John 18

Betrayal and Arrest in Gethsemane

1 When Jesus had spoken these words, *Matt. 26:30, 36; Mark 14:26, 32; Luke 22:39He went out with His disciples over *2 Sam. 15:23; 1 Kin. 2:37; 15:13; 2 Kin. 23:4, 6, 12; 2 Chr. 15:16; 29:16; 30:14; Jer. 31:40the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. 2 And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; *Luke 21:37; 22:39for Jesus often met there with His disciples. 3 *Matt. 26:47–56; Mark 14:43–50; Luke 22:47–53; Acts 1:16Then Judas, having received a detachment oftroops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. 4 Jesus therefore, *John 6:64; 13:1, 3; 19:28knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, "Whom are you seeking?"

5 They answered Him, *Matt. 21:11; Mark 1:24; 14:67; 16:6; Luke 18:37; 24:19"Jesus of Nazareth."

Jesus said to them, "I am He." And Judas, who *Ps. 41:9; Matt. 20:18; 26:21; John 13:21betrayed 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, *(John 6:39; 17:12)"Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none."

10 *Matt. 26:51; Mark 14:47; Luke 22:49, 50Then 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 *Matt. 20:22; 26:39; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42the cup which My Father has given Me?"

Before the High Priest

12 Then the detachment oftroops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. 13 And *Matt. 26:57they led Him away to *Luke 3:2; John 18:24; Acts 4:6Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of *Matt. 26:3; John 11:49, 51Caiaphas who was high priest that year. 14 *John 11:50Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

Peter Denies Jesus

15 *Matt. 26:58; Mark 14:54; Luke 22:54And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did*John 20:2–5another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. 16 *Matt. 26:69; Mark 14:66–68; Luke 22:55–57But 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 *Matt. 26:34not."

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, *Matt. 26:55; Luke 4:15; John 8:26"I spoke openly to the world. I always taught *John 6:59in synagogues and *Mark 14:49; John 7:14, 28in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing.21 Why do you ask Me? Ask *Mark 12:37those 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 *Job 16:10; Is. 50:6; Jer. 20:2; Lam. 3:30; Acts 23:2struck 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 *Matt. 26:57; Luke 3:2; Acts 4:6Then Annas sent Him bound to *John 11:49Caiaphas the high priest.

Peter Denies Twice More

25 Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. *Matt. 26:71–75; Mark 14:69–72; Luke 22:58–62Therefore 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 ofhim whose ear Peter cut off, said, "Did I not see you in the garden with Him?" 27 Peter then denied again; and *Matt. 26:74; Mark 14:72; Luke 22:60; John 13:38immediately a rooster crowed.

In Pilate’s Court

28 *Matt. 27:2; Mark 15:1; Luke 23:1; Acts 3:13Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. *John 11:55; Acts 10:28; 11:3But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover. 29 *Matt. 27:11–14; Mark 15:2–5; Luke 23:2, 3Pilate 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 *Matt. 20:17–19; 26:2; Mark 10:33; Luke 18:32that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, *John 3:14; 8:28; 12:32, 33signifying by what death He would die.

33 *Matt. 27:11Then 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 *1 Tim. 6:13Jesus answered, *(Dan. 2:44; 7:14); Luke 12:14; John 6:15; 8:15"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, *(Matt. 5:17; 20:28; Luke 4:43; 12:49; 19:10; John 3:17; 9:39; 10:10; 12:47)that I should bear *Is. 55:4; Rev. 1:5witness to the truth. Everyone who *(John 14:6)is of the truth *John 8:47; 10:27; (1 John 3:19; 4:6)hears 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, *Is. 53:9; Matt. 27:24; Luke 23:4; John 19:4, 6; 1 Pet. 2:22–24"I find no fault in Him at all.

Taking the Place of Barabbas

39 *Matt. 27:15–26; Mark 15:6–15; Luke 23:17–25"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 *Is. 53:3; Acts 3:14Then they all cried again, saying, "Not this Man, but Barabbas!" *Luke 23:19Now Barabbas was a robber.