John 18
Betrayal and Arrest
1 Having said these [things] Jesus went out with his disciples across the ravine of Kedron where there was [a] garden in which he and his disciples entered. 2 Now Judas the [one] delivering him up also knew the place, because Jesus often was gathered there with his disciples. 3 Judas therefore having received the cohort1 and [some] officers of the chief-priests and the Pharisees they come there with lanterns and lamps and weapons. 4 Jesus therefore having known everything coming upon him went out and says to them: Whom do you seek? 5 They answered him: Jesus the Nazarene. He says to them: I am he. Now Judas the [one] delivering him up also stood with them. 6 As he said therefore to them: I am he, they moved back and fell to the ground. 7 Again therefore he asked them: Whom do you seek? And they said: Jesus the Nazarene. 8 Jesus answered: I said to you that I am he. If therefore you seek me, allow these [men] to be departing, 9 in order that the word be fulfilled that said that:Whom you have given me,
I will lose of them not one.
10 Simon Peter therefore, having [a] sword, drew it out and struck the chief-priest's slave and cut off his right ear. Now the slave's name was Malchus. 11 Jesus therefore said to Peter: Put the sword in the sheath. The cup that the father has given me, will I not drink it? 12 The cohort therefore and the commander and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him, 13 and led [him] first to Annan, for he was the father in law of Caiphas, who was chief-priest of that year. 14 Now Caiaphas was the [one] having advised the Jews that it is profitable [that] one man die in behalf of the people.
Peter's First Denial
15 Now Simon Peter and the other disciple followed Jesus into the courtyard of the chief-priest. And that disciple was known to the chief-priest, and he went in with Jesus into the courtyard of the chief-priest. 16 Now Peter stood outside facing the door. The other disciple, the [one] known to the chief-priest, went out and spoke to the [maid] doorkeeper, and brought in Peter. 17 Therefore the maid doorkeeper says to Peter: You're not also one of the disciples of this man[, are you]2 ? He says: I am not. 18 Now the slaves and the officers stood [around], having made [a] charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they warmed themselves. Now Peter was also standing with them and warming himself.Jesus Questioned by Annas
19 The chief-priest therefore asked3 Jesus concerning his disciples and his teaching. 20 Jesus answered him: I have openly spoken to the world. I always taught in the synagogue and in the temple, where the Jews all gather, and I spoke nothing in secret. 21 Why do you ask3 me? Ask those having heard what I spoke to them. Behold these know what I said to them. 22 But when he spoke these [things] one of the officers standing by gave [a] blow to Jesus saying: Thus do you answer the chief-priest? 23 Jesus answered him: If I spoke evil-ly, testify concerning the evil. But if well, why do you strike me? 24 Annas therefore sent him bound to Caiaphas the chief-priest.Peter's Second and Third Denials
25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said therefore to him: You aren't also one of his disciples[, are you]2? That [one] denied and said: I am not. 26 One of the slaves of the chief-priest, being kinsman of whom Peter cut off his ear, says: Did I not see you in the garden with him?4 27 Again therefore Peter denied [it], and straightway the cock crowed.Jesus Brought Before Pilate
28 They therefore led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium5. It was early morning, and they themselves did not enter the Praetorium in order that they not be defiled but may eat the Passover. 29 Pilate came out to them and said: What accusation do you bring against this man? 30 They answered and said to him: If this man were not [an] evil doer, we would not have brought him to you. 31 Pilate therefore said to them: You brought him, you judge him according to your law. The Jews said to him: It is allowed for us to put no one to death, 32 in order that the word of Jesus be fulfilled when he spoke indicating what sort of death he was [about] to be dying.Pilate Questions Jesus
33 Pilate therefore went in again into the Praetorium and called Jesus and said to him: Are you the king of the Jews? 34 Jesus answered: Do you say this from yourself or did others tell you concerning me? 35 Pilate answered: Am I [a] Jew? Your nation and chief-priests have delivered you up to me. What did you do?36 Jesus answered: My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my officers would have fought in order that I not be delivered up to the Jews; but now my kingdom is not from here. 37 Pilate therefore said to him: So are you [a] king? Jesus answered: You say that I am king. I am born for this and am come into the world for this, in order that I witness to the truth. All those being from the truth hear my voice. 38 Pilate says to him: What is truth?
And having said this he again went out to the Jews, and says to them: I find nothing blameworthy in him. 39 But it [is] custom for you that I release to you one [man] on the Passover. Do you wish therefore that I release to you the king of the Jews? 40 They therefore cried out again saying: Not this one, but Barrabas. Now Barrabas was [a] revolutionary 6 .
1SPEIRAN (σπειραν) a technical term for a Roman cohort, a force of 600 men (one tenth of a legion), although all 600 may not have been called out
2Grammar indicates "no" answer expected or expresses uncertainty
3EROTAO (ερωταω) "Ask", but more polite, not demanding/begging as is AITEO. Both AITEO and EROTAO occur in John.16:26.
4Grammar indicates 'yes' expected
5i.e. the governor's residence
6Or `robber'. It is possible Barrabas was merely a robber or highwayman, but given the use of the word used here—LESTES (ληστης )— as used by other contemporary writers (like Josephus), it seems more likely he was a guerrilla warrior or revolutionary leader—a `terrorist'