John 18

The Betrayal of Jesus

(Matthew 26:47–56; Mark 14:43–52; Luke 22:47–53)

1 After Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples across the Kidron Valley, where they entered a garden. ‡ 2Sa 15:23Mat 26:36Mrk 14:32Jhn 18:26Luk 22:39-401Ki 15:132Ch 15:162Ch 30:14 +102 Now Judas His betrayer also knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with His disciples. ‡ Luk 21:37Luk 22:39Mrk 11:11-12 3 So Judas brought a band of soldiers and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees. They arrived at the garden carrying lanterns, torches, and weapons. ‡ Jhn 18:12Luk 22:47-53Act 1:16Psa 22:12Psa 3:1-2Jhn 13:2Jhn 13:27-30Mat 26:47-56 +1

4 Jesus, knowing all that was coming upon Him, stepped forward and asked them, “Whom are you seeking?” ‡ Jhn 13:1Jhn 18:7Act 2:28Act 20:22-23Psa 27:31Ki 18:101Ki 18:14-18Act 4:24-28 +18

5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. ‡ Isa 3:9Jer 8:12Jhn 1:46Jhn 19:19Mat 2:23Mat 21:11

Jesus said, “I am He.”

And Judas His betrayer was standing there with them. 6 When Jesus said, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. ‡ Psa 27:2Psa 70:2-32Ki 1:9-15Act 4:29-30Luk 9:54-56Psa 129:5Psa 40:14

7 So He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?” ‡ Jhn 18:4

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered.

8 “I told you that I am He,” Jesus replied. “So if you are looking for Me, let these men go.” ‡ Jhn 10:282Co 12:91Pe 5:7Isa 53:6Jhn 13:11Co 10:13Eph 5:25Jhn 13:36 +39 This was to fulfill the word He had spoken: “I have not lost one of those You have given Me.” ¹ ‡ Jhn 17:12

10 Then Simon Peter drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. ‡ Mat 26:51-54Mrk 14:47Luk 22:49-51Jhn 18:26Luk 22:33Mrk 14:30

11 “Put your sword back in its sheath!” Jesus said to Peter. “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given Me?” ‡ Mat 20:22Mat 26:39Jhn 20:17Jhn 12:27-28Heb 12:2Jhn 15:102Co 10:42Co 6:7 +13

12 Then the band of soldiers, with its commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him. ‡ Jhn 18:3Mat 26:57Act 21:31Act 21:37Act 22:24-28Gen 22:9Jdg 16:21Luk 22:54 +713 They brought Him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. ‡ Jhn 18:24Jhn 11:51Luk 3:2Mat 26:3Mat 26:57Act 4:6 14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be better if one man died for the people. ‡ Jhn 11:49-52

Peter’s First Denial

(Matthew 26:69–70; Mark 14:66–68; Luke 22:54–57)

15 Now Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he also went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. ‡ Luk 22:54Mrk 14:54Mat 26:58-68Mat 26:3 16 But Peter stood outside at the door. Then the disciple who was known to the high priest went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in. ‡ Luk 22:55-57Mat 26:69Mrk 14:66-68

17 At this, the servant girl watching the door said to Peter, “Aren’t you also one of this man’s disciples?” ‡ Mat 26:69-70Jhn 18:16Jhn 18:25Jhn 21:15Luk 22:54Luk 22:56-57Mat 26:33Mrk 14:66-68 +3

“I am not,” he answered.

18 Because it was cold, the servants and officers were standing around a charcoal fire they had made to keep warm. And Peter was also standing with them, warming himself. ‡ Mrk 14:54Jhn 18:25Luk 22:55-56Mrk 14:67Eph 5:11-12Gen 49:6Jhn 21:9Pro 13:20 +7

Jesus before the High Priest

(Matthew 26:57–68; Mark 14:53–65; Luke 22:66–71)

19 Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and His teaching. ‡ Luk 11:53-54Luk 20:20Luk 22:63-71Mat 26:59-68Mrk 14:55-65

20 “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus answered. “I always taught in the synagogues and at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. ‡ Isa 48:16Jhn 7:26Mat 4:23Luk 21:37Isa 45:19Jhn 7:4Luk 4:15Mat 26:55 +1421 Why are you asking Me? Ask those who heard My message. Surely they know what I said.” ‡ Luk 22:67Act 24:12-13Act 24:18-20Mat 26:59-60Mrk 14:55-59

22 When Jesus had said this, one of the officers standing nearby slapped Him in the face and said, “Is this how You answer the high priest?” ‡ Isa 50:5-7Jhn 19:3Luk 22:63-64Mat 26:67-68Mrk 14:65Act 23:2-5Job 16:10Mic 5:1 +3

23 Jesus replied, “If I said something wrong, testify as to what was wrong. But if I spoke correctly, why did you strike Me?” ‡ 1Pe 2:20-232Co 10:1Mat 5:39Act 23:2-5

24 Then Annas sent Him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest. ‡ Jhn 18:13Mat 26:57

Peter’s Second and Third Denials

(Matthew 26:71–75; Mark 14:69–72; Luke 22:58–62)

25 Simon Peter was still standing and warming himself. So they asked him, “Aren’t you also one of His disciples?” ‡ Jhn 18:17-18Mrk 14:67-72Gen 18:15Luk 22:58-62Mat 26:71-75Mrk 14:37-38Pro 29:25Luk 22:56 +2

He denied it and said, “I am not.”

26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Didn’t I see you with Him in the garden?” ‡ Jhn 18:1Jhn 18:10Luk 22:59-60Mat 26:73Mrk 14:70-71Pro 12:19

27 Peter denied it once more, and immediately a rooster crowed. ‡ Jhn 13:38Luk 22:60-62Mrk 14:71-72Mat 26:34Mat 26:74-75Mrk 14:30Mrk 14:68Luk 22:34

Jesus before Pilate

(Matthew 27:11–14; Luke 23:1–5)

28 Then they led Jesus away from Caiaphas into the Praetorium. By now it was early morning, and the Jews did not enter the Praetorium, to avoid being defiled and unable to eat the Passover. ‡ Jhn 18:33Jhn 19:9Jhn 19:14Mat 27:27Mrk 15:1-5Act 3:13Isa 1:10-15Jhn 11:55 +20

29 So Pilate went out to them and asked, “What accusation are you bringing against this man?” ‡ Mat 27:23Mrk 15:2-5Luk 23:2-3Mat 27:11-14Act 23:28-30Act 25:16

30 “If He were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed Him over to you.” ‡ Act 3:13Jhn 19:12Luk 20:19-26Luk 23:2-5Luk 24:7Mrk 10:33Mrk 15:3

31 “You take Him and judge Him by your own law,” Pilate told them. ‡ Jhn 19:15Jhn 19:6-7Act 25:18-20Ezk 21:26-27Gen 49:10Hos 3:4-5

“We are not permitted to execute anyone,” the Jews replied. 32 This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to indicate the kind of death He was going to die. ² ‡ Jhn 3:14Mat 20:19Mat 26:2Jhn 12:32-33Luk 18:32-33Deu 21:23Jhn 8:28Mrk 10:33 +6

33 Pilate went back into the Praetorium, summoned Jesus, and asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” ‡ Luk 23:3-4Act 2:34-36Jhn 12:13Jhn 18:37Jhn 19:12Jhn 19:3Luk 19:38-40Mat 27:11 +12

34 “Are you saying this on your own,” Jesus asked, “or did others tell you about Me?”

35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed You over to me. What have You done?” ‡ Jhn 19:11Act 18:14-16Act 21:38Act 22:22-24Act 23:29Act 25:19-20Act 3:13Ezr 4:12 +4

36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm.” ‡ Luk 17:20-21Col 1:12-14Jhn 6:15Rom 14:17Dan 2:44Dan 7:14Zec 9:91Ti 6:13 +5

37 “Then You are a king!” Pilate said. ‡ 1Jn 4:6Jhn 8:47Jhn 8:14Jhn 10:26-271Jn 3:19Jhn 14:6Isa 55:4Jhn 7:17 +13

“You say that I am a king,” Jesus answered. “For this reason I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice.”

38 “What is truth?” Pilate asked. ‡ Jhn 19:4Jhn 19:6Luk 23:4Act 17:321Pe 1:191Pe 2:22-23Act 17:19-20Act 24:25-26 +5

And having said this, he went out again to the Jews and told them, “I find no basis for a charge against Him. 39 But it is your custom that I release to you one prisoner at the Passover. So then, do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” ‡ Mat 27:15-18Luk 23:16-23Mrk 15:6-14Mat 27:20-23

40 “Not this man,” they shouted, “but Barabbas!” (Now Barabbas was an insurrectionist.) ‡ Act 3:13-14Luk 23:18-19Luk 23:25Mat 27:16Mat 27:26Mrk 15:15Mrk 15:7