New Testament in a Year

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.