Old/New Testament

¹⁹ The high priest then asked Jesus about his disciples, and about his teaching.

²⁰ Jesus answered him, `I have talked so that anyone who wanted to could hear me. I have always taught in the meeting houses and in the temple. That is where the Jews always go. I have not said anything in a secret way.

²¹ Why do you ask me? The people heard me talk. Ask them what I told them. They know what I said.'

²² When he had said this, one of the officers who stood there hit Jesus. He said, `Is that the way you answer the high priest?'

²³ Jesus answered him, `If I have said anything bad, tell me plainly what wrong thing I have said. If I have told the truth, why do you hit me?'

²⁴ Jesus was still tied up. Annas sent him over to Caiaphas the high priest.

²⁵ Simon Peter stayed by the fire and stood warming himself. So the people said to him, `Are you not one of his disciples also?' He said, `No, I am not!'

²⁶ A servant was there. He was of the same family as the one whose ear Peter had cut off. He said, `Did I not see you in the garden with him? `

²⁷ Again Peter said, `No!' And just then a cock called out.

²⁸ Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the court house. It was early in the day. They themselves did not go into the court house. They did not want to become unclean. They wanted to eat the Passover Feast.

²⁹ Pilate went out to the Jewish leaders and said, `What complaint do you bring against this man?'

³⁰ They said to him, `If he were not a very bad man, then we would not have brought him to you.'

³¹ Pilate said, `Take him and judge him by your own law.' The leaders of the Jews said, `But we are not allowed to kill anyone.'

³² So this is the way the words of Jesus came true. He had said how he was going to die.

³³ Then Pilate went back into the court house again. He called for Jesus and asked him, `Are you the King of the Jews?'

³⁴ Jesus answered, `Do you ask me because you yourself think I am, or do you ask me because others said I am?'

³⁵ Pilate answered, `Am I a Jew? Your own people and the chief priests have brought you here to me. Tell me, what have you done?'

³⁶ Jesus answered him, `I am not a king in this world. If I were, my people would fight so that I would not be given to the Jews. But I am not a king in this world.'

³⁷ So Pilate said, `So you really are a king then? ` Jesus answered, `You say that I am a king. The reason that I was born was that I should tell what is true. That is why I came into the world. Everyone who likes what is true listens to what I say.'

³⁸ Pilate said, `What is truth?' When he had said this, he went out to the Jews again. He told them, `I find nothing wrong in this man.

³⁹ But at the Passover Feast you always want me to let one prisoner go free for you. Do you want me to let the King of the Jews go free?'

⁴⁰ Then they all shouted again, `Not this man, but Barabbas!' Barabbas was a man who had stolen things.