18:1  When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the ravine of the Kidron, where there existed a garden, in which He entered with His disciples.

18:2  Now Judas also, who betrayed Him, knew the place, for Jesus had often met there with His disciples.

18:3  Judas then, having received the Roman cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons.

18:4  So Jesus, knowing all the things that came upon Him, went forth and said to them, "Whom do you seek?"

18:5  They answered Him, "Jesus the Nazarene." He said to them, "You found Him." And Judas also, who betrayed Him, stood with them.

18:6  So when He said to them, "You have found me," they drew back and fell to the ground.

18:7  Therefore He again asked them, "Whom do you seek?" And they said, "Jesus the Nazarene."

18:8  Jesus answered, "I told you that you found me; so if you seek Me, let these go their way,"

18:9  to fulfill the word which He spoke, "Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one."

18:10  Simon Peter then, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave had the name of Malchus.

18:11  So Jesus said to Peter, "Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?"

18:12  So the Roman cohort and the commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him,

18:13  and led Him to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas; who served as high priest that year.

18:14  Now Caiaphas had advised the Jews that it might become expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people.

18:15  Simon Peter followed Jesus, as well as another disciple. Now the high priest knew that disciple, and entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest,

18:16  but Peter stood at the door outside. So the other disciple, an acquaintance of the high priest, went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in.

18:17  Then the slave-girl who kept the door said to Peter, "Didn't you serve this man as one of His disciples?" He said, "I did not."

18:18  Now the slaves and the officers stood there, having made a charcoal fire, for it felt cold and they warmed themselves; and Peter joined them, standing and warming himself.

18:19  The high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching.

18:20  Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret.

18:21  "Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; they know what I said."

18:22  When He had said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus, saying, "Watch how You answer the high priest?"

18:23  Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?"

18:24  So Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

18:25  Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. So they said to him, "You follow Him as one of His disciples, do you not?" He denied it, and said, "I do not."

18:26  One of the slaves of the high priest, being a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off, said, "Did I not see you in the garden with Him?"

18:27  Peter then denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed.

18:28  Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium, and it seemed early; and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium so that they would not defile themselves, but might eat the Passover.

18:29  Therefore Pilate went out to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this Man?"

18:30  They answered and said to him, "If this Man had not done evil, we would not have delivered Him to you."

18:31  So Pilate said to them, "Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law." The Jews said to him, "We do not have permission to put anyone to death,"

18:32  to fulfill the word of Jesus which He spoke, signifying by what kind of death He would experience.

18:33  Therefore Pilate entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, "Do you proclaim yourself the King of the Jews?"

18:34  Jesus answered, "Do you say this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?"

18:35  Pilate answered, "I do not have Jewish ancestry, do I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?"

18:36  Jesus answered, "My kingdom has no part of this world. If My kingdom existed in this world, then My servants would fight so that no one would hand me over to the Jews; but as it demonstrates, My kingdom does not belong to this realm."

18:37  Therefore Pilate said to Him, "So You consider yourself a king?" Jesus answered, "You say correctly that I serve as a king. For this I reason I came into this world, to testify to the truth. Everyone adhering to the truth hears My voice."

18:38  Pilate said to Him, "What does truth consist of?" And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, "I find no guilt in Him.

18:39  "But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover; do you wish then that I release for you the King of the Jews?"

18:40  So they cried out again, saying, "Not this Man, but Barabbas." Now Barabbas had the reputation of a ruthless robber.