18 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.

And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.

Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.

Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?

They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.

As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.

Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.

Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:

That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.

10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.

11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

12 Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him,

13 And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.

14 Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.

16 But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.

17 Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not.

18 And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.

19 The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.

20 Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.

21 Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.

22 And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?

23 Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?

24 Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.

25 And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not.

26 One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?

27 Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.

28 Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.

29 Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?

30 They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.

31 Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:

32 That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.

33 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?

34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?

35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?

36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.

39 But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

40 Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.

Amugwira Yesu

18 Yesu atamaliza kupemphera, Iye anachoka ndi ophunzira ake ndi kuwoloka chigwa cha Kidroni. Kumbali inayo kunali munda wa Olivi, ndipo Iye ndi ophunzira ake analowamo.

Tsopano Yudasi, amene anamupereka amadziwa malowo chifukwa Yesu ankakumana ndi ophunzira ake kumeneko. Choncho Yudasi anabwera ku munda, akutsogolera gulu la asilikali ndi akuluakulu ena ochokera kwa akulu a ansembe ndi Afarisi. Iwo anali atanyamula miyuni, nyale ndi zida.

Yesu, podziwa zonse zimene zimati zichitike kwa Iye, anatuluka ndi kuwafunsa kuti, “Kodi mukufuna ndani?”

Iwo anayankha kuti, “Yesu wa ku Nazareti.”

Yesu anati, “Ndine.” (Ndipo Yudasi womuperekayo anali atayima nawo pamenepo). Pamene Yesu anati, “Ndine,” iwo anabwerera mʼmbuyo ndi kugwa pansi.

Iye anawafunsanso kuti, “Kodi mukumufuna ndani?”

Ndipo iwo anati, “Yesu wa ku Nazareti.”

Yesu anayankha kuti, “Ine ndakuwuzani kuti Ndine. Ngati inu mukufuna Ine, asiyeni anthu awa apite.” Izi zinachitika kuti mawu amene Iye anayankhula akwaniritsidwe: “Ine sindinataye ndi mmodzi yemwe mwa iwo amene mwandipatsa.”

10 Kenaka Simoni amene anali ndi lupanga analitulutsa ndi kutema nalo wantchito wa wamkulu wa ansembe, nadula khutu lake la kudzanja lamanja. (Dzina la wantchitoyo ndi Makusi).

11 Yesu analamula Petro kuti, “Bwezera lupanga mʼchimake! Kodi Ine ndisamwere chikho chimene Atate andipatsa?”

Amutengera Yesu kwa Anasi

12 Kenaka gulu la asilikali ndi olamulira wawo ndi akuluakulu a Ayuda anamugwira Yesu. Iwo anamumanga. 13 Poyamba anapita naye kwa Anasi amene anali mkamwini wa Kayafa, mkulu wa ansembe chaka chimenecho. 14 Kayafa anali amene analangiza Ayuda kuti kukanakhala kwabwino ngati munthu mmodzi akanafera anthu.

Petro Akana Yesu Koyamba

15 Simoni Petro ndi ophunzira wina ankamutsatira Yesu chifukwa ophunzira uyu amadziwika kwa mkulu wa ansembe. Iye analowa ndi Yesu mʼbwalo la mkulu wa ansembe 16 koma Petro anadikira kunja pa khomo. Ophunzira winayo amene amadziwika kwa mkulu wa ansembe, anatuluka ndi kuyankhula ndi mtsikana amene anali mlonda wa pa khomo ndi kumulowetsa Petro.

17 Mtsikanayo anafunsa Petro kuti, “Kodi iwe sindiwe mmodzi wa ophunzira a Munthu uyu?”

Iye anayankha kuti, “Ayi, sindine.”

18 Popeza kunkazizira, anyamata antchito ndi akuluakulu ena anasonkha moto wamakala namawotha atayimirira mozungulira. Petro nayenso anayimirira pamodzi ndi iwo namawotha nawo motowo.

Mkulu wa Ansembe Amufunsa Yesu

19 Pa nthawi imeneyi, mkulu wa ansembe anamufunsa Yesu za ophunzira ake ndi chiphunzitso chake.

20 Yesu anayankha kuti, “Ine ndinayankhula poyera ku dziko lapansi. Nthawi zonse ndimaphunzitsa mʼsunagoge kapena mʼNyumba ya Mulungu kumene Ayuda onse amasonkhana pamodzi. Ine sindimanena kanthu mseri. 21 Nʼchifukwa chiyani mukundifunsa Ine? Afunseni amene amamva. Zoonadi akudziwa zimene Ine ndinanena.”

22 Yesu atanena izi, mmodzi wa akuluakulu amene anali pafupi anamumenya kumaso. Iye anafunsa kuti, “Mayankhidwe awa ndi woti ndi kuyankha mkulu wa ansembe?”

23 Yesu anayankha kuti, “Ngati Ine ndanena kanthu kolakwika, chitirani umboni chimene ndalakwa. Koma ngati ndanena zoona, nʼchifukwa chiyani mwandimenya?” 24 Kenaka Anasi anamutumiza Iye, ali womangidwabe, kwa Kayafa, mkulu wa ansembe.

Petro Akana Yesu Kachiwiri ndi Kachitatu

25 Pamene Simoni Petro anali chiyimirire kuwotha moto, anafunsidwa kuti, “Kodi iwe si mmodzi wa ophunzira ake?”

Iye anayankha kuti, “Ayi, sindine.”

26 Mmodzi wa antchito a mkulu wa ansembe, mʼbale wa munthu amene anadulidwa khutu ndi Petro anamutsutsa iye kuti, “Kodi sindinakuone iwe pamodzi ndi Iye mʼmunda muja?” 27 Petro anakananso, ndipo pa nthawi yomweyo tambala analira.

Yesu ku Bwalo la Pilato

28 Kenaka Ayuda anamutenga Yesu kuchoka kwa Kayafa ndi kupita ku nyumba yaufumu ya bwanamkubwa wa Chiroma. Tsopano kunali mmamawa, ndipo polewa kudetsedwa monga mwa mwambo Ayuda sanalowe mʼnyumba yaufumuyo; iwo anafuna kuti adye Paska. 29 Choncho Pilato anatuluka napita kwa iwo ndipo anati, “Kodi ndi milandu yanji imene mukumuzenga munthu uyu?”

30 Iwo anayankha kuti, “Ngati Iye akanakhala kuti si wolakwa, ife sitikanamupereka kwa inu.”

31 Pilato anati, “Mutengeni inu eni ake ndi kumuweruza Iye monga mwa malamulo anu.”

Ayuda anatsutsa nati, “Koma tilibe ulamuliro wakupha aliyense.” 32 Izi zinachitika kuti mawu a Yesu amene anayankhula kusonyeza mtundu wa imfa imene Iye anati adzafe nayo akwaniritsidwe.

33 Kenaka Pilato anapita mʼkati mwa nyumba yaufumu nayitanitsa Yesu, ndipo anamufunsa kuti, “Kodi iwe ndi mfumu ya Ayuda?”

34 Yesu anafunsa kuti, “Kodi amenewo ndi maganizo anu wokha? Kapena kuti ena anakuwuzani za Ine?”

35 Pilato anayankha kuti, “Kodi iwe ukuganiza kuti ine ndine Myuda? Ndi anthu ako ndi akulu a ansembe ako amene akupereka iwe kwa ine. Kodi walakwanji?”

36 Yesu anati, “Ufumu wanga si wa dziko lapansi lino. Ukanakhala wa pansi pano, antchito anga akanachita nkhondo kulepheretsa Ayuda kundigwira. Koma tsopano ufumu wanga ndi wochokera kumalo ena.”

37 Pilato anati, “Kani ndiwe mfumu!”

Yesu anayankha kuti, “Inu mwalondola ponena kuti, Ine ndine mfumu. Kunena zoona, Ine ndinabadwa chifukwa cha chimenechi, ndipo nʼchifukwa chake ndinabwera mʼdziko lapansi, kudzachitira umboni choonadi. Aliyense amene ali mbali yachoonadi amamvera mawu anga.”

38 Pilato anafunsa kuti, “Kodi choonadi nʼchiyani?” Ndi mawu awa iye anapitanso kwa Ayuda ndipo anati, “Ine sindikupeza mlandu mwa Iye. 39 Koma ndi mwambo wanu kuti pa nthawi ya Paska, ine ndikumasulireni wamʼndende mmodzi. Kodi mufuna ndikumasulireni ‘Mfumu ya Ayuda?’ ”

40 Iwo anafuwula nati, “Ameneyu ayi! Mutipatse ife Baraba!” Barabayo anali wachifwamba.

Soldiers take Jesus to the leader of the priests

18 When Jesus had finished praying, he and his disciples went out. They went across the Kidron valley. On the other side, there was a garden. Jesus and his disciples went into it. Judas, who sold Jesus to his enemies, knew the garden. He knew the place because Jesus and his disciples had met there often. The leaders of the priests and the Pharisees sent a group of soldiers and some officers with Judas. He led these soldiers and officers to the garden.[a] The soldiers had weapons and they carried lights.

Jesus knew everything that would soon happen to him. He went towards them and he asked them, ‘Who are you looking for?’ They answered, ‘Jesus, who comes from Nazareth.’ Jesus said, ‘That is who I am.’

Judas, who sold Jesus to his enemies, was standing there with the soldiers. When Jesus said the words, ‘I am,’ the soldiers quickly moved away from him.[b] They fell down to the ground. So Jesus asked them again, ‘Who are you looking for?’ They said, ‘Jesus, who comes from Nazareth.’ Jesus replied, ‘I have told you already, that is who I am. Since it is me that you are looking for, let these other men go.’ Jesus said this because earlier he had said, ‘I have lost none of those people that you gave to me.’ This made what he had spoken earlier really happen.

10 Simon Peter had a sword. He took hold of it and he attacked the servant of the leader of the priests. He cut off the servant's right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. 11 Then Jesus said to Peter, ‘Put your sword away in its place! My Father has decided what great pain I must have. I will obey him completely.’

12 The group of soldiers, with their captain and the Jewish officers, took hold of Jesus. They tied him with ropes. 13 They led him first to Annas, who was the father of Caiaphas's wife. Caiaphas was the leader of the priests that year. 14 It was Caiaphas who had already spoken to the Jewish leaders. He had told them, ‘It is better that one man should die on behalf of the people.’[c]

Peter says that he does not know Jesus

15 Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. That other disciple and the leader of the priests knew each other. So that disciple went with Jesus into the yard of the house of the leader of the priests. 16 But Peter stayed outside by the gate. Then the other disciple went out again. He spoke to the girl who was watching at the gate. Then he brought Peter into the yard. 17 The girl who was at the gate asked Peter, ‘Are you another of this man's disciples?’ Peter replied, ‘No, I am not!’

18 It was cold. So the servants and the officers had made a fire. They were standing around it to make themselves warm. Peter went to stand with them, so that he could make himself warm too.

The leader of the priests asks Jesus questions

19 The leader of the priests asked Jesus questions about his disciples. He also asked about what Jesus taught. 20 Jesus answered him, ‘I have always taught in the Jewish meeting places, or at the temple. Those are public places where all the Jews meet together. I have said nothing secretly. 21 So you do not need to ask me these questions. You can ask the people who heard me when I taught them. They know what I said.’

22 When Jesus said this, one of the soldiers hit him on the face. The soldier said, ‘You should not speak to the leader of the priests like that!’ 23 Jesus replied, ‘If I said something wrong, tell us what it is. But if I said something that is true, you should not have hit me.’[d] 24 Then Annas sent Jesus to Caiaphas, the leader of the priests.[e] Jesus still had ropes tied round his arms.

Peter says again that he does not know Jesus

25 Simon Peter was still standing there by the fire to make himself warm. The other people there said to him, ‘You must also be one of that man's disciples.’ But Peter said, ‘No, I am not.’

26 One of the people there was a servant of the leader of the priests. He belonged to the same family as the man whose ear Peter had cut off. This servant said to Peter, ‘I am sure that I saw you in the garden with Jesus.’ 27 Again, Peter said, ‘No, that is not true.’ Immediately a cockerel sang.

Pilate asks Jesus questions

28 The Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas's house to the Roman ruler's big house.[f] It was early in the morning. The Jewish leaders wanted to follow the Jewish rules so that they could eat the Passover meal. They did not go into the ruler's house, because it would have made them unclean.[g]

29 So Pilate, the Roman ruler, went outside to meet them. He asked them, ‘What wrong thing do you say that this man has done?’ 30 They replied, ‘We would not have brought him to you if he had done nothing wrong.’ 31 Pilate said to them, ‘You yourselves take him away. You should judge him by your own laws.’ The Jewish leaders replied, ‘We do not have authority to kill anyone when they have done something bad.’[h] 32 Jesus had already told people how he would die. These things happened to make his words become true.[i]

33 Pilate went back inside his palace. He told Jesus to come and stand in front of him. He asked Jesus, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ 34 Jesus said, ‘Is that your own idea, or have other people spoken to you about me?’ 35 Pilate replied, ‘I am not a Jew, am I? It was your own people and the leaders of your priests who brought you to me. What have you done?’

36 Jesus said, ‘My kingdom does not belong to this world. If it did, my disciples would have fought for me. They would have fought so that the Jewish leaders could not take hold of me. No, my kingdom belongs to another place.’ 37 Pilate said to him, ‘So that means you really are a king!’

Jesus answered, ‘You have said that I am a king! I was born for this reason: I came into the world to tell people the truth about God. Everyone who believes the truth listens to my message.’ 38 Pilate said, ‘I do not know what truth is.’

When Pilate had said that, he went outside again to the Jewish people there. He said to them, ‘I do not see that this man is guilty of anything wrong. I have no reason to punish him. 39 But every year we do something for you Jews. We let one man go free from the prison at the time of your Passover festival. Do you want me to let the king of the Jews go free?’ 40 They shouted their answer, ‘No, we do not want him! Let Barabbas go free!’ (Barabbas was a man who had attacked people and robbed them.)

Footnotes

  1. 18:3 The soldiers were Roman soldiers. The officers were Jews who may have worked like police at the temple.
  2. 18:6 The Jews used ‘I am’ as the name of God. When Jesus said, ‘I am,’ they would have recognized this name. He was saying that he is God.
  3. 18:14 See John 11:50.
  4. 18:23 Jesus was not saying anything wrong. He was telling the leader of the priests to ask people who had heard him teach. This was the right thing to do. It was what the Jewish rules said.
  5. 18:24 Annas was the first leader of the priests and Caiaphas was the present leader.
  6. 18:28 During the time that Jesus lived on the earth, the Romans ruled over Israel. The Roman ruler (Pilate) lived and worked in a special house. It was called the Praetorium. It had a big yard inside, where people waited to see the ruler.
  7. 18:28 The Jews had special rules about who could go to their festivals. They had to keep themselves clean and ready to worship God. So they could not go into the houses of people who did not believe in God. If the Jewish leaders had gone into Pilate's house, they would not have been clean for the Passover.
  8. 18:31 The Jewish leaders wanted to kill Jesus. But the Romans did not let them kill anyone. Only the Roman ruler could cause his soldiers to do that.
  9. 18:32 The Romans fixed a person onto a big cross of wood to kill him. Then they let the person hang there until he died. Jesus had said that people would ‘lift him up’. This is what he meant. And when Jesus said something, it had to happen.