Judas Betrays Jesus

John 18

After he prayed these things, Jesus went out with his disciples over the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden that he and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. So Judas obtained a detachment of soldiers and some officers of the chief priests and the Pharisees. They came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. So Jesus, knowing everything that was going to happen to him, went out and said to them, “Who are y’all looking for?”

They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

Jesus said to them, “I am he.”

Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When he said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

Again he asked them, “Who are y’all looking for?”

They said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

Jesus answered, “I told y’all that I am he. If it is me y’all seek, let these men go their way.” This happened so that the words he spoke would be fulfilled, “Of those whom you have given me, I have lost none.” +Joh 6:12

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. Then Jesus said to Peter, “Put the sword back into its sheath. Should I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

So the detachment of soldiers with its commanding officer and the Jewish officials seized Jesus and bound him, and led him first to Annas, for he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was advantageous if one human died for the people.

Peter’s First Denial

Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered in with Jesus into the court of the high priest; but Peter was standing at the door outside. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who watched the door, and brought in Peter. Then the young woman who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, “Are you also one of this man’s disciples?”

He said, “I am not.”

Now the servants and the officers were standing around a fire of coals they had made, warming themselves because it was cold. Peter was standing with them, warming himself.

Jesus Questioned by the High Priest

The high priest then asked Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching.

Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them. Surely they know what I said.”

After Jesus said this, one of the officers standing nearby slapped him and said, “Is this the way you answer the high priest?”

Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, testify of the evil. But I speak rightly, then why do you strike me?”

Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas, the high priest.

Peter’s Second and Third Denials

Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You aren’t also one of his disciples, are you?”

He denied it and said, “I am not.”

One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?”

Peter then denied it again, and immediately the rooster crowed.

Jesus Before Pilate

Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium. It was early, and they themselves didn’t go into the Praetorium, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. So Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do y’all bring against this man?”

They answered him, “If this man weren’t a criminal, we wouldn’t have handed him over to you.”

So Pilate said to them, “Y’all take him yourself*, and judge him according to y’all’s law.”

Then the Jews said to him, “It is illegal for us to put anyone to death.” This happened to fulfill the word of Jesus indicating what kind of death he would die.

Pilate then went back into the Praetorium, called Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

Jesus responded, “Are you saying this of your own initiative, or have others told you about me?”

Pilate answered, “I’m not a Jew, am I? Your own ethnic group and the chief priests delivered you to me. What have you done?”

Jesus answered, “My empire is not of this world. If my empire were of this world, then my servants would fight so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jewish leaders. But now my empire is not from this place.”

Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king then?”

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this reason I have been born, and for this reason I have come into the world, that I should testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

When he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no basis for a charge against him. But y’all have a custom that I should release someone to y’all at the Passover. So, do y’all want me to release the King of the Jews for y’all?”

Then they all shouted back, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.