Thematic Bible




Thematic Bible




It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher and a slave to be like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they do the same to those of his household!"

When the Pharisees saw this, they told him, "Look! Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!" But he told them, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? How is it that he went into the house of God and ate the Bread of the Presence, which was not lawful for him and his companions to eat but was reserved for the priests? read more.
Or haven't you read in the Law that on every Sabbath the priests in the Temple violate the Sabbath and yet are innocent? But I tell you, something greater than the Temple is here! If you had known what "I want mercy and not sacrifice' means, you would not have condemned the innocent, for the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath." Moving on from there, Jesus went into their synagogue. Suddenly, a man with a paralyzed hand appeared. The people asked Jesus if it was lawful to heal on Sabbath days, intending to accuse him of doing something wrong. But he asked them, "Is there a man among you who, if he had one sheep and it fell into a ditch on the Sabbath, wouldn't take hold of it and pull it out? How much more is a human being worth than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on Sabbath days." Then he told the man, "Hold out your hand." He held it out and it became normal, as healthy as his other hand. The Pharisees, however, went out and plotted against Jesus to kill him.

Meanwhile, the high priests and the whole Council were looking for false testimony against Jesus in order to have him put to death. But they couldn't find any, even though many false witnesses had come forward. At last two men came forward and stated, "This man said, "I can destroy the sanctuary of God and rebuild it in three days.'"


Then they took Jesus to the high priest. All the high priests, elders, and scribes had gathered together. Peter followed Jesus at a distance as far as the high priest's courtyard. He was sitting with the servants and warming himself at the fire. Meanwhile, the high priests and the whole Council were looking for some testimony against Jesus in order to have him put to death, but they couldn't find any. read more.
Although many people gave false testimony against him, their testimony didn't agree. Then some men stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying, "We ourselves heard him say, "I will destroy this sanctuary made by human hands, and in three days I will build another one not made by human hands.'" But even on this point their testimony didn't agree. Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, "Don't you have any answer to what these men are testifying against you?" But he kept silent and didn't answer at all. The high priest asked him again, "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?" Jesus said, "I AM, and "you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power' and "coming with the clouds of heaven.'" Then the high priest tore his clothes. "Why do we still need witnesses?" he asked. "You have heard his blasphemy! What is your verdict?" All of them condemned him as deserving death. Some of them began to spit on him. They blindfolded him and kept hitting him with their fists and telling him, "Prophesy!" Even the servants took him and slapped him around.

They began to accuse him, "We found this man corrupting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that he is the Messiah, a king."

They answered him, "If he weren't a criminal, we wouldn't have handed him over to you."


They answered him, "If he weren't a criminal, we wouldn't have handed him over to you."

From then on, Pilate tried to release him, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, "If you release this fellow, you're not a friend of Caesar! Anyone who claims to be a king is defying Caesar!"

Meanwhile, Jesus was made to stand in front of the governor. The governor asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus said, "You say so."

So Pilate went back into the governor's headquarters, summoned Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"


Pilate asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus answered him, "You say so."


They began to accuse him, "We found this man corrupting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that he is the Messiah, a king." Then Pilate asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" He answered, "You say so."


Pilate wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, "Jesus from Nazareth, the King of the Jews." Many Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city. It was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. Then the Jewish high priests told Pilate, "Don't write, "The King of the Jews,' but that this fellow said, "I am the King of the Jews.'" read more.
Pilate replied, "What I have written I have written."


When morning came, all the high priests and elders of the people conspired against Jesus to put him to death. They bound him with chains, led him away, and handed him over to Pontius Pilate, the governor.

Meanwhile, Jesus was made to stand in front of the governor. The governor asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus said, "You say so." While Jesus was being accused by the high priests and elders, he made no reply. Then Pilate asked him, "Don't you hear how many charges they're bringing against you?" read more.
But Jesus did not reply at all, so that the governor was very surprised.

As soon as it was morning, the high priests convened a meeting with the elders and scribes and the whole Council. They bound Jesus with chains, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus answered him, "You say so." The high priests kept accusing him of many things. read more.
So Pilate asked him again, "Don't you have any answer? Look how many accusations they're bringing against you!" But since Jesus no longer answered, Pilate was astonished.

Then the whole crowd got up and took him to Pilate. They began to accuse him, "We found this man corrupting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that he is the Messiah, a king." Then Pilate asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" He answered, "You say so." read more.
Then Pilate told the high priests and crowds, "I do not find anything chargeable in this man." But they kept insisting, "He is stirring up the people with what he teaches all over Judea, from where he started in Galilee to this place."

Then Jesus was led from Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters early in the morning. The Jews did not go into the headquarters, to avoid becoming unclean and unable to eat the Passover meal. So Pilate came out to them and asked, "What accusation are you bringing against this man?" They answered him, "If he weren't a criminal, we wouldn't have handed him over to you." read more.
Pilate told them, "You take him and try him according to your Law." The Jewish leaders told him, "It is not legal for us to put anyone to death." This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die. So Pilate went back into the governor's headquarters, summoned Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus replied, "Are you asking this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about me?" Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, am I? It is your own nation and high priests who have handed you over to me. What have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom belonged to this world, my servants would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But for now my kingdom is not from here." Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. I was born for this, and I came into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is committed to the truth listens to my voice." Pilate asked him, "What is "truth'?" and then he went out to the Jewish leaders again and told them, "I find no basis for a charge against him.


For in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate actually met together with unbelievers and the people of Israel to oppose your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed,

Since you are in the presence of God, who gives life to everything, and in the presence of the Messiah Jesus, who gave a good testimony before Pontius Pilate, I solemnly charge you

The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you betrayed and rejected in the presence of Pilate, even though he had decided to let him go.

Then Jesus was led from Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters early in the morning. The Jews did not go into the headquarters, to avoid becoming unclean and unable to eat the Passover meal. So Pilate came out to them and asked, "What accusation are you bringing against this man?" They answered him, "If he weren't a criminal, we wouldn't have handed him over to you." read more.
Pilate told them, "You take him and try him according to your Law." The Jewish leaders told him, "It is not legal for us to put anyone to death." This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die. So Pilate went back into the governor's headquarters, summoned Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus replied, "Are you asking this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about me?" Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, am I? It is your own nation and high priests who have handed you over to me. What have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom belonged to this world, my servants would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But for now my kingdom is not from here." Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. I was born for this, and I came into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is committed to the truth listens to my voice." Pilate asked him, "What is "truth'?" and then he went out to the Jewish leaders again and told them, "I find no basis for a charge against him. But you have a custom that I release one person for you at Passover. Do you want me to release for you the king of the Jews?" At this, they shouted out again, "Not this fellow, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.

Although they found no reason to sentence him to death, they asked Pilate to have him executed.


Then they took Jesus to the high priest. All the high priests, elders, and scribes had gathered together. Peter followed Jesus at a distance as far as the high priest's courtyard. He was sitting with the servants and warming himself at the fire. Meanwhile, the high priests and the whole Council were looking for some testimony against Jesus in order to have him put to death, but they couldn't find any. read more.
Although many people gave false testimony against him, their testimony didn't agree. Then some men stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying, "We ourselves heard him say, "I will destroy this sanctuary made by human hands, and in three days I will build another one not made by human hands.'" But even on this point their testimony didn't agree. Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, "Don't you have any answer to what these men are testifying against you?" But he kept silent and didn't answer at all. The high priest asked him again, "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?" Jesus said, "I AM, and "you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power' and "coming with the clouds of heaven.'" Then the high priest tore his clothes. "Why do we still need witnesses?" he asked. "You have heard his blasphemy! What is your verdict?" All of them condemned him as deserving death. Some of them began to spit on him. They blindfolded him and kept hitting him with their fists and telling him, "Prophesy!" Even the servants took him and slapped him around.

When morning came, all the high priests and elders of the people conspired against Jesus to put him to death. They bound him with chains, led him away, and handed him over to Pontius Pilate, the governor.

Then Pilate called the high priests, the other leaders, and the people together and told them, "You brought this man to me as one who turns the people against the government. And here in your presence I have examined him and have found him "Not Guilty' of the charges you make against him. Neither does Herod, because he sent him back to us! Indeed, this man has done nothing to deserve death. read more.
So I will punish him and let him go." Now he was obligated to release someone for them at the festival. But they all shouted out together, "Away with this man! Release Barabbas for us!" (This man had been put in prison for murder and for a revolt that had taken place in the city.) But Pilate wanted to let Jesus go, so he appealed to them again, but they continued to shout, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" Then he spoke to them a third time: "What has he done wrong? I have found nothing in him worthy of death. So I will punish him and let him go." But they kept pressing him with loud shouts, demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their shouts began to prevail. Then Pilate pronounced his sentence that their demand should be carried out.

Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had assembled. Peter, however, followed him at a distance as far as the high priest's courtyard. He went inside and sat down with the servants to see how this would end. Meanwhile, the high priests and the whole Council were looking for false testimony against Jesus in order to have him put to death. read more.
But they couldn't find any, even though many false witnesses had come forward. At last two men came forward and stated, "This man said, "I can destroy the sanctuary of God and rebuild it in three days.'" At this, the high priest stood up and asked Jesus, "Don't you have any answer to what these men are testifying against you?" But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest told him, "I command you by the living God to tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God!" Jesus told him, "You have said so. Nevertheless I tell you, from now on you will see "the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power' and "coming on the clouds of heaven.'" Then the high priest tore his robes and said, "He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? Listen! You yourselves have just heard the blasphemy! What is your verdict?" They replied, "He deserves to die!" Then they spit in his face and hit him. Some slapped him, saying, "Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who hit you?"

Then they arrested him, led him away, and brought him to the high priest's house. But Peter was following at a distance. When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had taken their seats, Peter, too, sat down among them. A servant girl saw him sitting by the fire, stared at him, and said, "This man was with him, too." read more.
But he denied it, "I don't know him, woman!" he responded. A little later, a man looked at him and said, "You are one of them, too." But Peter said, "Mister, I am not!" About an hour later, another man emphatically asserted, "This man was certainly with him, because he is a Galilean!" But Peter said, "Mister, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just then, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. Then the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. And Peter remembered the word from the Lord, and how he had told him, "Before a rooster crows today, you will deny me three times." So he went outside and cried bitterly. Then the men who were holding Jesus in custody began to make fun of him while they beat him. They blindfolded him and asked him over and over again, "Prophesy! Who is the one who hit you?" And they kept insulting him in many other ways. As soon as day came, the elders of the people, the high priests, and the scribes assembled and brought him before their Council. They said, "If you are the Messiah, tell us." But he told them, "If I tell you, you won't believe me, and if I ask you a question, you won't answer me. But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God." Then they all asked, "Are you, then, the Son of God?" He answered them, "You said it I AM." "Why do we need any more testimony?" they asked. "We have heard it ourselves from his own mouth!"

Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Since the other disciple was known to the high priest, he accompanied Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. Peter, however, stood outside the gate. So this other disciple who was known to the high priest went out and spoke to the gatekeeper and brought Peter inside. The young woman at the gate asked Peter, "You aren't one of this man's disciples, too, are you?" "I am not," he replied. read more.
Meanwhile, the servants and officers were standing around a charcoal fire they had built and were warming themselves because it was cold. Peter was also standing with them, keeping himself warm. Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his own teaching. Jesus answered him, "I have spoken publicly to the world. I have always taught in the synagogue or in the Temple, where all Jews meet together, and I have said nothing in secret. Why do you question me? Question those who heard what I said. These are the people who know what I said." When he said this, one of the officers standing nearby slapped Jesus on the face and demanded, "Is that any way to answer the high priest?" Jesus answered him, "If I have said anything wrong, tell me what it was. But if I have told the truth, why do you hit me?" Then Annas sent him, with his hands tied, to Caiaphas the high priest. Meanwhile, Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. Some people asked him, "You aren't one of his disciples, too, are you?" He denied it by saying, "I am not!" Then one of the high priest's servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, "I saw you in the garden with Jesus, didn't I?" Peter again denied it, and immediately a rooster crowed. Then Jesus was led from Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters early in the morning. The Jews did not go into the headquarters, to avoid becoming unclean and unable to eat the Passover meal. So Pilate came out to them and asked, "What accusation are you bringing against this man?" They answered him, "If he weren't a criminal, we wouldn't have handed him over to you." Pilate told them, "You take him and try him according to your Law." The Jewish leaders told him, "It is not legal for us to put anyone to death." This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.


Just then, while Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. A large crowd armed with swords and clubs was with him. They were from the high priests and elders of the people. Now the betrayer personally had given them a signal, saying, "The one I kiss is the man. Arrest him." So Judas immediately went up to Jesus and said, "Hello, Rabbi!" and kissed him tenderly. read more.
Jesus asked him, "Friend, why are you here?" Then the other men surged forward, took hold of Jesus, and arrested him. Suddenly, one of the men with Jesus reached out his hand, drew his sword, and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his ear. Jesus told him, "Put your sword back in its place! Everyone who uses a sword will be killed by a sword. Don't you think that I could call on my Father, and he would send me more than twelve legions of angels now? How, then, would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say this must happen?" At this point, Jesus asked the crowds, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as if I were a bandit? Day after day I sat teaching in the Temple, yet you didn't arrest me. But all of this has happened so that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples deserted Jesus and ran away. Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had assembled. Peter, however, followed him at a distance as far as the high priest's courtyard. He went inside and sat down with the servants to see how this would end. Meanwhile, the high priests and the whole Council were looking for false testimony against Jesus in order to have him put to death. But they couldn't find any, even though many false witnesses had come forward. At last two men came forward and stated, "This man said, "I can destroy the sanctuary of God and rebuild it in three days.'" At this, the high priest stood up and asked Jesus, "Don't you have any answer to what these men are testifying against you?" But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest told him, "I command you by the living God to tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God!" Jesus told him, "You have said so. Nevertheless I tell you, from now on you will see "the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power' and "coming on the clouds of heaven.'" Then the high priest tore his robes and said, "He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? Listen! You yourselves have just heard the blasphemy! What is your verdict?" They replied, "He deserves to die!" Then they spit in his face and hit him. Some slapped him, saying, "Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who hit you?" Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard when a servant girl came up to him and said, "You, too, were with Jesus the Galilean." But he denied it in front of them all. "I don't know what you're talking about!" he exclaimed. As he went out to the gateway, another woman saw him and told those who were there, "This man was with Jesus from Nazareth." Again he denied it and swore with an oath, "I don't know the man!" After a little while, the people who were standing there came up and told Peter, "Obviously you're also one of them, because your accent gives you away." Then he began to curse violently. "I don't know the man!" he swore solemnly. Just then a rooster crowed. Peter remembered the words of Jesus when he said, "Before a rooster crows, you'll deny me three times." Then he went outside and cried bitterly.

Just then, while Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. A crowd armed with swords and clubs was with him. They were from the high priests, the scribes, and the elders. Now the betrayer personally had given them a signal, saying, "The one I kiss is the man. Arrest him, and lead him safely away." So Judas immediately went up to Jesus and said, "Rabbi," and kissed him tenderly. read more.
Then the men took hold of Jesus and arrested him. But one of those standing there drew his sword and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his ear. Jesus asked them, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as if I were a bandit? Day after day I was with you in the Temple teaching, yet you didn't arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled." Then all the disciples deserted Jesus and ran away. A certain young man, who was wearing nothing but a linen sheet, was following Jesus. When the men grabbed him, he left the linen sheet behind and ran away naked. Then they took Jesus to the high priest. All the high priests, elders, and scribes had gathered together. Peter followed Jesus at a distance as far as the high priest's courtyard. He was sitting with the servants and warming himself at the fire. Meanwhile, the high priests and the whole Council were looking for some testimony against Jesus in order to have him put to death, but they couldn't find any. Although many people gave false testimony against him, their testimony didn't agree. Then some men stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying, "We ourselves heard him say, "I will destroy this sanctuary made by human hands, and in three days I will build another one not made by human hands.'" But even on this point their testimony didn't agree. Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, "Don't you have any answer to what these men are testifying against you?" But he kept silent and didn't answer at all. The high priest asked him again, "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?" Jesus said, "I AM, and "you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power' and "coming with the clouds of heaven.'" Then the high priest tore his clothes. "Why do we still need witnesses?" he asked. "You have heard his blasphemy! What is your verdict?" All of them condemned him as deserving death. Some of them began to spit on him. They blindfolded him and kept hitting him with their fists and telling him, "Prophesy!" Even the servants took him and slapped him around. While Peter was down in the courtyard, one of the high priest's servant girls came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she glared at him and said, "You, too, were with Jesus from Nazareth." But he denied it, saying, "I don't know or even understand what you're talking about!" Then he went out into the entryway. Just then a rooster crowed. The servant girl saw him and again told those who were standing around, "This man is one of them!" Again he denied it. After a little while, the people who were standing there began to say to Peter again, "Obviously you're one of them, because you are a Galilean!" Then he began to invoke a divine curse and to swear with an oath, "I don't know this man you're talking about!" Just then a rooster crowed a second time. Peter remembered that Jesus told him, "Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." Then he broke down and cried.

While Jesus was still speaking, a crowd arrived. The man called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them, and he came close to Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus asked him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" When those who were around Jesus saw what was about to take place, they asked, "Lord, should we attack with our swords?" read more.
Then one of them struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. But Jesus said, "No more of this!" So he touched the wounded man's ear and healed him. Then Jesus told the high priests, the Temple police, and the elders, who had come for him, "Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a bandit? While I was with you day after day in the Temple, you didn't lay a hand on me. But this is your hour, when darkness reigns!" Then they arrested him, led him away, and brought him to the high priest's house. But Peter was following at a distance. When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had taken their seats, Peter, too, sat down among them. A servant girl saw him sitting by the fire, stared at him, and said, "This man was with him, too." But he denied it, "I don't know him, woman!" he responded. A little later, a man looked at him and said, "You are one of them, too." But Peter said, "Mister, I am not!" About an hour later, another man emphatically asserted, "This man was certainly with him, because he is a Galilean!" But Peter said, "Mister, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just then, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. Then the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. And Peter remembered the word from the Lord, and how he had told him, "Before a rooster crows today, you will deny me three times." So he went outside and cried bitterly. Then the men who were holding Jesus in custody began to make fun of him while they beat him. They blindfolded him and asked him over and over again, "Prophesy! Who is the one who hit you?" And they kept insulting him in many other ways. As soon as day came, the elders of the people, the high priests, and the scribes assembled and brought him before their Council. They said, "If you are the Messiah, tell us." But he told them, "If I tell you, you won't believe me, and if I ask you a question, you won't answer me. But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God." Then they all asked, "Are you, then, the Son of God?" He answered them, "You said it I AM." "Why do we need any more testimony?" they asked. "We have heard it ourselves from his own mouth!"

So Judas took a detachment of soldiers and some officers from the high priests and the Pharisees and went there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing everything that was going to happen, went forward and asked them, "Who are you looking for?" They answered him, "Jesus from Nazareth." Jesus told them, "I AM." Judas, the man who betrayed him, was standing with them. read more.
When Jesus told them, "I AM," they backed away and fell to the ground. So he asked them again, "Who are you looking for?" They said, "Jesus from Nazareth." Jesus replied, "I told you that I am the one, so if you are looking for me, let these men go." This was to fulfill what he had said, "I did not lose a single one of those you gave me." Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. Jesus told Peter, "Put your sword back into its sheath. Shouldn't I drink the cup that the Father has given me?" Then the soldiers, along with their commander and the Jewish officers, arrested Jesus and tied him up. First they brought him to Annas, because he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the person who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one man die for the people. Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Since the other disciple was known to the high priest, he accompanied Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. Peter, however, stood outside the gate. So this other disciple who was known to the high priest went out and spoke to the gatekeeper and brought Peter inside. The young woman at the gate asked Peter, "You aren't one of this man's disciples, too, are you?" "I am not," he replied. Meanwhile, the servants and officers were standing around a charcoal fire they had built and were warming themselves because it was cold. Peter was also standing with them, keeping himself warm. Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his own teaching. Jesus answered him, "I have spoken publicly to the world. I have always taught in the synagogue or in the Temple, where all Jews meet together, and I have said nothing in secret. Why do you question me? Question those who heard what I said. These are the people who know what I said." When he said this, one of the officers standing nearby slapped Jesus on the face and demanded, "Is that any way to answer the high priest?" Jesus answered him, "If I have said anything wrong, tell me what it was. But if I have told the truth, why do you hit me?" Then Annas sent him, with his hands tied, to Caiaphas the high priest. Meanwhile, Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. Some people asked him, "You aren't one of his disciples, too, are you?" He denied it by saying, "I am not!" Then one of the high priest's servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, "I saw you in the garden with Jesus, didn't I?" Peter again denied it, and immediately a rooster crowed. Then Jesus was led from Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters early in the morning. The Jews did not go into the headquarters, to avoid becoming unclean and unable to eat the Passover meal. So Pilate came out to them and asked, "What accusation are you bringing against this man?" They answered him, "If he weren't a criminal, we wouldn't have handed him over to you." Pilate told them, "You take him and try him according to your Law." The Jewish leaders told him, "It is not legal for us to put anyone to death." This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die. So Pilate went back into the governor's headquarters, summoned Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus replied, "Are you asking this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about me?" Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, am I? It is your own nation and high priests who have handed you over to me. What have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom belonged to this world, my servants would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But for now my kingdom is not from here." Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. I was born for this, and I came into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is committed to the truth listens to my voice." Pilate asked him, "What is "truth'?" and then he went out to the Jewish leaders again and told them, "I find no basis for a charge against him. But you have a custom that I release one person for you at Passover. Do you want me to release for you the king of the Jews?" At this, they shouted out again, "Not this fellow, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.