Joh 18 | HCSB | STEP | After Jesus had said these things, He went out with His disciples across the Kidron Valley , where there was a garden , and He and His disciples went into it .

‏ John 18

Jesus Betrayed

1 After ^a Jesus had said these things, He went out with His disciples across the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden, and He and His disciples went into it. 2 Judas, ^b who betrayed ^c Him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with His disciples. 3 So Judas took a ^{▼▼company/ regiment: Or cohort, a Roman military unit that numbered as many as 600 men}company of soldiers and some temple police from the ^{▼▼chief priest(s): A group of Jewish temple officers that included the highpriest, captain of the temple, temple overseers, and treasurers}chief priests and the ^{▼▼Pharisee(s): In Judaism a religious sect that followed the whole written and oral law}Pharisees ^g and came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.

4 Then Jesus, knowing everything that was about to happen to Him, ^h went out and said to them, “Who is it you’re looking for?”

5 “Jesus the ^{▼▼Nazarene: A person from Nazareth; growing up in Nazareth was an aspect of the Messiah's humble beginnings; Jn 1:46.}Nazarene,” they answered.“I am He,” ^{▼▼Lit I am; see note at Jn 8:58.
,} ^k Jesus told them.Judas, who betrayed Him, was also standing with them. 6 When He told them, “I am He,” they stepped back and fell to the ground.

7 Then He asked them again, “Who is it you’re looking for?”“Jesus the Nazarene,” they said.

8 “I told you I am He,” Jesus replied. “So if you’re looking for Me, let these men go.” 9 This was to fulfill ^l the words He had said: “I have not lost one of those You have given Me.” ^m

10 Then Simon ⁿ Peter, ^o who had a sword, ^p drew it, struck the high priest’s ^q ^{▼▼slave: The strong Greek word doulos cannot be accurately translated in English by "servant" or "bond servant"; the HCSB translates this word as "slave," not out of insensitivity to the legitimate concerns of modern English speakers, but out of a commitment to accurately convey the brutal reality of the Roman empire's inhumane institution as well as the ownership called for by Christ.}slave, and cut off his right ear. (The slave’s name was Malchus.)

11 At that, Jesus said to Peter, “Sheathe your sword! Am I not to drink the cup ^s the Father has given Me?”

Jesus Arrested and Taken to Annas

12 Then the company of soldiers, the commander, and the Jewish temple police arrested Jesus and tied Him up. 13 First they led Him to Annas, ^t for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, ^u who was high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the ^{▼▼Jew(s): In Jn the term Jews usually indicates those in Israel who were opposed to Jesus, particularly the Jewish authorities in Jerusalem who led the nation.}Jews that it was advantageous that one man should die for the people. ^w

Peter Denies Jesus

15 Meanwhile, Simon Peter ^x was following Jesus, as was another disciple. That disciple was an acquaintance of the high priest; so he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard. 16 But Peter remained standing outside by the door. So the other disciple, the one known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the girl who was the doorkeeper and brought Peter in.

17 Then the slave girl who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?”“I am not!” he said. 18 Now the slaves and the temple police had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold. They were standing there warming themselves, and Peter was standing with them, warming himself.

Jesus before Annas

19 The high priest ^y questioned Jesus about His disciples and about His teaching.

20 “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus answered him. “I have always taught in the ^{▼▼synagogue(s): A place where the Jewish people met for prayer, worship and teaching of the Scriptures}synagogue ^aa and in the ^{▼▼temple complex: In the Jerusalem temple, the complex included the sanctuary (the holy place and the holy of holies), at least 4 courtyards (for priests, Jewish men, Jewish women, and Gentiles), numerous gates, and several covered walkways.}temple complex, ^ac where all the Jews congregate, and I haven’t spoken anything in secret. 21 Why do you question Me? Question those who heard what I told them. Look, they know what I said.”

22 When He had said these things, one of the temple police standing by slapped Jesus, saying, “Is this the way you answer the high priest?”

23 “If I have spoken wrongly,” Jesus answered him, “give evidence ^{▼▼Or him, testify} about the wrong; but if rightly, ^ae why do you hit Me?”

24 Then ^af Annas ^ag sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Peter Denies Jesus Twice More

25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said to him, “You aren’t one of His disciples too, are you?”He denied it and said, “I am not!”

26 One of the high priest’s slaves, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you with Him in the garden?”

27 Peter then denied it again. Immediately a rooster crowed. ^ah

Jesus before Pilate

28 Then ^ai they took Jesus from Caiaphas to the governor’s ^{▼▼headquarters /palace: The Latin word Praetorium was used by Greek writers for the residence of the Roman governor; it may also refer to military headquarters, the imperial court, or the emperor's guard.}headquarters. ^ak It was early morning. They did not enter the headquarters themselves; otherwise they would be defiled and unable to eat the ^{▼▼Passover: The Israelite festival celebrated on the fourteenth day of the first month in the early spring. It was a celebration of the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt, commemorating the final plague on Egypt when the firstborn were killed.}Passover.

29 Then ^{▼▼Pilate: Pontius Pilate was governor of the province of Judea a.d. 26-36.}Pilate ^an came out to them and said, “What charge ^ao do you bring against this man?”

30 They answered him, “If this man weren’t a criminal, ^{▼▼Lit an evil doer} we wouldn’t have handed Him over to you.”

31 So Pilate told them, “Take Him yourselves and judge Him according to your law.”“It’s not legal ^{▼▼According to Roman law} for us to put anyone to death,” the Jews declared. 32 They said this so that Jesus’ words might be fulfilled signifying what kind of death He was going to die. ^ar

33 Then Pilate went back into the headquarters, summoned Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” ^as

34 Jesus answered, “Are you asking this on your own, or have others told you about Me?”

35 “I’m not a Jew, am I?” Pilate replied. “Your own nation and the chief priests handed You over to me. What have You done?”

36 “My kingdom ^at is not of this ^{▼▼world: The organized Satanic system that is opposed to God and hostile to Jesus and His followers. The non-Christian culture including governments, educational systems, and businesses}world,” said Jesus. “If My kingdom were of this world, ^av My servants ^{▼▼Or attendants, or helpers
,} ^ax would fight, so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. As it is, My kingdom does not have its origin here.” ^{▼▼Lit My kingdom is not from here
,} ^az

37 “You are a king then?” Pilate asked.“You say that I’m a king,” Jesus replied. “I was born for this, and I have come into the world ^ba for this: to testify ^bb to the truth. ^bc Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.”

38 “What is truth?” said Pilate.

Jesus or Barabbas

After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no grounds ^bd for charging Him. 39 You ^be have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at the Passover. So, do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

40 They shouted back, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” ^bf Now Barabbas was a revolutionary. ^{▼▼Or robber; see Jn 10:1,8 for the same Gk word used here
,} ^bh