JHN 18

The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

Matt. 26:47-56; Mk. 14:43-50; Lk. 22:47-53

1 After Jesus had spoken these words of prayer, He went out with His disciples to the other side of the brook of the Kidron, a valley east of Jerusalem, where there was a garden which He and His disciples entered for prayer.

2 Now Judas, the one who was betraying Him, also knew the place, because Jesus often gathered in that place with His disciples for fellowship and prayer.

3 So Judas, procuring the cohort of Roman soldiers and temple officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons, prepared to arrest Jesus.

4 Then Jesus, knowing everything that was coming upon Him, came out voluntarily and said to them, "Whom are you seeking?"

5 They responded to Him, "Jesus the Nazarene." He said to them, "I am He," declaring His divine identity. And Judas, the one who was betraying Him, was also standing with them in the arresting party.

6 Now when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back in fear and fell to the ground, overwhelmed by His divine presence and authority.

7 He then questioned them again, "Who are you seeking? Tell Me again." And they said, "Jesus the Nazarene."

8 Jesus answered with authority, "I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you are seeking Me, let these disciples go free."

9 This was to fulfil the word which He had spoken in prayer: "Of those whom You have given Me I have not lost any of them."

10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword concealed on him, drew it impulsively and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear in defence. (The name of the servant was Malchus.)

11 Jesus then said to Peter with rebuke, "Put the sword into the sheath. The cup of suffering which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it willingly? This is My Father's will."

Jesus Before Annas and Caiaphas

Matt. 26:57-58; Mk. 14:53-54; Lk. 22:54

12 Then the cohort of Roman soldiers, the commander, and the officers of the Jewish temple police arrested Jesus and bound Him with ropes,

13 and led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was serving as high priest that year.

14 Now it was Caiaphas who had recommended to the Jewish council that it was advantageous and politically expedient for one man to die for the people rather than the whole nation perish.

Peter's Denial of Christ

Matt. 26:69-70; Mk. 14:66-68; Lk. 22:55-57

15 So Simon Peter and another disciple, likely John, were following Jesus at a distance. Now that disciple was known to the high priest through some connection, and he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest,

16 but Peter stood at the door outside, not gaining entrance. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the female doorkeeper, and brought Peter in.

17 Then the female servant, who was the doorkeeper, said to Peter suspiciously, "You are not also one of the disciples of this man, are you?" He said with denial, "I am not! I do not know Him."

18 Now the servants and the temple officers were standing there around a fire, having made a charcoal fire, because it was cold in the night air, and they were warming themselves. Peter was also with them, standing and warming himself, trying to blend in.

The High Priest Questions Jesus

Matt. 26:59-66; Mk. 14:55-64; Lk. 22:66-71

19 The high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples and their number, and about His teaching.

20 Jesus answered him directly, "I have spoken openly to the world without concealment. I always taught in the synagogue and in the temple courts where all the Jews come together for worship, and I have said nothing in secret. My teaching has been public.

21 Why are you questioning Me about My teaching? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them. Ask My audience. Behold, they know what I said."

22 When He had said these things, one of the officers, who was standing nearby, gave Jesus a blow to the face with his hand, saying, "Is that the way You respond to the high priest?"

23 Jesus responded to him calmly, "If I have spoken wrongly or falsely, bear witness of the wrong and show the error. But if I have spoken rightly and truthfully, why do you strike Me without cause?"

24 Then Annas sent Him bound with ropes to Caiaphas the high priest for further interrogation.

Peter Denies Jesus Again

Matt. 26:71-75; Mk. 14:69-72; Lk. 22:58-62

25 Now Simon Peter was still standing by the fire and warming himself. So they said to him with suspicion, "You are not also one of His disciples, are you?" He denied it emphatically, and said, "I am not! I do not know the man."

26 One of the servants of the high priest, who was related to the one whose ear Peter cut off with the sword, said, "Did I not see you in the garden with Him? I recognise you."

27 So Peter denied it again, a third time, and at once a rooster crowed, fulfilling Jesus' prediction.

Jesus Before Pilate

Matt. 27:1-2, 11-14; Mk. 15:1-5; Lk. 23:1-5

28 Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the Praetorium, the Roman governor's palace. Now it was early in the morning at dawn, and they themselves did not enter the Praetorium, so that they would not be ceremonially defiled by entering a Gentile building, but might eat the Passover meal in ritual purity.

29 So Pilate came out to them in accommodation and said, "What accusation are you bringing against this man?”

30 They answered and said to him evasively, "If this man were not acting in the wrong way and were not a criminal, we would not have handed Him over to you for judgment."

31 So Pilate said to them, "Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your Law and your religious regulations." The Jewish leaders said to him, "It is not lawful for us to kill anyone or execute capital punishment," revealing their murderous intent.

32 This was so that the word of Jesus would be fulfilled which He had spoken, indicating what kind of death He was about to die—crucifixion by the Romans, not stoning by the Jews.

33 Then Pilate entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?"

34 Jesus answered, "Do you say this from yourself and your own understanding, or did others say this to you about Me?"

35 Pilate replied defensively, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your nation and the chief priests handed You over to me. What have You done to deserve this?"

36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world and earthly, My servants would have been fighting, so that I would not be handed over to the Jewish authorities. But now My kingdom is not from here or of earthly origin."

37 Therefore, Pilate said to Him, "So then, You are a king?” Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king, and you are correct. To this end, I have been born, and to this end, I have come into the world: to testify to the truth and bear witness. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice and follows Me."

38 Pilate said to Him philosophically, "What is truth? How can anyone know?"

Jesus Condemned to Die

Matt. 27:15-31; Mk. 15:6-20; Lk. 23:13-25

After saying this, he went out again to the Jewish leaders and said to them, "I find no grounds for an accusation against Him. He is innocent.

39 But you have a custom that I release for you one prisoner at the Passover as an act of clemency. So do you wish that I release for you the King of the Jews?"

40 Then they shouted again with hostility, saying, "Not this man! We do not want Him, but Barabbas." Now Barabbas was a robber and an insurrectionist.

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