John 18

Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

1 When Jesus had spoken these words, *Matt. 26:30,36;Mark 14:26,32;Luke 22:39he went out with his disciples across *See 2 Sam. 15:23the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew *Luke 22:40the place, for *[Luke 21:37;22:39]Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3 *For ver. 3-11, see Matt. 26:47-56;Mark 14:43-50;Luke 22:47-53So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Then Jesus, *ch. 13:1knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, *ver. 7;ch. 1:38;20:15"Whom do you seek?"5 They answered him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am he."*18:5 Greek I am; also verses 6, 8 Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 *[ch. 10:18;Matt. 26:53;Rev. 1:17]When Jesus*18:6 Greek he said to them, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 So he asked them again, *[See ver. 4above]"Whom do you seek?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." 8 Jesus answered, "I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go."9 *ch. 17:12This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: "Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one."10 Then Simon Peter, *[Luke 22:38]having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant*18:10 Or bondservant; twice in this verse and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) 11 So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into its sheath; *Matt. 20:22;26:39,42;[Isa. 51:22]shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?"

Jesus Faces Annas and Caiaphas

12 So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews*18:12 Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time; also verses 14, 31, 36, 38 arrested Jesus and bound him. 13 First they *[Matt. 26:57] led him to *ver. 24;Luke 3:2;Acts 4:6Annas, for he was the father-in-law of *ver. 24, 28;See Matt. 26:3Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14 It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews *ch. 11:50that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.

Peter Denies Jesus

15 *Matt. 26:58;Mark 14:54;Luke 22:54Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, 16 *For ver. 16-18, see Matt. 26:69,70;Mark 14:66-68;Luke 22:55-57but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. 17 *Acts 12:13The servant girl at the door said to Peter, "You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not." 18 Now the servants*18:18 Or bondservants; also verse 26 and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. *ver. 25;Mark 14:54Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.

The High Priest Questions Jesus

19 *For ver. 19-24, [Matt. 26:59-68;Mark 14:55-65;Luke 22:63-71]The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20 Jesus answered him, "I have spoken *ch. 7:26;[Matt. 26:55] openly *[ch. 8:26] to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. *Isa. 45:19;48:16;[ch. 7:4]I have said nothing in secret.21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said."22 When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, *[Acts 23:4]"Is that how you answer the high priest?" 23 Jesus answered him, "If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?"24 *ver. 13Annas then sent him bound to *ver. 13Caiaphas the high priest.

Peter Denies Jesus Again

25 *For ver. 25-27, see Matt. 26:71-75;Mark 14:69-72;Luke 22:58-62Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, "You also are not 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 *ver. 10the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, "Did I not see you *ver. 1in the garden with him?" 27 Peter again denied it, and *ch. 13:38at once a rooster crowed.

Jesus Before Pilate

28 *Matt. 27:2;Mark 15:1;Luke 23:1Then they led Jesus *ver. 24from the house of Caiaphas to *ver. 33;ch. 19:9;See Matt. 27:27the governor’s headquarters.*18:28 Greek the praetorium It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, *Acts 10:28;11:3;[ch. 11:55] so that they would not be defiled, *[ch. 19:14]but could eat the Passover. 29 *For ver. 29-38, see Matt. 27:11-14;Mark 15:2-5;Luke 23:2,3So Pilate went outside to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this man?" 30 They answered him, "If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you." 31 Pilate said to them, *[ch. 19:6]"Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law." The Jews said to him, "It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death." 32 *[ch. 13:18] This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken *ch. 12:32,33;Matt. 20:19;26:2;Mark 10:33;Luke 18:32to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

My Kingdom Is Not of This World

33 *ch. 19:9So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, *[ch. 19:12]"Are you the King of the Jews?" 34 Jesus answered, "Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?"35 Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?" 36 Jesus answered, *[ch. 6:15;Dan. 2:44;7:14,27;Luke 17:21] "My kingdom *ch. 8:23;[ch. 15:19;17:14,16;1 John 2:16;4:5] is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, *[Matt. 26:53] my servants would have been fighting, that *ch. 19:16I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world."37 Then Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, *See Luke 22:70"You say that I am a king. *[ch. 12:27;Rom. 14:9] For this purpose I was born and for this purpose *ch. 16:28I have come into the world—*ch. 3:11,32;5:31;8:13,14,18to bear witness to the truth. *1 John 4:6;[ch. 8:47] Everyone who is *1 John 2:21;3:19of the truth *ch. 10:16,27listens to my voice."38 Pilate said to him, "What is truth?"

After he had said this, *ch. 19:4he went back outside to the Jews and told them, *ch. 19:4,6;See Luke 23:4"I find no guilt in him. 39 *For ver. 39, 40, see Matt. 27:15-18,20-23;Mark 15:6-14;Luke 23:18-23But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?" 40 They cried out again, *Acts 3:14"Not this man, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a robber.*18:40 Or an insurrectionist