John 18
New Catholic Bible
The Passion—The Supreme Testimony[a]
Chapter 18
Jesus Gives Himself Up Freely.[b] 1 After Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples and crossed the Kidron[c] valley. He and his disciples entered a garden there. 2 This place was known to Judas, his betrayer, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3 Therefore, Judas went to that garden with a detachment of soldiers,[d] together with temple guards provided by the chief priests and the Pharisees, equipped with lanterns and torches and weapons.
4 Then Jesus, fully aware of everything that was going to happen to him, came forward and asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” 5 They answered, “Jesus the Nazorean.”[e] Jesus replied, “I am.” Judas who betrayed him was standing with them.
6 When Jesus said to them, “I am,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 Again, he asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” And they said, “Jesus the Nazorean.” 8 Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am. If you are looking for me, let these men go.” 9 This was to fulfill the word he had spoken, “I did not lose any of those you gave me.”[f]
10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, slicing off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. 11 Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its scabbard! Am I not to drink the cup[g] that the Father has given me?”
12 Jesus and Peter at the Hour of Bearing Witness.[h]Then the detachment of soldiers, their commander, and the Jewish guards seized Jesus and bound him. 13 They took him first to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was the high priest that year. 14 It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it was better for one man to die for the people.
15 Peter’s First Denial. Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. That disciple was known to the high priest, so he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, 16 but Peter remained standing outside at the gate. The other disciple who was known to the high priest went out and spoke to the woman who was in charge of the gate, and he brought Peter inside.
17 The woman said to Peter, “Are you not one of this man’s disciples?” He replied, “I am not.” 18 Since it was cold, the servants and the guards had made a charcoal fire, and they were standing around it, warming themselves. Peter was also standing there and warming himself.
19 The Inquiry before Annas.[i]The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. 20 Jesus answered,
“I have spoken openly
for the world to hear.
I have always taught
in synagogues and in the temple
where all the Jews congregate.
I have said nothing in secret.
21 Why do you ask me?
Interrogate those who heard
what I said to them.
They know what I said.”
22 [j]When he had said this, one of the temple guards standing there struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that any way to answer the high priest?” 23 Jesus replied, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify to my error. But if I have spoken rightly, why did you strike me?” 24 Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas, the high priest.
25 Peter’s Second and Third Denials. Meanwhile, as Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, “Are you not also one of his disciples?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” 26 Then one of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had sliced off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” 27 Again, Peter denied it. And at that very moment, a cock crowed.
28 Jesus Handed Over to Pilate.[k]Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to the praetorium.[l] It was early in the morning, and they did not enter the praetorium in order to avoid becoming defiled and thus be able to eat the Passover meal.
29 Therefore, Pilate went out to them and asked, “What charge do you bring against this man?” 30 They answered, “If he were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.” 31 Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.” The Jews replied, “We are not allowed to put anyone to death.” 32 This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.
33 The First Hearing before Pilate. Then Pilate went back into the praetorium, and having summoned Jesus he asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own, or have others told you about me?” 35 Pilate said, “Am I a Jew? Your own people and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus replied,
“My kingdom does not belong to this world.
If my kingdom did belong to this world,
my followers would have fought
to prevent me from being handed over to the Jews.
The fact is that my kingdom is not here.”
37 Pilate then said to him, “So you are a king!” Jesus answered,
“It is you who say
that I am a king.
For this was I born,
and for this I came into the world:
to testify to the truth.
Everyone who is of the truth
listens to my voice.”
38 Pilate responded, “What is truth?”
Barabbas Preferred to Jesus. Then, having said this, he went out again to the Jews and said, “I find no evidence of a crime in this man. 39 But according to your custom, I release one prisoner to you at Passover. Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 40 They shouted, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a thief.[m]
Footnotes
- John 18:1 Jesus does not submit passively to what happens; he controls his life and his sufferings; he even wills them and defines their meaning. The fourth Gospel, more than the others, emphasizes his sovereign freedom. Jesus is not, however, only pretending to share the human condition: he is a human being who suffers hostility, violence, and death, and the Passion Narrative demonstrates this. John, no less than the Synoptics, emphasizes the realistic character of the events; in fact, some details are even peculiar to him. In the fourth Gospel, the Passion and cross are an exaltation or uplifting of Jesus, a glorification by the Father, and a manifestation of all his love for humanity. By traveling the way of the cross with full awareness and on his own initiative, Jesus makes the truth of God shine forth.
- John 18:1 Fear and disgust have no place in this account of the arrest. From the beginning, Jesus manifests his sovereign liberty to enter upon the Passion; it is his initiative and his destiny. The betrayal by Judas and his wicked cohorts cannot take away the liberty of Jesus, any more than the violence of Peter can defend it. Jesus depends only on his Father; he gives his life willingly.
- John 18:1 Kidron: a brook, fed by the rains, divided the hill of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives.
- John 18:3 Detachment of soldiers: this refers to a complement of Roman troops—either 600 (a cohort) or 200 men, hinting at Roman complicity in the plot against Jesus even prior to his trial before Pilate. Lanterns and torches: these may stress that the hour of darkness has come.
- John 18:5 Nazorean: this is the form found in Mt (2:23 and 26:71) and Acts (e.g., 2:22), not the Nazarene of Mark. I am: probably intended by John as an expression of divinity (see note on Jn 4:26).
- John 18:9 The citation may refer to Jn 6:39; 10:28; or 17:12.
- John 18:11 Cup: symbol of a person’s calling and, above all, of his tragic destiny (“lots” were shaken in a cup); here it signifies the bitter hour of the Passion (see Mt 22:39).
- John 18:12 In the fourth Gospel, the trial before the Jewish authorities is told in a few swift strokes; throughout his public ministry Jesus has spoken about his ministry and the mission he has undertaken; the trial is already over. Annas, who appears here, was a high priest removed from office by the Romans, but by his influence he controlled Jewish life. Another disciple (v. 15): John, the one “whom Jesus loved.”
- John 18:19 It is not very probable that this nighttime inquiry before Annas, mentioned only by John, is the same as the trial before Caiaphas mentioned by the Synoptics (at night by Mt and Mk and in the morning by Lk).
- John 18:22 Jesus remains calm and self-restrained throughout the entire Passion. He responds to the guard’s aggressiveness with meekness, but he does not fail to defend the legitimacy of his behavior and to point out the injustice done to him. Hence, Christians’ defense of their rights is compatible with meekness and humility (see Acts 22:25).
- John 18:28 We should try to imagine the scene. A Roman official, Pontius Pilate, had been governor of restless Judea since A.D. 26 (we are now in the year 30). He had two guiding principles: to keep public order at any cost, and not to compromise his own reputation with Emperor Tiberius. The Jewish authorities wanted to rid themselves of Jesus in a legal way, thereby saving their own good name. Jesus himself did not want to disappear in an uprising, but had decided to go forward even to torture and execution on the cross (see Jn 18:32). In seven successive steps, dealing now with the Jews, now with Jesus, the governor is led to seek, find, and proclaim the truth. Jesus is in fact innocent; he claims the title of king, not in order to dominate but in order to give. This man, whose innocence the governor asserts three times and whom he wishes to set free, says that he is Son of God, and explains his present subordination to an earthly authority as a phase in a divinely willed plan over which the imperial official has no power (Jn 19:10-11).
The Gospel notes that this event took place around midday on the day of Preparation for the Passover; it was the hour when they began to slaughter the lambs for the feast. The new Passover, marking God’s deliverance of humanity, is at hand; the new Passover Lamb is about to offer the true and final sacrifice. - John 18:28 Praetorium: the residence of the Roman procurator. Passover meal: unlike the members of the Sanhedrin, Jesus has already celebrated the Passover supper (Mt 26:20-29).
- John 18:40 Barabbas . . . thief: the word for thief can also mean revolutionary (see note on Mk 15:9).
Yochanan 18
Orthodox Jewish Bible
18 These things having said, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach went out with his talmidim across the Kidron Valley, [SHMUEL BAIS 15:23] where there was a Gahn (Garden) into which Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach entered with his talmidim.
2 Now also Yehuda from K’riot, the one betraying Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, had da’as of the place, because often Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach gathered there with his talmidim.
3 Then, Yehuda from K’riot, having taken the band of chaiyalim (soldiers) and avadim of the Rashei Hakohanim and of the Perushim, comes there with torches and lamps and weapons.
4 Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, therefore, having had da’as of everything coming upon him, went out and says to them, Whom do you seek?
5 They said in reply, Yehoshua, the one from Natzeret. Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says to them, Ani Hu. Now also Yehuda, the one betraying him, had stood with them.
6 When therefore Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach told them, Ani Hu, they recoiled and fell to the ground.
7 Therefore, again he questioned them, Whom do you seek? And they said, Yehoshua, the one from Natzeret.
8 In reply, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said, I told you that Ani Hu. If therefore you seek me, let these Bnei Adam go away,
9 That may be fulfilled the dvar which said, Those whom You have given me, I did not lose any one of them. [Yn 17:12; 10:11]
10 Then Shimon Kefa, having a cherev (sword), drew it and struck the eved of the Kohen Gadol and cut off his right ear. The name of the eved was Malchus.
11 Therefore, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said to Kefa, Put the cherev into the sheath. The kos which HaAv of me has given me, should I not drink it?
12 Then the band of chaiyalim, their commander, and the avadim (officials) of Yehudah took him and performed the akedah (binding) on him.
13 First they led him to Anan (Annas), for he was khoten (father-in-law) of Caiapha, who was Kohen Gadol that year.
14 Now Caiapha was the one having given counsel to those of Yehudah that it is a bedievedike thing (expedient) for one man to die for HaAm.
15 Now Shimon Kefa and another talmid were following Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach. And that other talmid was known to the Kohen Gadol, and that other talmid entered with Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach into the court of the Kohen Gadol.
16 But Kefa had stood at the sha’ar outside. Therefore, the other talmid went out, the one known to the Kohen Gadol, and spoke to the gatekeeper and brought in Kefa.
17 Therefore, the maid says to Kefa, Surely you are not also of this man’s talmidim? He said, I am not.
18 And the avadim and the mesharetim had made a hadlakah (bonfire), because it was cold, and they were standing around the hadlakah warming themselves. And also Kefa was with them, standing and warming himself.
19 Then the Kohen Gadol interrogated Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach about his talmidim and his torah (teaching).
20 In reply, he said, In public I have spoken to the Olam Hazeh; I always taught in the Beit Haknesset and in the Beis Hamikdash, where all the Yehudim come together. Besod (in secret) I spoke nothing. [YESHAYAH 45:19]
21 Why do you put a she’elah (question) to me? Put a she’elah to the ones having heard what I spoke to them. Hinei, these ones have da’as of what things I said.
22 But these things having said, one of the mesharetim, one standing nearby, struck Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, saying, Is this the way to answer the Kohen Gadol? [SHEMOT 22:27]
23 In reply, he spoke, If I spoke wrongly, give edut (testimony) about the wrong; but if tov, why do you strike me?
24 Then Anan sent him, still in the akedah, to Caiapha the Kohen Gadol.
25 Now with Shimon Kefa still standing and warming himself, they said, therefore, to him, Surely you are not also of his talmidim, are you? In reply, he said, I am not.
26 One of the avadim of the Kohen Gadol, one who was a relative of him, one whose ear Kefa cut off, says, Did I not see you in the Gahn (Garden) with him?
27 Therefore, again Kefa made hakhchashah (denial). And immediately a tarnegol (cock) crowed.
28 Therefore, they led Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach from Caiapha to the Praetorium. And it was early. They themselves did not enter into the Praetorium so as not to become tema’im (unclean) and so as to be able to eat the Pesach.
29 Pilate went forth outside to them and says, What sitnah (accusation, indictment) do you bring against this man?
30 In reply, they said to him, If this man were not an evil-doer, we would not have handed him over to you.
31 Therefore, Pilate said to them, Take him and judge him according to your Torah. Those of Yehudah said to him, It is not lawful for us to kill anyone.
32 (This was to fulfill the dvar of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach which he said, signifying by what mavet he was about to die).
33 Therefore, Pilate again entered into the Praetorium and called Yehoshua, and said to him, Are you HaMelech HaYehudim?
34 In reply, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach asked, From yourself you say this or another told you about me?
35 In reply, Pilate said, Am I a Yehudi? Your nation and your Kohen Gadol handed you over to me. What did you do?
36 In reply, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said, My Malchut is not of the Olam Hazeh. If my Malchut were of the Olam Hazeh, my mesharetim would have fought, that I should not be delivered to those of Yehudah; but now my Malchut is not from here.
37 Therefore, Pilate said to him, So you are a Melech (King)? In reply, he said, You say that I am a Melech. For this I have been born and for this I have come into the Olam Hazeh, that I might bear solemn edut (testimony) to HaEmes. Everyone who is of HaEmes hears my voice.
38 Pilate says to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, What is HaEmes? And having said this, again Pilate went out to those of Yehudah, and says to them, I find no avon (offense), no cause for punishment, in him.
39 But there is a minhag (custom) for you, that I may release one to you during the Pesach. Do you want, therefore, that I release to you the Melech HaYehudim?
40 Therefore, they cried out again, saying, Not this man but Bar-Abba. Now Bar-Abba was a shoded (robber) [Yn 10:1; Mk. 15:7].
João 18
Almeida Revista e Corrigida 2009
Jesus é preso no Getsêmani(A)
18 Tendo Jesus dito isso, saiu com os seus discípulos para além do ribeiro de Cedrom, onde havia um horto, no qual ele entrou com os seus discípulos. 2 E Judas, que o traía, também conhecia aquele lugar, porque Jesus muitas vezes se ajuntava ali com os seus discípulos. 3 Tendo, pois, Judas recebido a coorte e oficiais dos principais sacerdotes e fariseus, veio para ali com lanternas, e archotes, e armas. 4 Sabendo, pois, Jesus todas as coisas que sobre ele haviam de vir, adiantou-se e disse-lhes: A quem buscais? 5 Responderam-lhe: A Jesus, o Nazareno. Disse-lhes Jesus: Sou eu. E Judas, que o traía, estava também com eles. 6 Quando, pois, lhes disse: Sou eu, recuaram e caíram por terra. 7 Tornou-lhes, pois, a perguntar: A quem buscais? E eles disseram: A Jesus, o Nazareno. 8 Jesus respondeu: Já vos disse que sou eu; se, pois me buscais a mim, deixai ir estes, 9 para se cumprir a palavra que tinha dito: Dos que me deste nenhum deles perdi. 10 Então, Simão Pedro, que tinha espada, desembainhou-a e feriu o servo do sumo sacerdote, cortando-lhe a orelha direita. E o nome do servo era Malco. 11 Mas Jesus disse a Pedro: Mete a tua espada na bainha; não beberei eu o cálice que o Pai me deu?
Jesus perante o Sinédrio. Pedro nega a Jesus(B)
12 Então, a coorte, e o tribuno, e os servos dos judeus prenderam a Jesus, e o manietaram, 13 e conduziram-no primeiramente a Anás, por ser sogro de Caifás, que era o sumo sacerdote daquele ano. 14 Ora, Caifás era quem tinha aconselhado aos judeus que convinha que um homem morresse pelo povo.
15 E Simão Pedro e outro discípulo seguiam a Jesus. E este discípulo era conhecido do sumo sacerdote e entrou com Jesus na sala do sumo sacerdote. 16 E Pedro estava da parte de fora, à porta. Saiu, então, o outro discípulo que era conhecido do sumo sacerdote e falou à porteira, levando Pedro para dentro. 17 Então, a porteira disse a Pedro: Não és tu também dos discípulos deste homem? Disse ele: Não sou. 18 Ora, estavam ali os servos e os criados, que tinham feito brasas, e se aquentavam, porque fazia frio; e com eles estava Pedro, aquentando-se também.
19 E o sumo sacerdote interrogou Jesus acerca dos seus discípulos e da sua doutrina. 20 Jesus lhe respondeu: Eu falei abertamente ao mundo; eu sempre ensinei na sinagoga e no templo, onde todos os judeus se ajuntam, e nada disse em oculto. 21 Para que me perguntas a mim? Pergunta aos que ouviram o que é que lhes ensinei; eis que eles sabem o que eu lhes tenho dito. 22 E, tendo dito isso, um dos criados que ali estavam deu uma bofetada em Jesus, dizendo: Assim respondes ao sumo sacerdote? 23 Respondeu-lhe Jesus: Se falei mal, dá testemunho do mal; e, se bem, porque me feres? 24 Anás mandou-o, manietado, ao sumo sacerdote Caifás.
25 E Simão Pedro estava ali e aquentava-se. Disseram-lhe, pois: Não és também tu um dos seus discípulos? Ele negou e disse: Não sou. 26 E um dos servos do sumo sacerdote, parente daquele a quem Pedro cortara a orelha, disse: Não te vi eu no horto com ele? 27 E Pedro negou outra vez, e logo o galo cantou.
Jesus perante Pilatos(C)
28 Depois, levaram Jesus da casa de Caifás para a audiência. E era pela manhã cedo. E não entraram na audiência, para não se contaminarem e poderem comer a Páscoa. 29 Então, Pilatos saiu e disse-lhes: Que acusação trazeis contra este homem? 30 Responderam e disseram-lhe: Se este não fosse malfeitor, não to entregaríamos. 31 Disse-lhes, pois, Pilatos: Levai-o vós e julgai-o segundo a vossa lei. Disseram-lhe, então, os judeus: A nós não nos é lícito matar pessoa alguma. 32 (Para que se cumprisse a palavra que Jesus tinha dito, significando de que morte havia de morrer.)
33 Tornou, pois, a entrar Pilatos na audiência, e chamou a Jesus, e disse-lhe: Tu és o rei dos judeus? 34 Respondeu-lhe Jesus: Tu dizes isso de ti mesmo ou disseram-to outros de mim? 35 Pilatos respondeu: Porventura, sou eu judeu? A tua nação e os principais dos sacerdotes entregaram-te a mim. Que fizeste? 36 Respondeu Jesus: O meu Reino não é deste mundo; se o meu Reino fosse deste mundo, lutariam os meus servos, para que eu não fosse entregue aos judeus; mas, agora, o meu Reino não é daqui. 37 Disse-lhe, pois, Pilatos: Logo tu és rei? Jesus respondeu: Tu dizes que eu sou rei. Eu para isso nasci e para isso vim ao mundo, a fim de dar testemunho da verdade. Todo aquele que é da verdade ouve a minha voz. 38 Disse-lhe Pilatos: Que é a verdade? E, dizendo isso, voltou até os judeus e disse-lhes: Não acho nele crime algum. 39 Mas vós tendes por costume que eu vos solte alguém por ocasião da Páscoa. Quereis, pois, que vos solte o rei dos judeus? 40 Então, todos voltaram a gritar, dizendo: Este não, mas Barrabás! E Barrabás era um salteador.
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