CHAPTER 18
When Jesus
had spoken
these words,
He went out
with
His
disciples
across
the
Kidron
Valley,
where
they
entered
a garden.
Now
Judas,
His
betrayer,
also
knew
the
place,
because
Jesus
had often
met
there
with
His
disciples.
So
Judas
brought
a band of soldiers
and
officers
from
the
chief priests
and
Pharisees.
They arrived
at the garden
carrying
lanterns,
torches,
and
weapons.
Jesus,
knowing
all
that
was coming
upon
Him,
stepped forward
and
asked
them,
“Whom
are you seeking?”
“Jesus
of
Nazareth,”
they answered.
Jesus said,
“I
am He.”
And
Judas,
His
betrayer,
was standing there
with
them.
Then
Simon
Peter
drew
his
sword
and
struck
the
servant
of the
high priest,
cutting off
his
right
ear.
The
servant’s
name
was
Malchus.
“Put
your
sword
back in
its
sheath!”
Jesus
said
to
Peter.
“Shall I not drink
the
cup
the
Father
has given
Me?”
Then
the
band of soldiers,
with
its
commander
and
the
officers
of the
Jews,
arrested
Jesus
and
bound
Him.
They brought Him first
to
Annas,
who was
the father-in-law
of Caiaphas,
the high priest
that
year.
Caiaphas
was
the one
who had advised
the
Jews
that
it would be better if
one
man
died
for
the
people.
Now
Simon
Peter
and
another
disciple
were following
Jesus.
Since
that
disciple
was
known
to the
high priest,
he also went
with Jesus
into
the
courtyard
of the
high priest.
But
Peter
stood
outside
at
the
door.
Then
the
disciple
who was
known
to the
high priest
went out
and
spoke
to the
doorkeeper,
and
brought
Peter in.
At this,
the
servant girl
watching the door
said
to Peter,
“Aren’t
you
also
one of
this
man’s
disciples?”
“I am
not,”
he
answered.
Because
it was
cold,
the
servants
and
officers
were standing around
a charcoal fire
they had made
to keep warm.
And
Peter
was
also
standing
with
them,
warming himself.
“I
have spoken
openly
to the
world,”
Jesus
answered.
“I
always
taught
in
the synagogues
and
at
the
temple,
where
all
the
Jews
come together.
I said
nothing
in
secret.
When
Jesus
had said
this,
one
of the
officers
standing nearby
slapped Him in the face
and said,
“Is this how
You answer
the
high priest?”
Jesus
replied,
“If
I said
something wrong,
testify
to
what
was wrong.
But
if
I spoke correctly,
why
did you strike
Me?”
Simon
Peter
was
still
standing
and
warming himself.
So
they asked
him,
“Aren’t
you
also
one of
His
disciples?”
He
denied it
and
said,
“I am
not.”
One
of
the
high priest’s
servants,
a relative
of the man whose
ear
Peter
had cut off,
asked,
“Didn’t
I
see
you
with
Him
in
the
garden?”
Then
they led
Jesus
away from
Caiaphas
into
the
Praetorium.
By now
it was
early morning,
and
the Jews
did not
enter
the
Praetorium
to
avoid
being defiled
and unable
to eat
the
Passover.
“You take
Him
and
judge
Him
by
your
own
law,”
Pilate
told
them.
“We are not permitted
to execute anyone,”
the
Jews
replied.
This
was to fulfill
the
word
that
Jesus
had spoken
to indicate
the kind of
death
He was going
to die.
Pilate
went
back
into
the
Praetorium,
summoned
Jesus,
and
asked
Him,
“Are
You
the
King
of the
Jews?”
“Am
I
a Jew?”
Pilate
replied.
“Your
own
people
and
chief priests
handed
You
over to me.
What
have You done?”
Jesus
answered,
“My
kingdom
is
not
of
this
world;
if
it
were,
My
servants
would fight
to
prevent My arrest
by the
Jews.
But
now,
My
kingdom
is
not
of this realm."
“Then
You
are
a king!”
Pilate
said.
“You
say
that
I
am
a king,”
Jesus
answered.
“For
this reason
I was born
and
have come
into
the
world,
to
testify
to the
truth.
Everyone
who
belongs to
the
truth
listens to
My
voice.”
“What
is
truth?”
Pilate
asked.
And
having said
this,
he went out
again
to
the
Jews
and
told
them,
“I
find
no
basis for a charge
against
Him.
But
it is
your
custom
that
I release
to you
one prisoner
at
the
Passover.
So then,
do you want
me to release
to you
the
King
of the
Jews?”