John 18 : 1 (NCV)
When 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.
John 18 : 2 (NCV)
Judas knew where this place was, because Jesus met there often with his followers. Judas was the one who turned against Jesus.
John 18 : 3 (NCV)
So 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.
John 18 : 4 (NCV)
Knowing everything that would happen to him, Jesus went out and asked, "Who is it you are looking for?"
John 18 : 5 (NCV)
They answered, "Jesus from Nazareth." "I am he," Jesus said. (Judas, the one who turned against Jesus, was standing there with them.)
John 18 : 6 (NCV)
When Jesus said, "I am he," they moved back and fell to the ground.
John 18 : 7 (NCV)
Jesus asked them again, "Who is it you are looking for?" They said, "Jesus of Nazareth."
John 18 : 8 (NCV)
"I told you that I am he," Jesus said. "So if you are looking for me, let the others go."
John 18 : 9 (NCV)
This happened so that the words Jesus said before would come true: "I have not lost any of the ones you gave me."
John 18 : 10 (NCV)
Simon 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.)
John 18 : 11 (NCV)
Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword back. Shouldn't I drink the cupn the Father gave me?"
John 18 : 12 (NCV)
Then the soldiers with their commander and the Jewish guards arrested Jesus. They tied him
John 18 : 13 (NCV)
and led him first to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year.
John 18 : 14 (NCV)
Caiaphas was the one who told the Jews that it would be better if one man died for all the people.
John 18 : 15 (NCV)
Simon 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.
John 18 : 16 (NCV)
But 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.
John 18 : 17 (NCV)
The girl at the door said to Peter, "Aren't you also one of that man's followers?" Peter answered, "No, I am not!"
John 18 : 18 (NCV)
It 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.
John 18 : 19 (NCV)
The high priest asked Jesus questions about his followers and his teaching.
John 18 : 20 (NCV)
Jesus 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.
John 18 : 21 (NCV)
So why do you question me? Ask the people who heard my teaching. They know what I said."
John 18 : 22 (NCV)
When Jesus said this, one of the guards standing there hit him. The guard said, "Is that the way you answer the high priest?"
John 18 : 23 (NCV)
Jesus answered him, "If I said something wrong, then show what it was. But if what I said is true, why do you hit me?"
John 18 : 24 (NCV)
Then Annas sent Jesus, who was still tied, to Caiaphas the high priest.
John 18 : 25 (NCV)
As Simon Peter was standing and warming himself, they said to him, "Aren't you one of that man's followers?" Peter said it was not true; he said, "No, I am not."
John 18 : 26 (NCV)
One of the servants of the high priest was there. This servant was a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off. The servant said, "Didn't I see you with him in the garden?"
John 18 : 27 (NCV)
Again Peter said it wasn't true. At once a rooster crowed.
John 18 : 28 (NCV)
Early in the morning they led Jesus from Caiaphas's house to the Roman governor's palace. They would not go inside the palace, because they did not want to make themselves unclean; they wanted to eat the Passover meal.
John 18 : 29 (NCV)
So Pilate went outside to them and asked, "What charges do you bring against this man?"
John 18 : 30 (NCV)
They answered, "If he were not a criminal, we wouldn't have brought him to you."
John 18 : 31 (NCV)
Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law." "But we are not allowed to put anyone to death," the Jews answered.
John 18 : 32 (NCV)
(This happened so that what Jesus said about how he would die would come true.)
John 18 : 33 (NCV)
Then Pilate went back inside the palace and called Jesus to him and asked, "Are you the king of the Jews?"
John 18 : 34 (NCV)
Jesus said, "Is that your own question, or did others tell you about me?"
John 18 : 35 (NCV)
Pilate answered, "I am not Jewish. It was your own people and their leading priests who handed you over to me. What have you done wrong?"
John 18 : 36 (NCV)
Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world. If it belonged to this world, my servants would fight so that I would not be given over to the Jews. But my kingdom is from another place."
John 18 : 37 (NCV)
Pilate said, "So you are a king!" Jesus answered, "You are the one saying I am a king. This is why I was born and came into the world: to tell people the truth. And everyone who belongs to the truth listens to me."
John 18 : 38 (NCV)
Pilate said, "What is truth?" After he said this, he went out to the Jews again and said to them, "I find nothing against this man.
John 18 : 39 (NCV)
But it is your custom that I free one prisoner to you at Passover time. Do you want me to free the 'king of the Jews'?"
John 18 : 40 (NCV)
They shouted back, "No, not him! Let Barabbas go free!" (Barabbas was a robber.)
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