¹³ First they led Him to Annas,^(A) for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas,^(B) who was high priest that year. ¹⁴ Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was advantageous that one man should die for the people.^(C)

Peter Denies Jesus

¹⁵ Meanwhile, Simon Peter^(D) was following Jesus, as was another disciple. That disciple was an acquaintance of the high priest; so he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard. ¹⁶ But Peter remained standing outside by the door. So the other disciple, the one known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the girl who was the doorkeeper and brought Peter in.

¹⁷ Then the slave girl who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?”

“I am not!” he said. ¹⁸ Now the slaves and the temple police had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold. They were standing there warming themselves, and Peter was standing with them, warming himself.

Jesus before Annas

¹⁹ The high priest^(E) questioned Jesus about His disciples and about His teaching.

²⁰ “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus answered him. “I have always taught in the synagogue^(F) and in the temple complex,^(G) where all the Jews congregate, and I haven’t spoken anything in secret. ²¹ Why do you question Me? Question those who heard what I told them. Look, they know what I said.”

²² When He had said these things, one of the temple police standing by slapped Jesus, saying, “Is this the way you answer the high priest?”

²³ “If I have spoken wrongly,” Jesus answered him, “give evidence^[a] about the wrong; but if rightly,^(H) why do you hit Me?”

²⁴ Then^(I) Annas^(J) sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Jesus before Pilate

²⁸ Then^(A) they took Jesus from Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters.^(B) It was early morning. They did not enter the headquarters themselves; otherwise they would be defiled and unable to eat the Passover.

²⁹ Then Pilate^(C) came out to them and said, “What charge^(D) do you bring against this man?”

³⁰ They answered him, “If this man weren’t a criminal,^[a] we wouldn’t have handed Him over to you.”

³¹ So Pilate told them, “Take Him yourselves and judge Him according to your law.”

“It’s not legal^[b] for us to put anyone to death,” the Jews declared. ³² They said this so that Jesus’ words might be fulfilled signifying what kind of death He was going to die.^(E)

³³ Then Pilate went back into the headquarters, summoned Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”^(F)

³⁴ Jesus answered, “Are you asking this on your own, or have others told you about Me?”

³⁵ “I’m not a Jew, am I?” Pilate replied. “Your own nation and the chief priests handed You over to me. What have You done?”

³⁶ “My kingdom^(G) is not of this world,” said Jesus. “If My kingdom were of this world,^(H) My servants^[c](I) would fight, so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. As it is, My kingdom does not have its origin here.”^[d](J)

³⁷ “You are a king then?” Pilate asked.

“You say that I’m a king,” Jesus replied. “I was born for this, and I have come into the world^(K) for this: to testify^(L) to the truth.^(M) Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.”

³⁸ “What is truth?” said Pilate.

Jesus or Barabbas

After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no grounds^(N) for charging Him. ³⁹ You^(O) have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at the Passover. So, do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

⁴⁰ They shouted back, “Not this man, but Barabbas!”^(P) Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.^[e](Q)