Johannes 18 | New International Reader’s Version

Jesus is arrested

1 When Jesus had finished praying, he left with his disciples. They crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden. Jesus and his disciples went into it. 2 Judas knew the place. He was going to hand Jesus over to his enemies. Jesus had often met in that place with his disciples. 3 So Judas came to the garden. He was guiding a group of soldiers and some officials. The chief priests and the Pharisees had sent them. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. 4 Jesus knew everything that was going to happen to him. So he went out and asked them, ‘Who do you want?’ 5 ‘Jesus of Nazareth,’ they replied. ‘I am he,’ Jesus said. Judas, who was going to hand Jesus over, was standing there with them. 6 When Jesus said, ‘I am he,’ they moved back. Then they fell to the ground. 7 He asked them again, ‘Who do you want?’ ‘Jesus of Nazareth,’ they said. 8 Jesus answered, ‘I told you I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.’ 9 This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken would come true. He had said, ‘I have not lost anyone God has given me.’ 10 Simon Peter had a sword and pulled it out. He struck the high priest’s slave and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. 11 Jesus commanded Peter, ‘Put your sword away! Shouldn’t I drink the cup of suffering the Father has given me?’ 12 Then the group of soldiers, their commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They tied him up 13 and brought him first to Annas. He was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest at that time. 14 Caiaphas had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.

Peter says he is not Jesus’ disciple

15 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. The high priest knew the other disciple. So that disciple went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard. 16 But Peter had to wait outside by the door. The other disciple came back. He was the one the high priest knew. He spoke to the servant woman who was on duty there. Then he brought Peter in. 17 She asked Peter, ‘You aren’t one of Jesus’ disciples too, are you?’ ‘I am not,’ he replied. 18 It was cold. The slaves and officials stood around a fire. They had made it to keep warm. Peter was also standing with them. He was warming himself.

The high priest questions Jesus

19 Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus. He asked him about his disciples and his teaching. 20 ‘I have spoken openly to the world,’ Jesus replied. ‘I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I didn’t say anything in secret. 21 Why question me? Ask the people who heard me. They certainly know what I said.’ 22 When Jesus said that, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. ‘Is this any way to answer the high priest?’ he asked. 23 ‘Have I said something wrong?’ Jesus replied. ‘If I have, then tell everyone what it was. But if I spoke the truth, why did you hit me?’ 24 Annas sent him, tied up, to Caiaphas, the high priest.

Peter again says he is not Jesus’ disciple

25 Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself by the fire. So they asked him, ‘You aren’t one of Jesus’ disciples too, are you?’ He said, ‘I am not.’ 26 One of the high priest’s slaves was a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off. He said to Peter, ‘Didn’t I see you with Jesus in the garden?’ 27 Again Peter said no. At that exact moment a cockerel began to crow.

Jesus is brought to Pilate

28 Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning. The Jewish leaders did not want to be made ‘unclean’. They wanted to be able to eat the Passover meal. So they did not enter the palace. 29 Pilate came out to them. He asked, ‘What charges are you bringing against this man?’ 30 ‘He has committed crimes,’ they replied. ‘If he hadn’t, we would not have handed him over to you.’ 31 Pilate said, ‘Take him yourselves. Judge him by your own law.’ ‘But we don’t have the right to put anyone to death,’ they complained. 32 This happened so that what Jesus said about how he was going to die would come true. 33 Then Pilate went back inside the palace. He ordered Jesus to be brought to him. Pilate asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ 34 ‘Is that your own idea?’ Jesus asked. ‘Or did others talk to you about me?’ 35 ‘Am I a Jew?’ Pilate replied. ‘Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?’ 36 Jesus said, ‘My kingdom is not from this world. If it were, those who serve me would fight. They would try to keep the Jewish leaders from arresting me. My kingdom is from another place.’ 37 ‘So you are a king, then!’ said Pilate. Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. In fact, that’s the reason I was born. I was born and came into the world to be a witness to the truth. Everyone who is on the side of truth listens to me.’ 38 ‘What is truth?’ Pilate replied. Then Pilate went out again to the Jews gathered there. He said, ‘I find no basis for any charge against him. 39 But you have a practice at Passover time. At that time, you ask me to set one prisoner free for you. Do you want me to set “the king of the Jews” free?’ 40 They shouted back, ‘No! Not him! Give us Barabbas!’ Barabbas had taken part in an armed struggle against the country’s rulers.

English Standard Version

Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.”* Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When Jesus* said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” 9 This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” 10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant* and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

Jesus Faces Annas and Caiaphas

12 So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews* arrested Jesus and bound him. 13 First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14 It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.

Peter Denies Jesus

15 Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, 16 but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. 17 The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” 18 Now the servants* and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.

The High Priest Questions Jesus

19 The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. 21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” 22 When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” 24 Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Peter Denies Jesus Again

25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” 26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” 27 Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.

Jesus Before Pilate

28 Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters.* It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30 They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” 31 Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” 32 This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

My Kingdom Is Not of This World

33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. 39 But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 40 They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.*

Johannes 18 | New International Reader’s Version English Standard Version