Thematic Bible
John 18:1 (show verse)
After Jesus had said all of this, he went with his disciples across the Kidron valley to a place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered.
John 18:2 (show verse)
Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples.
John 18:3 (show verse)
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.
John 18:4 (show verse)
Then Jesus, knowing everything that was going to happen, went forward and asked them, "Who are you looking for?"
John 18:5 (show verse)
They answered him, "Jesus from Nazareth." Jesus told them, "I AM." Judas, the man who betrayed him, was standing with them.
John 18:6 (show verse)
When Jesus told them, "I AM," they backed away and fell to the ground.
John 18:7 (show verse)
So he asked them again, "Who are you looking for?" They said, "Jesus from Nazareth."
John 18:8 (show verse)
Jesus replied, "I told you that I am the one, so if you are looking for me, let these men go."
John 18:9 (show verse)
This was to fulfill what he had said, "I did not lose a single one of those you gave me."
John 18:10 (show verse)
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.
John 18:11 (show verse)
Jesus told Peter, "Put your sword back into its sheath. Shouldn't I drink the cup that the Father has given me?"
John 18:12 (show verse)
Then the soldiers, along with their commander and the Jewish officers, arrested Jesus and tied him up.
John 18:13 (show verse)
First they brought him to Annas, because he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year.
John 18:14 (show verse)
Caiaphas was the person who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one man die for the people.
John 18:15 (show verse)
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.
John 18:16 (show verse)
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.
John 18:17 (show verse)
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.
John 18:18 (show verse)
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.
John 18:19 (show verse)
Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his own teaching.
John 18:20 (show verse)
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.
John 18:21 (show verse)
Why do you question me? Question those who heard what I said. These are the people who know what I said."
John 18:22 (show verse)
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?"
John 18:23 (show verse)
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?"
John 18:24 (show verse)
Then Annas sent him, with his hands tied, to Caiaphas the high priest.
John 18:25 (show verse)
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!"
John 18:26 (show verse)
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?"
John 18:27 (show verse)
Peter again denied it, and immediately a rooster crowed.
John 18:28 (show verse)
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.
John 18:29 (show verse)
So Pilate came out to them and asked, "What accusation are you bringing against this man?"
John 18:30 (show verse)
They answered him, "If he weren't a criminal, we wouldn't have handed him over to you."
John 18:31 (show verse)
Pilate told them, "You take him and try him according to your Law."
John 18:32 (show verse)
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.
John 18:33 (show verse)
So Pilate went back into the governor's headquarters, summoned Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"
John 18:34 (show verse)
Jesus replied, "Are you asking this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about me?"
John 18:35 (show verse)
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?"
John 18:36 (show verse)
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."
John 18:37 (show verse)
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."
John 18:38 (show verse)
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.
John 18:39 (show verse)
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?"
John 18:40 (show verse)
At this, they shouted out again, "Not this fellow, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.