revolutionary. ^{q18:40 Or bandit}ISV — John 18:40