Christ is betrayed. The words of his mouth smite the officers to the ground. Peter strikes off Malchus’ ear. Jesus is brought before Annas, Caiaphas, and Pilate.

18 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Kidron, where there was a garden into which he entered with his disciples. ² Judas who betrayed him also knew the place, for Jesus often resorted there with his disciples. ³ Judas then, after he had received a band of men, and officers of the high priests and Pharisees, went there with lanterns and firebrands and weapons.

⁴ Then Jesus, knowing all things that would come on him, went forth and said to them, Whom do you seek? ⁵ They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus said to them, I am he.

Judas who betrayed him also stood with them. ⁶ But as soon as Jesus had said to them, I am he, they went backwards and fell to the ground. ⁷ And he asked them again, Whom do you seek? They said, Jesus of Nazareth. ⁸ Jesus answered, I said to you, I am he. If you seek me, let these go their way. ⁹ This was to fulfil the saying that he had spoken: Of those whom you gave me, I have not lost one.

¹⁰ Simon Peter had a sword, and drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. ¹¹ Then Jesus said to Peter, Put up your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink of the cup which my Father has given me?

¹² Then the company of men and the captain and the officers of the Jews took Jesus and bound him, ¹³ and led him away to Annas first. For he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was the high priest that same year. ¹⁴ Caiaphas was the one who gave counsel to the Jews that it was good that one man should die for the people.

¹⁵ And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. That disciple was known to the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest. ¹⁶ But Peter stood at the door outside.

Then that other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the maid that kept the door, and brought Peter in. ¹⁷ Then the maid that kept the door said to Peter, Are you not one of this man’s disciples? He said, I am not. ¹⁸ The servants and the officers were standing there, and had made a fire of coals, for it was cold and they were warming themselves. Peter also stood among them and warmed himself.

¹⁹ The high priest asked Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. ²⁰ Jesus answered him, I spoke openly in the world. I always taught in the synagogue and in the temple where all the Jews come together, and in secret I have said nothing. ²¹ Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard me what I said to them. They can tell what I said.

²² When he had thus spoken, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus on the face, saying, Is this how you answer the high priest?

²³ Jesus answered him, If I have spoken wrongly, bear witness of the wrong. If I have spoken well, why do you hit me?

²⁴ And Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas, the high priest.

²⁵ Simon Peter was standing and warming himself, and they said to him, Are you not also one of his disciples? He denied it and said, I am not. ²⁶ One of the servants of the high priest (a relative of the man whose ear Peter cut off) said to him, Did I not see you in the garden with him?

²⁷ Peter denied it again; and immediately, the cock crew.

²⁸ Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the hall of judgment. It was the morning, and they themselves did not go into the judgment hall lest they should be defiled, but so that they could eat the Passover lamb.

²⁹ Pilate then went out to them and said, What accusation do you bring against this man? ³⁰ They answered and said to him, If he were not an evil-doer, we would not have delivered him to you.

³¹ Then Pilate said to them, You take him and judge him according to your own law.

Then the Jews said to him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death. ³² This was to fulfil the words of Jesus, which he spoke signifying how he would die.

³³ Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus and said to him, Are you the king of the Jews? ³⁴ Jesus answered, Do you say that of yourself, or did others tell you this about me?

³⁵ Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Your own nation and high priests have delivered you to me. What have you done?

³⁶ Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then my servants would surely fight so that I would not be delivered to the Jews. But now my kingdom is not from here.

  ³⁷ Pilate said to him, Are you a king then?

Jesus answered, You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I came into the world: that I should bear witness to the truth. And all who are of the truth hear my voice.

³⁸ Pilate said to him, What is truth?

And when he had said that, Pilate went out again to the Jews and said to them, I find in him no fault at all. ³⁹ You have a custom that I should set one prisoner free to you at Passover. Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?

⁴⁰ Then they all cried out again, saying, Not him, but Barabbas!

Now that Barabbas was a robber.