John 18
Betrayal and Arrest in Gethsemane
When Jesus had spoken these words, aHe went out with His disciples over bthe Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. 2 And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; afor Jesus often met there with His disciples. 3 aThen Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. 4 Jesus therefore, aknowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?”
5 They answered Him, a“Jesus of Nazareth.”
Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who bbetrayed Him, also stood with them. 6 Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
7 Then He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?”
And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
8 Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,” 9 that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, a“Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.”
10 aThen Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink athe cup which My Father has given Me?”
Before the High Priest
12 Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. 13 And athey led Him away to bAnnas first, for he was the father-in-law of cCaiaphas who was high priest that year. 14 aNow it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.
Peter Denies Jesus
15 aAnd Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did banother disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. 16 aBut Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in. 17 Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?”
He said, “I am anot.”
18 Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself.
Jesus Questioned by the High Priest
19 The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine.
20 Jesus answered him, a“I spoke openly to the world. I always taught bin synagogues and cin the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. 21 Why do you ask Me? Ask athose who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.”
22 And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by astruck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?”
23 Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?”
24 aThen Annas sent Him bound to bCaiaphas the high priest.
Peter Denies Twice More
25 Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. aTherefore they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?”
He denied it and said, “I am not!”
26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” 27 Peter then denied again; and aimmediately a rooster crowed.
In Pilate’s Court
28 aThen they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. bBut they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover. 29 aPilate then went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?”
30 They answered and said to him, “If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you.”
31 Then Pilate said to them, “You take Him and judge Him according to your law.”
Therefore the Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,” 32 athat the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, bsignifying by what death He would die.
33 aThen Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
34 Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?”
35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?”
36 aJesus answered, b“My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”
37 Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?”
Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, athat I should bear bwitness to the truth. Everyone who cis of the truth dhears My voice.”
38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, a“I find no fault in Him at all.
Taking the Place of Barabbas
39 a“But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”
40 aThen they all cried again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” bNow Barabbas was a robber.
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson.
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