Jesus Is Arrested

18 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.

² Judas knew where this place was, because Jesus met there often with his followers. Judas was the one who turned against Jesus. ³ 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.

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

⁵ They answered, “Jesus from Nazareth.”

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

⁷ Jesus 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.” ⁹ This happened so that the words Jesus said before would come true: “I have not lost any of the ones you gave me.”

¹⁰ 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.) ¹¹ Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back. Shouldn’t I drink the cup^[a] the Father gave me?”