John 18-21
The Message
Seized in the Garden at Night
18 Jesus, having prayed this prayer, left with his disciples and crossed over the brook Kidron at a place where there was a garden. He and his disciples entered it.
2-4 Judas, his betrayer, knew the place because Jesus and his disciples went there often. So Judas led the way to the garden, and the Roman soldiers and police sent by the high priests and Pharisees followed. They arrived there with lanterns and torches and swords. Jesus, knowing by now everything that was imploding on him, went out and met them. He said, “Who are you after?”
They answered, “Jesus the Nazarene.”
5-6 He said, “That’s me.” The soldiers recoiled, totally taken aback. Judas, his betrayer, stood out like a sore thumb.
7 Jesus asked again, “Who are you after?”
They answered, “Jesus the Nazarene.”
8-9 “I told you,” said Jesus, “that’s me. I’m the one. So if it’s me you’re after, let these others go.” (This validated the words in his prayer, “I didn’t lose one of those you gave.”)
10 Just then Simon Peter, who was carrying a sword, pulled it from its sheath and struck the Chief Priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. Malchus was the servant’s name.
11 Jesus ordered Peter, “Put back your sword. Do you think for a minute I’m not going to drink this cup the Father gave me?”
12-14 Then the Roman soldiers under their commander, joined by the Jewish police, seized Jesus and tied him up. They took him first to Annas, father-in-law of Caiaphas. Caiaphas was the Chief Priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it was to their advantage that one man die for the people.
15-16 Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. That other disciple was known to the Chief Priest, and so he went in with Jesus to the Chief Priest’s courtyard. Peter had to stay outside. Then the other disciple went out, spoke to the doorkeeper, and got Peter in.
17 The young woman who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, “Aren’t you one of this man’s disciples?”
He said, “No, I’m not.”
18 The servants and police had made a fire because of the cold and were huddled there warming themselves. Peter stood with them, trying to get warm.
The Interrogation
19-21 Annas interrogated Jesus regarding his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered, “I’ve spoken openly in public. I’ve taught regularly in meeting places and the Temple, where the Jews all come together. Everything has been out in the open. I’ve said nothing in secret. So why are you treating me like a traitor? Question those who have been listening to me. They know well what I have said. My teachings have all been aboveboard.”
22 When he said this, one of the policemen standing there slapped Jesus across the face, saying, “How dare you speak to the Chief Priest like that!”
23 Jesus replied, “If I’ve said something wrong, prove it. But if I’ve spoken the plain truth, why this slapping around?”
24 Then Annas sent him, still tied up, to the Chief Priest Caiaphas.
25 Meanwhile, Simon Peter was back at the fire, still trying to get warm. The others there said to him, “Aren’t you one of his disciples?”
He denied it, “Not me.”
26 One of the Chief Priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?”
27 Again, Peter denied it. Just then a rooster crowed.
The King of the Jews
28-29 They led Jesus then from Caiaphas to the Roman governor’s palace. It was early morning. They themselves didn’t enter the palace because they didn’t want to be disqualified from eating the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and spoke. “What charge do you bring against this man?”
30 They said, “If he hadn’t been doing something evil, do you think we’d be here bothering you?”
31-32 Pilate said, “You take him. Judge him by your law.”
The Jews said, “We’re not allowed to kill anyone.” (This would confirm Jesus’ word indicating the way he would die.)
33 Pilate went back into the palace and called for Jesus. He said, “Are you the ‘King of the Jews’?”
34 Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own, or did others tell you this about me?”
35 Pilate said, “Do I look like a Jew? Your people and your high priests turned you over to me. What did you do?”
36 “My kingdom,” said Jesus, “doesn’t consist of what you see around you. If it did, my followers would fight so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. But I’m not that kind of king, not the world’s kind of king.”
37 Then Pilate said, “So, are you a king or not?”
Jesus answered, “You tell me. Because I am King, I was born and entered the world so that I could witness to the truth. Everyone who cares for truth, who has any feeling for the truth, recognizes my voice.”
38-39 Pilate said, “What is truth?”
Then he went back out to the Jews and told them, “I find nothing wrong in this man. It’s your custom that I pardon one prisoner at Passover. Do you want me to pardon the ‘King of the Jews’?”
40 They shouted back, “Not this one, but Barabbas!” Barabbas was a Jewish freedom fighter.
The Thorn Crown of the King
19 1-3 So Pilate took Jesus and had him whipped. The soldiers, having braided a crown from thorns, set it on his head, threw a purple robe over him, and approached him with, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Then they greeted him with slaps in the face.
4-5 Pilate went back out again and said to them, “I present him to you, but I want you to know that I do not find him guilty of any crime.” Just then Jesus came out wearing the thorn crown and purple robe.
Pilate announced, “Here he is: the Man.”
6 When the high priests and police saw him, they shouted in a frenzy, “Crucify! Crucify!”
Pilate told them, “You take him. You crucify him. I find nothing wrong with him.”
7 The Jews answered, “We have a law, and by that law he must die because he claimed to be the Son of God.”
8-9 When Pilate heard this, he became even more scared. He went back into the palace and said to Jesus, “Where did you come from?”
Jesus gave no answer.
10 Pilate said, “You won’t talk? Don’t you know that I have the authority to pardon you, and the authority to—crucify you?”
11 Jesus said, “You haven’t a shred of authority over me except what has been given you from heaven. That’s why the one who betrayed me to you has committed a far greater fault.”
12 At this, Pilate tried his best to pardon him, but the Jews shouted him down: “If you pardon this man, you’re no friend of Caesar’s. Anyone setting himself up as ‘king’ defies Caesar.”
13-14 When Pilate heard those words, he led Jesus outside. He sat down at the judgment seat in the area designated Stone Court (in Hebrew, Gabbatha). It was the preparation day for Passover. The hour was noon. Pilate said to the Jews, “Here is your king.”
15 They shouted back, “Kill him! Kill him! Crucify him!”
Pilate said, “I am to crucify your king?”
The high priests answered, “We have no king except Caesar.”
16-19 Pilate caved in to their demand. He turned him over to be crucified.
The Crucifixion
They took Jesus away. Carrying his cross, Jesus went out to the place called Skull Hill (the name in Hebrew is Golgotha), where they crucified him, and with him two others, one on each side, Jesus in the middle. Pilate wrote a sign and had it placed on the cross. It read:
jesus the nazarene
the king of the jews.
20-21 Many of the Jews read the sign because the place where Jesus was crucified was right next to the city. It was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. The Jewish high priests objected. “Don’t write,” they said to Pilate, “‘The King of the Jews.’ Make it, ‘This man said, “I am the King of the Jews.”’”
22 Pilate said, “What I’ve written, I’ve written.”
23-24 When they crucified him, the Roman soldiers took his clothes and divided them up four ways, to each soldier a fourth. But his robe was seamless, a single piece of weaving, so they said to each other, “Let’s not tear it up. Let’s throw dice to see who gets it.” This confirmed the Scripture that said, “They divided up my clothes among them and threw dice for my coat.” (The soldiers validated the Scriptures!)
24-27 While the soldiers were looking after themselves, Jesus’ mother, his aunt, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene stood at the foot of the cross. Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her. He said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that moment the disciple accepted her as his own mother.
28 Jesus, seeing that everything had been completed so that the Scripture record might also be complete, then said, “I’m thirsty.”
29-30 A jug of sour wine was standing by. Someone put a sponge soaked with the wine on a javelin and lifted it to his mouth. After he took the wine, Jesus said, “It’s done . . . complete.” Bowing his head, he offered up his spirit.
31-34 Then the Jews, since it was the day of Sabbath preparation, and so the bodies wouldn’t stay on the crosses over the Sabbath (it was a high holy day that year), petitioned Pilate that their legs be broken to speed death, and the bodies taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man crucified with Jesus, and then the other. When they got to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs. One of the soldiers stabbed him in the side with his spear. Blood and water gushed out.
35 The eyewitness to these things has presented an accurate report. He saw it himself and is telling the truth so that you, also, will believe.
36-37 These things that happened confirmed the Scripture, “Not a bone in his body was broken,” and the other Scripture that reads, “They will stare at the one they pierced.”
* * *
38 After all this, Joseph of Arimathea (he was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, because he was intimidated by the Jews) petitioned Pilate to take the body of Jesus. Pilate gave permission. So Joseph came and took the body.
39-42 Nicodemus, who had first come to Jesus at night, came now in broad daylight carrying a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. They took Jesus’ body and, following the Jewish burial custom, wrapped it in linen with the spices. There was a garden near the place he was crucified, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been placed. So, because it was Sabbath preparation for the Jews and the tomb was convenient, they placed Jesus in it.
Resurrection!
20 1-2 Early in the morning on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone was moved away from the entrance. She ran at once to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, gasping for breath. “They took the Master from the tomb. We don’t know where they’ve put him.”
3-10 Peter and the other disciple left immediately for the tomb. They ran, neck and neck. The other disciple got to the tomb first, outrunning Peter. Stooping to look in, he saw the pieces of linen cloth lying there, but he didn’t go in. Simon Peter arrived after him, entered the tomb, observed the linen cloths lying there, and the kerchief used to cover his head not lying with the linen cloths but separate, neatly folded by itself. Then the other disciple, the one who had gotten there first, went into the tomb, took one look at the evidence, and believed. No one yet knew from the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead. The disciples then went back home.
11-13 But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. As she wept, she knelt to look into the tomb and saw two angels sitting there, dressed in white, one at the head, the other at the foot of where Jesus’ body had been laid. They said to her, “Woman, why do you weep?”
13-14 “They took my Master,” she said, “and I don’t know where they put him.” After she said this, she turned away and saw Jesus standing there. But she didn’t recognize him.
15 Jesus spoke to her, “Woman, why do you weep? Who are you looking for?”
She, thinking that he was the gardener, said, “Sir, if you took him, tell me where you put him so I can care for him.”
16 Jesus said, “Mary.”
Turning to face him, she said in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” meaning “Teacher!”
17 Jesus said, “Don’t cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I ascend to my Father and your Father, my God and your God.’”
18 Mary Magdalene went, telling the news to the disciples: “I saw the Master!” And she told them everything he said to her.
To Believe
19-20 Later on that day, the disciples had gathered together, but, fearful of the Jews, had locked all the doors in the house. Jesus entered, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.” Then he showed them his hands and side.
20-21 The disciples, seeing the Master with their own eyes, were awestruck. Jesus repeated his greeting: “Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me, I send you.”
22-23 Then he took a deep breath and breathed into them. “Receive the Holy Spirit,” he said. “If you forgive someone’s sins, they’re gone for good. If you don’t forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?”
24-25 But Thomas, sometimes called the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We saw the Master.”
But he said, “Unless I see the nail holes in his hands, put my finger in the nail holes, and stick my hand in his side, I won’t believe it.”
26 Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.”
27 Then he focused his attention on Thomas. “Take your finger and examine my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don’t be unbelieving. Believe.”
28 Thomas said, “My Master! My God!”
29 Jesus said, “So, you believe because you’ve seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing.”
30-31 Jesus provided far more God-revealing signs than are written down in this book. These are written down so you will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and in the act of believing, have real and eternal life in the way he personally revealed it.
Fishing
21 1-3 After this, Jesus appeared again to the disciples, this time at the Tiberias Sea (the Sea of Galilee). This is how he did it: Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed “Twin”), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the brothers Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. Simon Peter announced, “I’m going fishing.”
3-4 The rest of them replied, “We’re going with you.” They went out and got in the boat. They caught nothing that night. When the sun came up, Jesus was standing on the beach, but they didn’t recognize him.
5 Jesus spoke to them: “Good morning! Did you catch anything for breakfast?”
They answered, “No.”
6 He said, “Throw the net off the right side of the boat and see what happens.”
They did what he said. All of a sudden there were so many fish in it, they weren’t strong enough to pull it in.
7-9 Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Master!”
When Simon Peter realized that it was the Master, he threw on some clothes, for he was stripped for work, and dove into the sea. The other disciples came in by boat for they weren’t far from land, a hundred yards or so, pulling along the net full of fish. When they got out of the boat, they saw a fire laid, with fish and bread cooking on it.
10-11 Jesus said, “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught.” Simon Peter joined them and pulled the net to shore—153 big fish! And even with all those fish, the net didn’t rip.
12 Jesus said, “Breakfast is ready.” Not one of the disciples dared ask, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Master.
13-14 Jesus then took the bread and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus had shown himself alive to the disciples since being raised from the dead.
Do You Love Me?
15 After breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Master, you know I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 He then asked a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
“Yes, Master, you know I love you.”
Jesus said, “Shepherd my sheep.”
17-19 Then he said it a third time: “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was upset that he asked for the third time, “Do you love me?” so he answered, “Master, you know everything there is to know. You’ve got to know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. I’m telling you the very truth now: When you were young you dressed yourself and went wherever you wished, but when you get old you’ll have to stretch out your hands while someone else dresses you and takes you where you don’t want to go.” He said this to hint at the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. And then he commanded, “Follow me.”
20-21 Turning his head, Peter noticed the disciple Jesus loved following right behind. When Peter noticed him, he asked Jesus, “Master, what’s going to happen to him?”
22-23 Jesus said, “If I want him to live until I come again, what’s that to you? You—follow me.” That is how the rumor got out among the brothers that this disciple wouldn’t die. But that is not what Jesus said. He simply said, “If I want him to live until I come again, what’s that to you?”
24 This is the same disciple who was eyewitness to all these things and wrote them down. And we all know that his eyewitness account is reliable and accurate.
25 There are so many other things Jesus did. If they were all written down, each of them, one by one, I can’t imagine a world big enough to hold such a library of books.
John 18-21
English Standard Version
Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
18 When Jesus had spoken these words, (A)he went out with his disciples across (B)the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew (C)the place, for (D)Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3 (E)So 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, (F)knowing 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.”[a] Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 (H)When Jesus[b] said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 So he asked them again, (I)“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 (J)This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” 10 Then Simon Peter, (K)having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant[c] and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; (L)shall 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[d] arrested Jesus and bound him. 13 First they (M)led him to (N)Annas, for he was the father-in-law of (O)Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14 It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews (P)that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.
Peter Denies Jesus
15 (Q)Simon 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 (R)but 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 (S)The 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[e] and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. (T)Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.
The High Priest Questions Jesus
19 (U)The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken (V)openly (W)to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. (X)I 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, (Y)“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 (Z)Annas then sent him bound to (AA)Caiaphas the high priest.
Peter Denies Jesus Again
25 (AB)Now 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 (AC)the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you (AD)in the garden with him?” 27 Peter again denied it, and (AE)at once a rooster crowed.
Jesus Before Pilate
28 (AF)Then they led Jesus (AG)from the house of Caiaphas to (AH)the governor's headquarters.[f] It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor's headquarters, (AI)so that they would not be defiled, (AJ)but could eat the Passover. 29 (AK)So 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, (AL)“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 (AM)This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken (AN)to show by what kind of death he was going to die.
My Kingdom Is Not of This World
33 (AO)So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, (AP)“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, (AQ)“My kingdom (AR)is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, (AS)my servants would have been fighting, that (AT)I 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, (AU)“You say that I am a king. (AV)For this purpose I was born and for this purpose (AW)I have come into the world—(AX)to bear witness to the truth. (AY)Everyone who is (AZ)of the truth (BA)listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”
After he had said this, (BB)he went back outside to the Jews and told them, (BC)“I find no guilt in him. 39 (BD)But 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, (BE)“Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.[g]
Jesus Delivered to Be Crucified
19 Then Pilate took Jesus and (BF)flogged him. 2 (BG)And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. 3 They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. 4 Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that (BH)I find no guilt in him.” 5 So Jesus came out, wearing (BI)the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, (BJ)“Behold the man!” 6 When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, (BK)“Take him yourselves and crucify him, for (BL)I find no guilt in him.” 7 The Jews[h] answered him, “We have a law, and (BM)according to that law he ought to die because (BN)he has made himself the Son of God.” 8 When Pilate heard this statement, (BO)he was even more afraid. 9 (BP)He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, (BQ)“Where are you from?” But (BR)Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered him, (BS)“You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore (BT)he who delivered me over to you (BU)has the greater sin.”
12 From then on (BV)Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. (BW)Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” 13 So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on (BX)the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic[i] Gabbatha. 14 Now it was (BY)the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour.[j] He said to the Jews, (BZ)“Behold your King!” 15 They cried out, (CA)“Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” 16 (CB)So he (CC)delivered him over to them to be crucified.
The Crucifixion
So they took Jesus, 17 and (CD)he went out, (CE)bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. 18 (CF)There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. 19 Pilate (CG)also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” 20 Many of the Jews read this inscription, for (CH)the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. 21 So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” 22 Pilate answered, (CI)“What I have written I have written.”
23 (CJ)When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic.[k] But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, 24 so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” (CK)This was to fulfill the Scripture which says,
(CL)“They divided my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots.”
So the soldiers did these things, 25 (CM)but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and (CN)the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, (CO)“Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to (CP)his own home.
The Death of Jesus
28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now (CQ)finished, said ((CR)to fulfill the Scripture), (CS)“I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, (CT)so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, (CU)“It is finished,” and he bowed his head and (CV)gave up his spirit.
Jesus' Side Is Pierced
31 Since it was (CW)the day of Preparation, and (CX)so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was (CY)a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other (CZ)who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out (DA)blood and water. 35 (DB)He who saw it has borne witness—(DC)his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—(DD)that you also may believe. 36 (DE)For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: (DF)“Not one of his bones (DG)will be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, (DH)“They will look on him whom they have pierced.”
Jesus Is Buried
38 (DI)After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly (DJ)for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. 39 (DK)Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus[l] by night, came (DL)bringing a mixture of (DM)myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds[m] in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and (DN)bound it in (DO)linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a (DP)garden, and (DQ)in the garden a new tomb (DR)in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So because of the Jewish (DS)day of Preparation, (DT)since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.
The Resurrection
20 (DU)Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that (DV)the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, (DW)the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and (DX)we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 (DY)So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw (DZ)the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and (EA)the face cloth, which had been on Jesus'[n] head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, (EB)who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet (EC)they did not understand the Scripture, (ED)that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes.
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And (EE)she saw (EF)two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, (EG)“Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, (EH)“They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and (EI)saw Jesus standing, (EJ)but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, (EK)“Woman, why are you weeping? (EL)Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be (EM)the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic,[o] (EN)“Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to (EO)my brothers and say to them, (EP)‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to (EQ)my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene (ER)went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
19 (ES)On the evening (ET)of that day, the first day of the week, (EU)the doors being locked where the disciples were (EV)for fear of the Jews,[p] Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, (EW)“Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, (EX)he showed them his hands and his side. Then (EY)the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As (EZ)the Father has sent me, (FA)even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he (FB)breathed on them and said to them, (FC)“Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 (FD)If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
Jesus and Thomas
24 Now (FE)Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin,[q] was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, (FF)“Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. (FG)Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, (FH)“Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, (FI)“Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, (FJ)“My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? (FK)Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
The Purpose of This Book
30 (FL)Now Jesus did many other signs (FM)in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 (FN)but these are written so that you may (FO)believe that Jesus is the Christ, (FP)the Son of God, and that by believing (FQ)you may have life (FR)in his name.
Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples
21 After this Jesus (FS)revealed himself (FT)again to the disciples by (FU)the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, (FV)Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of (FW)Cana in Galilee, (FX)the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but (FY)that night they caught nothing.
4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples (FZ)did not know that it was Jesus. 5 (GA)Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 (GB)He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. 7 That disciple (GC)whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, (GD)he put on his outer garment, for he was (GE)stripped for work, and (GF)threw himself into the sea. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards[r] off.
9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, (GG)“Come and (GH)have breakfast.” Now (GI)none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and (GJ)took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 (GK)This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Jesus and Peter
15 When they had (GL)finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, (GM)“Simon, (GN)son of John, (GO)do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed (GP)my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, (GQ)“Tend (GR)my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him (GS)the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, (GT)you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed (GU)my sheep. 18 (GV)Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, (GW)you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show (GX)by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, (GY)“Follow me.”
Jesus and the Beloved Apostle
20 Peter turned and saw (GZ)the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, (HA)the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain (HB)until (HC)I come, what is that to you? (HD)You follow me!” 23 So the saying spread abroad among (HE)the brothers[s] that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”
24 This is the disciple (HF)who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and (HG)we know (HH)that his testimony is true.
25 Now (HI)there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that (HJ)the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
Footnotes
- John 18:5 Greek I am; also verses 6, 8
- John 18:6 Greek he
- John 18:10 Or bondservant; twice in this verse
- John 18:12 Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time; also verses 14, 31, 36, 38
- John 18:18 Or bondservants; also verse 26
- John 18:28 Greek the praetorium
- John 18:40 Or an insurrectionist
- John 19:7 Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time; also verses 12, 14, 31, 38
- John 19:13 Or Hebrew; also verses 17, 20
- John 19:14 That is, about noon
- John 19:23 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin
- John 19:39 Greek him
- John 19:39 Greek one hundred litras; a litra (or Roman pound) was equal to about 11 1/2 ounces or 327 grams
- John 20:7 Greek his
- John 20:16 Or Hebrew
- John 20:19 Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time
- John 20:24 Greek Didymus
- John 21:8 Greek two hundred cubits; a cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
- John 21:23 Or brothers and sisters
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
