John 18 :: English Standard Version (ESV)

Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

(Mat 26:47–56; Mar 14:43–52; Luk 22:47–53 )

Jhn 18:1When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered.

Jhn 18:2

Jhn 18:2Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples.

Jhn 18:3

Jhn 18:3So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons.

Jhn 18:4

Jhn 18:4Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?”

Jhn 18:5

Jhn 18:5They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.”[fn] Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.

Jhn 18:6

Jhn 18:6When Jesus[fn] said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

Jhn 18:7

Jhn 18:7So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

Jhn 18:8

Jhn 18:8Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.”

Jhn 18:9

Jhn 18:9This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.”

Jhn 18:10

Jhn 18:10Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant[fn] and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)

Jhn 18:11

Jhn 18:11So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

Jesus Faces Annas and Caiaphas

Jhn 18:12

Jhn 18:12So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews[fn] arrested Jesus and bound him.

Jhn 18:13

Jhn 18:13First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.

Jhn 18:14

Jhn 18:14It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.

Peter Denies Jesus

(Mat 26:69–75; Mar 14:66–72; Luk 22:54–62 )

Jhn 18:15

Jhn 18:15Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest,

Jhn 18:16

Jhn 18:16but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in.

Jhn 18:17

Jhn 18:17The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.”

Jhn 18:18

Jhn 18:18Now the servants[fn] and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.

The High Priest Questions Jesus

Jhn 18:19

Jhn 18:19The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.

Jhn 18:20

Jhn 18:20Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret.

Jhn 18:21

Jhn 18:21Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.”

Jhn 18:22

Jhn 18:22When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?”

Jhn 18:23

Jhn 18:23Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?”

Jhn 18:24

Jhn 18:24Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Peter Denies Jesus Again

Jhn 18:25

Jhn 18:25Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.”

Jhn 18:26

Jhn 18:26One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?”

Jhn 18:27

Jhn 18:27Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.

Jesus Before Pilate

(Mat 27:1, 2, 11–14; Mar 15:1–5; Luk 23:1–5 )

Jhn 18:28

Jhn 18:28Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters.[fn] It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover.

Jhn 18:29

Jhn 18:29So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?”

Jhn 18:30

Jhn 18:30They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.”

Jhn 18:31

Jhn 18:31Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.”

Jhn 18:32

Jhn 18:32This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

My Kingdom Is Not of This World

Jhn 18:33

Jhn 18:33So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

Jhn 18:34

Jhn 18:34Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?”

Jhn 18:35

Jhn 18:35Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?”

Jhn 18:36

Jhn 18:36Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”

Jhn 18:37

Jhn 18:37Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

Jhn 18:38

Jhn 18:38Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him.

(Mat 27:15–23; Mar 15:6–14; Luk 23:13–23 )

Jhn 18:39

Jhn 18:39But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

Jhn 18:40

Jhn 18:40They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.[fn]

See the ESV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).

ESV Footnotes

(18:5)

Greek I am; also verses 6, 8

(18:6)

Greek he

(18:10)

Or bondservant; twice in this verse

(18:12)

Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time; also verses 14, 31, 36, 38

(18:18)

Or bondservants; also verse 26

(18:28)

Greek the praetorium

(18:40)

Or an insurrectionist

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For more information on this translation, see the ESV Preface.