Joh 18 | ESV | STEP | When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron , where there was a garden , which he and his disciples entered .

1 When Jesus had spoken these words, ^ahe went out with his disciples across ^bthe brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew ^cthe place, for ^dJesus often met there with his disciples. 3 ^eSo Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Then Jesus, ^fknowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, ^g“Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” ^{▼▼Greek I am; also verses 6, 8} Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 ⁱWhen Jesus ^{▼▼Greek he} said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 So he asked them again, ^k“Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” 9 ^lThis was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” 10 Then Simon Peter, ^mhaving a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant ^{▼▼Greek bondservant; twice in this verse} and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; ^oshall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

Jesus Faces Annas and Caiaphas

12 So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews ^{▼▼Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time; also verses 14, 31, 36, 38} arrested Jesus and bound him. 13 First they ^qled him to ^rAnnas, for he was the father-in-law of ^sCaiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14 It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews ^tthat it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.

Peter Denies Jesus

15 ^uSimon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, 16 ^vbut Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. 17 ^wThe servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” 18 Now the servants ^{▼▼Greek bondservants; also verse 26} and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. ^yPeter also was with them, standing and warming himself.

The High Priest Questions Jesus

19 ^zThe high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken ^aaopenly ^abto the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. ^acI have said nothing in secret. 21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” 22 When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, ^ad“Is that how you answer the high priest?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” 24 ^aeAnnas then sent him bound to ^afCaiaphas the high priest.

Peter Denies Jesus Again

25 ^agNow Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” 26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of ^ahthe man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you ^aiin the garden with him?” 27 Peter again denied it, and ^ajat once a rooster crowed.

Jesus Before Pilate

28 ^akThen they led Jesus ^alfrom the house of Caiaphas to ^amthe governor’s headquarters. ^{▼▼Greek the praetorium} It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, ^aoso that they would not be defiled, ^apbut could eat the Passover. 29 ^aqSo Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30 They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” 31 Pilate said to them, ^ar“Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” 32 ^asThis was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken ^atto show by what kind of death he was going to die.

My Kingdom Is Not of This World

33 ^auSo Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, ^av“Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, ^aw“My kingdom ^axis not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, ^aymy servants would have been fighting, that ^azI might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, ^ba“You say that I am a king. ^bbFor this purpose I was born and for this purpose ^bcI have come into the world— ^bdto bear witness to the truth. ^beEveryone who is ^bfof the truth ^bglistens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

After he had said this, ^bhhe went back outside to the Jews and told them, ^bi“I find no guilt in him. 39 ^bjBut you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 40 They cried out again, ^bk“Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber. ^{▼▼Or an insurrectionist}