M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan

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.

He exhorts them to unite in brotherly love, and to beware of rivalry and vainglory. For a trustworthy example, he sets Christ before them.

2 If there is among you any consolation in Christ, if there is any comforting love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if there is any compassion or mercy, ² fulfil my joy and all draw one way, having one love and being of one accord and of one mind. ³ Let nothing be done through rivalry or vainglory, but in meekness of mind let everyone esteem the other better than himself. ⁴ And look not every person on his own things, but every person on the things of others.

⁵ Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, being in the form of God, counted it not a prize to be equal to God, ⁷ but made himself of no reputation, and took on him the form of a servant, and became like humankind, ⁸ and was found in his appearance as a man. He humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. ⁹ For this God has exalted him, and given him a name above all names, ¹⁰ so that in the name of Jesus every knee will bow, both of things in heaven and things in earth, and things under the earth, ¹¹ and so that all tongues will confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

¹² Therefore my dearly beloveds, as you have always obeyed, not only when I was present, but now much more in my absence, even so work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. ¹³ For it is God who works in you both the will and also the deed, of his own good will.

¹⁴ Do all things without murmuring and disputing, ¹⁵ so that you may be faultless and pure, and the children of God without rebuke in the midst of a corrupt and perverse nation – among whom see that you shine as lights in the world, ¹⁶ holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain, have not laboured in vain. ¹⁷ Yea, and even if I am offered up upon the offering and sacrifice of your faith, I am glad, and rejoice with you all. ¹⁸ And you also, be glad for the same cause, and rejoice with me.

¹⁹ I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be of good comfort when I know your state. ²⁰ For I have no man who is minded so like me, who with such pure affection cares for your matters. ²¹ For all others seek their own, and not that which is Jesus Christ’s. ²² You know the proof of him, how as a son with the father he bestowed his labour upon the gospel with me. ²³ I hope to send him as soon as I know how it will go with me. ²⁴ I trust in the Lord that I also myself may come shortly.

²⁵ I supposed it necessary to send to you brother Epaphroditus, my companion in labour and fellow-soldier – your apostle, and my minister at my need. ²⁶ For he longed after you, and was full of heaviness because you had heard that he was sick. ²⁷ And without question he was sick, and that near to death. But God had mercy on him – not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. ²⁸ I sent him therefore the more quickly, so that when you saw him you might rejoice again, and I might be less sorrowful. ²⁹ Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness. And make much of such a one, ³⁰ because for the work of Christ he went so far that he was near to death, and regarded not his life, to provide that service which was lacking on your part toward me.