John 18:1–24

JESUS BETRAYED

18After^k Jesus had said these things, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it. ²Judas,^l who betrayed^m him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples. ³So Judas took a company of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Phariseesⁿ and came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.

⁴Then Jesus, knowing everything that was about to happen to him,^o went out and said to them, “Who is it that you’re seeking?”

⁵“Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered.

“I am he,”^p Jesus told them.

Judas, who betrayed him, was also standing with them. ⁶When Jesus told them, “I am he,” they stepped back and fell to the ground.

⁷Then he asked them again, “Who is it that you’re seeking?”

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.

⁸“I told you I am he,” Jesus replied. “So if you’re looking for me, let these men go.” ⁹This was to fulfill^q the words he had said: “I have not lost one of those you have given me.”^r

¹⁰Then Simon^s Peter,^t who had a sword,^u drew it, struck the high priest’s^v servant, and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)

¹¹At that, Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword away! Am I not to drink the cup^w the Father has given me?”

JESUS ARRESTED AND TAKEN TO ANNAS

¹²Then the company of soldiers, the commander, and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus and tied him up. ¹³First they led him to Annas,^x since he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas,^y who was high priest that year. ¹⁴Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be better for one man to die for the people.^z

PETER DENIES JESUS

¹⁵Simon Peter^aa was following Jesus, as was another disciple. That disciple was an acquaintance of the high priest; so he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard. ¹⁶But Peter remained standing outside by the door. So the other disciple, the one known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the girl who was the doorkeeper and brought Peter in.

¹⁷Then the servant girl who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?”

“I am not,” he said. ¹⁸Now the servants and the officials had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold. They were standing there warming themselves, and Peter was standing with them, warming himself.

JESUS BEFORE ANNAS

¹⁹The high priest^ab questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching.

²⁰“I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus answered him. “I have always taught in the synagogue^ac and in the temple,^ad where all the Jews gather, and I haven’t spoken anything in secret. ²¹Why do you question me? Question those who heard what I told them. Look, they know what I said.”

²²When he had said these things, one of the officials standing by slapped Jesus, saying, “Is this the way you answer the high priest?”

²³“If I have spoken wrongly,” Jesus answered him, “give evidence^A about the wrong; but if rightly,^a why do you hit me?” ²⁴Then^b Annas^c sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.