New Testament in a Year

18 After saying these things Jesus crossed the Kidron ravine with his disciples and entered a grove of olive trees. ² Judas, the betrayer, knew this place, for Jesus had gone there many times with his disciples.

³ The chief priests and Pharisees had given Judas a squad of soldiers and police to accompany him. Now with blazing torches, lanterns, and weapons they arrived at the olive grove.

^4-5 Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him. Stepping forward to meet them he asked, “Whom are you looking for?”

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.

“I am he,” Jesus said. ⁶ And as he said it, they all fell backwards to the ground!

⁷ Once more he asked them, “Whom are you searching for?”

And again they replied, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

⁸ “I told you I am he,” Jesus said; “and since I am the one you are after, let these others go.” ⁹ He did this to carry out the prophecy he had just made, “I have not lost a single one of those you gave me. . . . ”

¹⁰ Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the High Priest’s servant.

¹¹ But Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword away. Shall I not drink from the cup the Father has given me?”

¹² So the Jewish police, with the soldiers and their lieutenant, arrested Jesus and tied him. ¹³ First they took him to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the High Priest that year. ¹⁴ Caiaphas was the one who told the other Jewish leaders, “Better that one should die for all.”

¹⁵ Simon Peter followed along behind, as did another of the disciples who was acquainted with the High Priest. So that other disciple was permitted into the courtyard along with Jesus, ¹⁶ while Peter stood outside the gate. Then the other disciple spoke to the girl watching at the gate, and she let Peter in. ¹⁷ The girl asked Peter, “Aren’t you one of Jesus’ disciples?”

“No,” he said, “I am not!”

¹⁸ The police and the household servants were standing around a fire they had made, for it was cold. And Peter stood there with them, warming himself.