See Verse / Commentary

John

After Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley where there was a garden, into which he and his disciples entered. Judas, who betrayed him, also knew of this place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas took a detachment of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, and they came there with lanterns, torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing exactly what was about to happen to him, went and asked them, “Who is it you are looking for?” They answered, “Jesus the Nazarene.” Jesus said, “That is me.” Judas who betrayed him was also standing with them, and when he said to them, “It is me,” they stepped backward quickly and fell to the ground. Then he asked them again, “Who are you looking for?” They said, “Jesus the Nazarene.” Jesus replied, “I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.” This was to fulfill the words Jesus had spoken: “I have not lost one of those You have given me.” Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, cutting off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. Jesus’ response to Peter was, “Put away your sword! Am I not to drink the cup which the Father has given me?” Then the detachment of soldiers, their commander, and the Jewish leaders’ officers arrested Jesus and tied him up. First they led him to Annas. He was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it was to their advantage that one man should die for the people. Meanwhile Simon Peter was following Jesus, along with another disciple. That disciple was an acquaintance of the high priest; so he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard. But Peter remained standing outside at the gate. So that other disciple, the one known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the girl who was the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in. Then the slave girl, the doorkeeper, said to Peter, “Are you not also one of this man’s disciples?” He replied, “I am not.” Now the slaves and the officers had made a charcoal fire because it was cold. They were standing there warming themselves, and Peter was standing with them warming himself. The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. Jesus answered him, “I have been speaking openly to the world. I have always taught in the synagogues and in the temple complex where Jews congregate, and I have not spoken anything in secret. Why are you questioning me? Why not question those who heard me speak? They certainly know what I said.” When he said this one of the high priest’s officers standing by slapped Jesus in the face and said, “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” Jesus replied, “If I have spoken wrongly, give evidence about the wrong. But if I have spoken rightly, why are you hitting me?” Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. Now Simon Peter was still standing and warming himself. They said to him, “You are not one of his disciples too, are you?” He denied it: “I am not.” One of the high priest’s slaves, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “I believe I saw you with him in the garden, didn’t I?” Peter then denied it again. And immediately a rooster crowed. Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to the Roman governor’s residence, and it was early morning. They did not enter the governor’s residence themselves, because then they would be defiled and unable to eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and said, “What charge are you bringing against this man?” They answered him, “If this man had not done something wrong we would not have handed him over to you.” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him in accordance with your law.” The Jewish leaders responded, “It is not legal for us to put anyone to death.” This was so that Jesus’ words would be fulfilled when he had announced how he was going to die. Then Pilate went back into his residence, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Are you asking this on your own initiative, or have others told you about me?” Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? It was your own nation and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus responded, “My Kingdom does not belong to or originate from this world-system. If my Kingdom did belong to this world-system, my servants would be fighting, so that I would not be handed over to the Jewish leaders. But as it is, my Kingdom does not have its origin from this system.” So Pilate asked, “You are a king then?” Jesus replied, “You rightly say that I am a king. I was born for that very purpose, and I have come into the world to testify to that truth. Everyone who belongs to that truth listens to my voice.” Pilate asked, “Truth? What is that?” After he had said this, he went back out to the Jewish leaders and said to them, “I find no grounds for charging him. But you have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at the Passover season. So do you want me to release the king of the Jews to you?” They shouted back, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.

John