John 18:1–24

Jesus Is Arrested—Matthew 26:47–56; Mark 14:43–52; Luke 22:47–54a

¹After Jesus finished his prayer, he went with his disciples to the other side of the Kidron Valley. They entered the garden that was there. 

²Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place because Jesus and his disciples often gathered there. ³So Judas took a troop of soldiers and the guards from the chief priests and Pharisees and went to the garden. They were carrying lanterns, torches, and weapons. 

⁴Jesus knew everything that was going to happen to him. So he went to meet them and asked, “Who are you looking for?” 

⁵They answered him, “Jesus from Nazareth.” 

Jesus told them, “I am he.” 

Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with the crowd. ⁶When Jesus told them, “I am he,” the crowd backed away and fell to the ground. 

⁷Jesus asked them again, “Who are you looking for?” 

They said, “Jesus from Nazareth.” 

⁸Jesus replied, “I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these other men go.” ⁹In this way what Jesus had said came true: “I lost none of those you gave me.” 

¹⁰Simon Peter had a sword. He drew it, attacked the chief priest’s servant, and cut off the servant’s right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) 

¹¹Jesus told Peter, “Put your sword away. Shouldn’t I drink the cup ⸤of suffering⸥ that my Father has given me?” 

¹²Then the army officer and the Jewish guards arrested Jesus. They tied Jesus up ¹³and took him first to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas. Caiaphas, the chief priest that year, ¹⁴was the person who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one man die for the people. 

Peter Denies Jesus—Matthew 26:69–75; Mark 14:66–72; Luke 22:54b–62

¹⁵Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. The other disciple was well-known to the chief priest. So that disciple went with Jesus into the chief priest’s courtyard. ¹⁶Peter, however, was standing outside the gate. The other disciple talked to the woman who was the gatekeeper and brought Peter into the courtyard. 

¹⁷The gatekeeper asked Peter, “Aren’t you one of this man’s disciples too?” 

Peter answered, “No, I’m not!” 

¹⁸The servants and the guards were standing around a fire they had built and were warming themselves because it was cold. Peter was standing there, too, and warming himself with the others. 

The Chief Priest Questions Jesus

¹⁹The chief priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teachings. 

²⁰Jesus answered him, “I have spoken publicly for everyone to hear. I have always taught in synagogues or in the temple courtyard, where all the Jews gather. I haven’t said anything in secret. ²¹Why do you question me? Question those who heard what I said to them. They know what I’ve said.” 

²²When Jesus said this, one of the guards standing near Jesus slapped his face and said, “Is that how you answer the chief priest?” 

²³Jesus replied to him, “If I’ve said anything wrong, tell me what it was. But if I’ve told the truth, why do you hit me?” 

²⁴Annas sent Jesus to Caiaphas, the chief priest. Jesus was still tied up.