John 18
18
Jesus Is Arrested
1When Jesus finished praying, he left with his followers. They went across the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden of olive trees. Jesus and his followers went there.
2Judas knew where this place was, because Jesus met there often with his followers. Judas was the one who turned against Jesus. 3So Judas led a group of soldiers to the garden. Judas also brought some guards from the leading priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns, and weapons.
4Jesus knew everything that would happen to him. Jesus went out and asked, “Who is it you are looking for?”
5The men answered, “Jesus from Nazareth.”
Jesus said, “I am Jesus.” (Judas, the one who turned against Jesus, was standing there with them.) 6When Jesus said, “I am Jesus,” the men moved back and fell to the ground.
7Jesus asked them again, “Who is it you are looking for?”
They said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
8Jesus said, “I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, then let these other men go.” 9This happened so that the words Jesus said before might come true: “I have not lost any of the men you gave me.”
10Simon Peter had a sword. He took out the sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) 11Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back. Shall I not drink of the cup# Jesus is talking about the bad things that will happen to him. Accepting these things will be very hard, like drinking a cup of something that tastes very bitter. the Father has given me?”
Jesus Is Brought Before Annas
12Then the soldiers with their commander and the Jewish guards arrested Jesus. They tied him 13and led him first to Annas. Annas was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14Caiaphas was the one who had told the Jews that it would be better if one man died for all the people.
Peter Says He Doesn’t Know Jesus
15Simon Peter and another one of Jesus’ followers went along after Jesus. This follower knew the high priest. So he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard. 16But Peter waited outside near the door. The follower who knew the high priest came back outside. He spoke to the girl at the door and brought Peter inside. 17The girl at the door said to Peter, “Aren’t you also one of that man’s followers?”
Peter answered, “No, I am not!”
18It was cold, so the servants and guards had built a fire. They were standing around it and warming themselves. Peter was standing with them, warming himself.
The High Priest Questions Jesus
19The high priest asked Jesus questions about his followers and his teaching. 20Jesus answered, “I have spoken openly to everyone. I have always taught in synagogues and in the Temple, where all the Jews come together. I never said anything in secret. 21So why do you question me? Ask the people who heard my teaching. They know what I said.”
22When Jesus said this, one of the guards standing there hit him. The guard said, “Is that the way you answer the high priest?”
23Jesus answered him, “If I said something wrong, then say what was wrong. But if what I said is true, why do you hit me?”
24Then Annas sent Jesus to Caiaphas, the high priest. Jesus was still tied.
Peter Says Again He Doesn’t Know Jesus
25Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said to him, “Aren’t you one of that man’s followers?”
Peter denied it and said, “No, I am not.”
26One of the servants of the high priest was there. This servant was a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off. The servant said, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?”
27Again Peter said it wasn’t true. Just then a rooster crowed.
Jesus Is Brought Before Pilate
28Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas’ house to the Roman governor’s palace. It was early in the morning. The Jews would not go inside the palace. They did not want to make themselves unclean,# Going into a non-Jewish place would make them unfit to eat the Passover Feast, according to Jewish law. because they wanted to eat the Passover meal. 29So Pilate went outside to them. He asked, “What charges do you bring against this man?”
30They answered, “He is a criminal. That is why we brought him to you.”
31Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.”
They answered, “But we are not allowed to put anyone to death.” 32(This happened so that what Jesus had said about how he would die would come true.)
33Then Pilate went back inside the palace. He called Jesus to him and asked, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
34Jesus said, “Is that your own question, or did others tell you about me?”
35Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew. It was your own people and their leading priests who brought you before me. What have you done wrong?”
36Jesus said, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If it belonged to this world, my servants would have fought to keep me from being given over to the Jewish leaders. But my kingdom is from another place.”
37Pilate said, “So you are a king!”
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. That is true. I was born for this: to tell people about the truth. That is why I came into the world. And everyone who belongs to the truth listens to me.”
38Pilate said, “What is truth?” After he said this, he went out to the Jews again. He said to them, “I can find nothing to charge against this man. 39But it is your custom that I free one prisoner to you at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to free this ‘king of the Jews’?”
40They shouted back, “No, not him! Let Barabbas go free!” (Barabbas was a robber.)
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John 18: ICB
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Copyright © 2015 by Tommy Nelson™, a Division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.