John 18:1–14

The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

¹⁸After Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley to a place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. ²Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place because Jesus often met there with his disciples.^{* 3}So Judas brought a detachment of soldiers together with police from the chief priests and the Pharisees, and they came there with lanterns and torches and weapons.^{* 4}Then Jesus, knowing all that was to happen to him, came forward and asked them, “Whom are you looking for?”^{* 5}They answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.”^y Jesus replied, “I am he.”^z Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. ⁶When Jesus^a said to them, “I am he,”^b they stepped back and fell to the ground. ⁷Again he asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”^{c* 8}Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he.^d So if you are looking for me, let these people go.” ⁹This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken, “I did not lose a single one of those whom you gave me.”^{* 10}Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. ¹¹Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?”^*

Jesus before the High Priest

¹²So the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus and bound him. ¹³First they took him to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year.^{* 14}Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one person die for the people.^*