John 18

John 18:1-4

¹When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples over the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, into which he and his disciples entered. ²Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. ³Judas then, having taken a detachment of soldiers and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. ⁴Jesus therefore, knowing all the things that were happening to him, went out and said to them, “Who are you looking for?”

After praying, Jesus crosses the Kidron to a garden; Judas arrives with soldiers and officers; Jesus, knowing all, goes forward and asks whom they seek.

John 18:5

⁵They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas also, who betrayed him, was standing with them.

They answer that they seek Jesus of Nazareth.

John 18:6

⁶When therefore he said to them, “I am he,” they went backward and fell to the ground.

When Jesus says “I am he,” they draw back and fall to the ground; Judas stands with them.

John 18:7

⁷Again therefore he asked them, “Who are you looking for?” They said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

Jesus asks again whom they are looking for.

John 18:8-9

⁸Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If therefore you seek me, let these go their way,” ⁹that the word might be fulfilled which he spoke, “Of those whom you have given me, I have lost none.”

Jesus identifies Himself again and tells them to let the disciples go, fulfilling His word that He lost none given Him.

John 18:10-11

¹⁰Simon Peter therefore, having a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. ¹¹Jesus therefore said to Peter, “Put the sword into its sheath. The cup which the Father has given me, shall I not surely drink it?”

Peter cuts off Malchus’s ear; Jesus commands the sword sheathed and accepts the cup the Father has given.

John 18:12-14

¹²So the detachment, the commanding officer, and the officers of the Jews seized Jesus and bound him, ¹³and led him to Annas first, for he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. ¹⁴Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should perish for the people.

Jesus is seized and bound, led to Annas; Caiaphas, who advised one man’s death for the people, is noted.

John 18:15-17

¹⁵Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered in with Jesus into the court of the high priest; ¹⁶but Peter was standing at the door outside. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought in Peter. ¹⁷Then the maid who kept the door said to Peter, “Are you also one of this man’s disciples?” He said, “I am not.”

Peter and another disciple follow; the other enters; Peter stays outside until brought in, then a servant girl asks if he is a disciple and he says he is not.

John 18:18

¹⁸Now the servants and the officers were standing there, having made a fire of coals, for it was cold. They were warming themselves. Peter was with them, standing and warming himself.

Servants and officers warm themselves at a charcoal fire; Peter stands with them, warming himself.

John 18:19

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

The high priest questions Jesus about His disciples and teaching.

John 18:20-21

²⁰Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet. I said nothing in secret. ²¹Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them. Behold, they know the things which I said.”

Jesus says He taught openly in synagogue and temple and tells them to ask hearers what He said.

John 18:22

²²When he had said this, one of the officers standing by slapped Jesus with his hand, saying, “Do you answer the high priest like that?”

An officer slaps Jesus for how He answered the high priest.

John 18:23

²³Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, testify of the evil; but if well, why do you beat me?”

Jesus asks for testimony of wrong if He spoke evil, or an explanation of the blow if He spoke well.

John 18:24

²⁴Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas, the high priest.

Annas sends Jesus bound to Caiaphas.

John 18:25

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

While warming himself, Peter is asked again if he is a disciple and denies it.

John 18:26

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

A relative of Malchus recognizes Peter from the garden and challenges him.

John 18:27

²⁷Peter therefore denied it again, and immediately the rooster crowed.

Peter denies again and the rooster crows immediately.

John 18:28-29

²⁸They led Jesus therefore from Caiaphas into the Praetorium. It was early, and they themselves didn’t enter into the Praetorium, that they might not be defiled, but might eat the Passover. ²⁹Pilate therefore went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?”

Jesus is led to the Praetorium early; Jewish leaders stay outside to avoid defilement before Passover; Pilate comes out to ask the accusation.

John 18:30

³⁰They answered him, “If this man weren’t an evildoer, we wouldn’t have delivered him up to you.”

They say they would not have delivered Him if He were not an evildoer.

John 18:31

³¹Pilate therefore said to them, “Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law.” Therefore the Jews said to him, “It is illegal for us to put anyone to death,”

Pilate tells them to judge Him by their law; they reply they may not put anyone to death.

John 18:32

³²that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spoke, signifying by what kind of death he should die.

Their reply fulfills Jesus’ word signifying what kind of death He would die.

John 18:33

³³Pilate therefore entered again into the Praetorium, called Jesus, and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

Pilate enters and asks Jesus if He is the King of the Jews.

John 18:34

³⁴Jesus answered him, “Do you say this by yourself, or did others tell you about me?”

Jesus asks whether Pilate says this on his own or from others’ report.

John 18:35

³⁵Pilate answered, “I’m not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered you to me. What have you done?”

Pilate distances himself as no Jew and says Jesus’ own nation and priests delivered Him; he asks what Jesus has done.

John 18:36

³⁶Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If my Kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight, that I wouldn’t be delivered to the Jews. But now my Kingdom is not from here.”

Jesus says His kingdom is not of this world; otherwise His servants would fight; His kingdom is not from here.

John 18:37

³⁷Pilate therefore said to him, “Are you a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this reason I have been born, and for this reason I have come into the world, that I should testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

Pilate asks if He is a king; Jesus affirms He was born and came to testify to the truth; everyone of the truth hears His voice.

John 18:38

³⁸Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” When he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no basis for a charge against him.

Pilate asks what truth is, then goes out to declare he finds no basis for a charge.

John 18:39

³⁹But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Therefore, do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

Pilate cites the Passover custom of releasing a prisoner and offers to free the King of the Jews.

John 18:40

⁴⁰Then they all shouted again, saying, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

They shout for Barabbas instead—Barabbas the robber.

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