John 18
Common English Bible
Arrest in the garden
18 After he said these things, Jesus went out with his disciples and crossed over to the other side of the Kidron Valley. He and his disciples entered a garden there. 2 Judas, his betrayer, also knew the place because Jesus often gathered there with his disciples. 3 Judas brought a company of soldiers[a] and some guards from the chief priests and Pharisees. They came there carrying lanterns, torches, and weapons. 4 Jesus knew everything that was to happen to him, so he went out and asked, “Who are you looking for?”
5 They answered, “Jesus the Nazarene.”
He said to them, “I Am.”[b] (Judas, his betrayer, was standing with them.) 6 When he said, “I Am,” they shrank back and fell to the ground. 7 He asked them again, “Who are you looking for?”
They said, “Jesus the Nazarene.”
8 Jesus answered, “I told you, ‘I Am.’[c] If you are looking for me, then let these people go.” 9 This was so that the word he had spoken might be fulfilled: “I didn’t lose anyone of those whom you gave me.”
10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) 11 Jesus told Peter, “Put your sword away! Am I not to drink the cup the Father has given me?” 12 Then the company of soldiers, the commander, and the guards from the Jewish leaders took Jesus into custody. They bound him 13 and led him first to Annas. He was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. (14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it was better for one person to die for the people.)
Peter denies Jesus
15 Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Because this other disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard. 16 However, Peter stood outside near the gate. Then the other disciple (the one known to the high priest) came out and spoke to the woman stationed at the gate, and she brought Peter in. 17 The servant woman stationed at the gate asked Peter, “Aren’t you one of this man’s disciples?”
“I’m not,” he replied. 18 The servants and the guards had made a fire because it was cold. They were standing around it, warming themselves. Peter joined them there, standing by the fire and warming himself.
Jesus testifies
19 Meanwhile, the chief priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20 Jesus answered, “I’ve spoken openly to the world. I’ve always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews gather. I’ve said nothing in private. 21 Why ask me? Ask those who heard what I told them. They know what I said.”
22 After Jesus spoke, one of the guards standing there slapped Jesus in the face. “Is that how you would answer the high priest?” he asked.
23 Jesus replied, “If I speak wrongly, testify about what was wrong. But if I speak correctly, why do you strike me?” 24 Then Annas sent him, bound, to Caiaphas the high priest.
Peter denies Jesus again
25 Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing with the guards, warming himself. They asked, “Aren’t you one of his disciples?”
Peter denied it, saying, “I’m not.”
26 A servant of the high priest, a relative of the one whose ear Peter had cut off, said to him, “Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?” 27 Peter denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed.
Trial before Pilate
28 The Jewish leaders led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Roman governor’s palace.[d] It was early in the morning. So that they could eat the Passover, the Jewish leaders wouldn’t enter the palace; entering the palace would have made them ritually impure.
29 So Pilate went out to them and asked, “What charge do you bring against this man?”
30 They answered, “If he had done nothing wrong, we wouldn’t have handed him over to you.”
31 Pilate responded, “Take him yourselves and judge him according to your Law.”
The Jewish leaders replied, “The Law doesn’t allow us to kill anyone.” (32 This was so that Jesus’ word might be fulfilled when he indicated how he was going to die.)
Pilate questions Jesus
33 Pilate went back into the palace. He summoned Jesus and asked, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own or have others spoken to you about me?”
35 Pilate responded, “I’m not a Jew, am I? Your nation and its chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?”
36 Jesus replied, “My kingdom doesn’t originate from this world. If it did, my guards would fight so that I wouldn’t have been arrested by the Jewish leaders. My kingdom isn’t from here.”
37 “So you are a king?” Pilate said.
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. I was born and came into the world for this reason: to testify to the truth. Whoever accepts the truth listens to my voice.”
38 “What is truth?” Pilate asked.
Release of Barabbas
After Pilate said this, he returned to the Jewish leaders and said, “I find no grounds for any charge against him. 39 You have a custom that I release one prisoner for you at Passover. Do you want me to release for you the king of the Jews?”
40 They shouted, “Not this man! Give us Barabbas!” (Barabbas was an outlaw.)
Footnotes
- John 18:3 Or cohort (approximately six hundred soldiers)
- John 18:5 Or It is I
- John 18:8 Or It is I
- John 18:28 Or praetorium
John 18
1599 Geneva Bible
18 By Christ’s power, whom Judas betrayeth, 6 the soldiers are cast down to the ground. 13 Christ is led to Annas, and from him to Caiaphas. 22, 23 His answer to the officer that smote him with a rod. 28 Being delivered to Pilate, 36 he declareth his kingdom.
1 When [a]Jesus had spoken these things, he went forth with his disciples over the brook (A)Kidron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.
2 And Judas which betrayed him knew also the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.
3 (B)[b]Judas then, after he had received a band of men and officers of the high Priests, and of the Pharisees, came thither with lanterns and torches, and weapons.
4 [c]Then Jesus, knowing all things that should come unto him, went forth and said unto them, Whom seek ye?
5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus said unto them, I am he. Now Judas also which betrayed him, stood with them.
6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went away backwards, and fell to the ground.
7 Then he asked them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.
8 [d]Jesus answered, I said unto you, that I am he: therefore if ye seek me, let these go their way.
9 This was that the word might be fulfilled which he spake, (C)Of them which thou gavest me, have I lost none.
10 [e]Then Simon Peter having a sword, drew it, and smote the high Priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. Now the servants name was Malchus.
11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: shall I not drink of the cup which my Father hath given me?
12 Then the band and the captain, and the officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him.
13 [f]And led him away to (D)Annas first (for he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, which was the high Priest that same year.)
14 (E)And Caiaphas was he, that gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.
15 ¶ (F)[g]Now Simon Peter followed Jesus, and another disciple, and that disciple was known of the high Priest: therefore he went in with Jesus into the hall of the high Priest.
16 But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out the other disciple which was known unto the high Priest, and spake to her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.
17 Then said the maid that kept the door, unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man’s disciples? He said, I am not.
18 And the servants and officers stood there, which had made a fire of coals: for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter also stood among them, and warmed himself.
19 ¶ ([h]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 resort continually, and in secret have I said nothing.
21 Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me what I said unto them: behold, they know what I said.
22 When he had spoken these things, one of the officers which stood by, smote Jesus with his rod, saying, Answerest thou the high Priest so?
23 Jesus answered him, If I have evil spoken, bear witness of the evil: but if I have well spoken, why smitest thou me?
24 ¶ (G)Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high Priest.)
25 (H)[i]And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself, and they said unto him, Art not thou also of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not.
26 One of the servants of the high Priest, his cousin whose ear Peter smote off, said, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?
27 Peter then denied again, and immediately the cock crew.
28 (I)[j]Then led they Jesus from [k]Caiaphas into the common hall. Now it was morning, and they themselves went not into the common hall, lest they should be (J)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 an evil doer, we would not have delivered him unto thee.
31 Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him after your own Law. Then the Jews said unto him, [l]It is not lawful for us to put any man to death.
32 It was that the word of Jesus (K)might be fulfilled which he spake, [m]signifying what death he should die.
33 (L)So Pilate entered into the common hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the king of the Jews?
34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou that of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?
35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation, and the high Priest have delivered thee unto me. What hast thou done?
36 [n]Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, my servants would surely fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
37 Pilate then said unto him, Art thou a King then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a King: for this cause am I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth: everyone that is of the truth, heareth my voice.
38 [o]Pilate said unto him, [p]What is truth? And when he had said that, he went out again unto the Jews, and said unto them, I find in him no cause at all.
39 (M)But you have a custom that I should deliver you one loose at the Passover: will ye then that I loose unto you the King of the Jews?
40 (N)Then [q]cried they all again, saying, Not him, but Barabbas: now this Barabbas was a murderer.
Footnotes
- John 18:1 Christ goeth of his own accord into a garden, which his betrayer knew, to be taken: that by his obedience he might take away the sin that entered into the world by one man’s rebellion, and that in a garden.
- John 18:3 Christ, who was innocent, was taken as a wicked person, that we which are wicked might be let go as innocent.
- John 18:4 Christ’s person (but not his virtue) was bound of the adversaries, when and how he would.
- John 18:8 Christ doth not neglect the office of a good pastor, no not in his greatest danger.
- John 18:10 We ought to contain the zeal we bear to God, within the bounds of our vocation.
- John 18:13 Christ is brought before an earthly high Priest to be condemned for our blasphemies, that we might be acquitted of the everlasting high Priest himself.
- John 18:15 A lively example of the fragility of man even in the best, when they be once left to themselves.
- John 18:19 Christ defendeth his cause but slenderly, not that he would withdraw himself from death, but to show that he was condemned as an innocent.
- John 18:25 After that men have once fallen, they cannot only not lift themselves by their own strength, but also they fall more and more into worse, until they be raised up again, by a new virtue of God.
- John 18:28 The Son of God is brought before the judgment seat of an earthly and profane man, in whom there is found much less wickedness, than in the princes of the people of God: A lively image of the wrath of God against sin, and therewithal of his great mercy, and least of all, of his most severe judgment against the stubborn contemners of his grace when it is offered unto them.
- John 18:28 From Caiaphas’s house.
- John 18:31 For judgments of life and death were taken from them forty years before the destruction of the temple.
- John 18:32 For Christ had foretold that he should be crucified.
- John 18:36 Christ avoucheth his spiritual kingdom, but rejecteth a worldly.
- John 18:38 It was requisite that Christ should be pronounced innocent, but notwithstanding (in that that he took upon him our person) was to be condemned as a most wicked man.
- John 18:38 He speaketh this disdainfully and scoffingly, and not by way of asking a question.
- John 18:40 Word for word, made a great and foul voice.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
