John 18:1–24

Jesus Is Arrested

18When Jesus finished praying, he went with his followers across the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and Jesus and his followers went into it.

²Judas knew where this place was, because Jesus met there often with his followers. Judas was the one who turned against Jesus. ³So Judas came there with a group of soldiers and some guards from the leading priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns, and weapons.

⁴Knowing everything that would happen to him, Jesus went out and asked, “Who is it you are looking for?”

⁵They answered, “Jesus from Nazareth.”

“I am he,” Jesus said. (Judas, the one who turned against Jesus, was standing there with them.) ⁶When Jesus said, “I am he,” they moved back and fell to the ground.

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

They said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

⁸“I told you that I am he,” Jesus said. “So if you are looking for me, let the others go.” ⁹This happened so that the words Jesus said before would come true: “I have not lost any of the ones you gave me.”

¹⁰Simon Peter, who had a sword, pulled it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) ¹¹Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back. Shouldn’t I drink the cup ⁿ the Father gave me?”

Jesus Is Brought Before Annas

¹²Then the soldiers with their commander and the guards arrested Jesus. They tied him ¹³and led him first to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. ¹⁴Caiaphas was the one who told the Jews that it would be better if one man died for all the people.

Peter Says He Doesn’t Know Jesus

¹⁵Simon Peter and another one of Jesus’ followers went along after Jesus. This follower knew the high priest, so he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard. ¹⁶But Peter waited outside near the door. The follower who knew the high priest came back outside, spoke to the girl at the door, and brought Peter inside. ¹⁷The girl at the door said to Peter, “Aren’t you also one of that man’s followers?”

Peter answered, “No, I am not!”

¹⁸It was cold, so the servants and guards had built a fire and were standing around it, warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.

The High Priest Questions Jesus

¹⁹The high priest asked Jesus questions about his followers and his teaching. ²⁰Jesus answered, “I have spoken openly to everyone. I have always taught in synagogues and in the Temple, where all the Jews come together. I never said anything in secret. ²¹So why do you question me? Ask the people who heard my teaching. They know what I said.”

²²When Jesus said this, one of the guards standing there hit him. The guard said, “Is that the way you answer the high priest?”

²³Jesus answered him, “If I said something wrong, then show what it was. But if what I said is true, why do you hit me?”

²⁴Then Annas sent Jesus, who was still tied, to Caiaphas the high priest.