Jesus under Arrest
1When Jesus finished his prayer, he led his disciples into an olive grove on the other side of the Kidron Valley.2Judas, who betrayed Jesus, knew exactly where they were going because Jesus often took his disciples there to talk with them. 3So Judas went there, leading an armed detachment of soldiers along with some Temple police sent by Jerusalem’s top Jewish priests and Pharisees. They carried torches and lanterns to light the night.
4Jesus knew what was going on and what was about to happen. But he stepped forward and asked, “Who are you looking for?”
5They said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
Jesus said, “I am that man.” Judas, the betrayer, was standing right there.
6When Jesus told the group, “I am that man,” they instantly backed up and fell.
7Jesus repeated himself, asking, “Who are you looking for?”
And again they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
8Jesus said, “Well, I already told you that’s me. So, if I’m the one you’re looking for, let these other men go.”
9This fulfilled the prediction he made earlier, “I didn’t lose a single one you had given me.” [1]
Peter Draws Blood
10Simon Peter whipped out the sword he carried. He took a swing at Malchus, a servant of the high priest, slicing off the man’s right ear. [2]11Jesus told Peter, “Sheath that sword of yours. Don’t I have to drink the cup of death the Father gave me?”
12So the detachment of soldiers led by an officer and accompanied by the Jewish Temple police arrested Jesus and tied him up.
Retired High Priest Interrogates Jesus
13They took him to the home of the high priest’s father-in-law, Annas. [3] Caiaphas was the high priest that year. 14Caiaphas was the man who told Jewish leaders earlier, “Don’t you realize it’s better for one man to die, so he can save an entire nation from dying?” [4]15Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. That other disciple was someone the high priest knew, so he was allowed into the courtyard where Jesus was being held. 16Peter stayed outside the courtyard, by the entrance. The other disciple who knew the high priest went over to the servant girl who was standing guard at the door. He talked with her and then brought Peter into the courtyard with him.
17The servant girl who stood watch at the front door asked Peter, “You’re not one of that man’s disciples, are you?”
Peter told her, “No, I’m not.”
18Temple police and household servants waiting in the courtyard built a charcoal fire. It was cold waiting outside, so they warmed themselves by the fire. Peter stepped over there to warm himself too.
High Priest Interrogates Jesus
19The high priest [5] started interrogating Jesus, asking who his disciples were and what he had been teaching them.20Jesus answered, “I’ve been open to everyone about what I teach. I’ve been teaching in the synagogues and in the Temple, where Jews gather for worship. I don’t have any secret teachings. 21Why are you interrogating me? Ask the people who have heard me. Let them tell you what I said.”
22When Jesus said that, one of the Temple policemen standing there slapped him in the face and said, “Is that any way to answer the high priest?”
23Jesus answered, “If I said something wrong, tell me what it is. But if what I said was true, why did you hit me?”
24Annas sent him, still tied, to the high priest Caiaphas.
Peter Chickens Out
25Simon Peter was still standing by the fire warming himself when someone came up to him with a question: “You aren’t one of his disciples, are you?”Peter said, “No I’m not.”
26One of the servants of the high priest was related to the man who managed to get his ear cut off by Peter. He told Peter, “I saw you there in the garden with him. Am I wrong about that?”
27Peter denied it one more time. That’s when a rooster started crowing.
Pilate’s Turn to Interrogate Jesus
28It was early in the morning when they left the home of Caiaphas and took Jesus to the governor’s headquarters. [6] They didn’t go into the building because that would have defiled them, and they wouldn’t have been able to eat the Passover meal that evening. [7] 29Pilate [8] came outside his headquarters and said, “What do you have against this man? What’s the charge?”30They said, “We brought him to you because he’s breaking the law. We wouldn’t bring you an innocent man.”
31Pilate told them, “Handle this case yourself, then. Judge him by your own law.”
The Jews answered him, “We can’t. It’s illegal for us to execute someone.” 32This fulfilled Jesus’s prediction about how they would kill him. [9]
Pilate: “Do I Look like a Jew?”
33Pilate went back inside his headquarters and called for Jesus. Pilate asked him, “Are you king of the Jews?”34Jesus said, “Is this your question, or is it a question someone told you to ask me?”
35Pilate said, “Do I look like a Jew? It’s your own people and your top priests who arrested you and brought you here to me. Here’s my question. What did you do?”
Jesus Has No Kingdom Here
36Jesus told him, “My kingdom doesn’t exist anywhere in this world. If it did, my people would have fought the Jews so I wouldn’t have gotten arrested. But the fact is, my kingdom isn’t here.”37Pilate said to him, “Well then, you are a king, right?”
Jesus answered him, “You’re the one who’s saying I’m a king. I was born into this world to tell the truth. Everyone who chases the truth listens to what I have to say.”
38Pilate said, “Whatever. Who knows what truth is anyhow?” Pilate went back outside and told the Jews, “I don’t see any evidence to back your accusation against this man. 39You’ve got a custom that calls for me to release a Jewish prisoner at Passover. Would you like me to release the king of the Jews?”
40They yelled, “Not him! Free Barabbas!” Barabbas was a thief.
