The Arrest of Jesus
Study note
In a garden across the brook Cedron, Judas arrives with soldiers and officers carrying lanterns and weapons. Jesus, fully aware of what is to happen, steps forward and identifies himself. When he says 'I am he,' the arresting party falls to the ground -- a subtle display of his divine authority even in the moment of surrender. Peter draws a sword and cuts off the ear of Malchus, but Jesus commands him to put it away, accepting the cup the Father has given him.
1 After this prayer, Jesus and his followers walked out and crossed over the brook Cedron. On the other side was a garden, and they went in. When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.
2 Judas, who was going to betray him, knew this garden well. Jesus and his followers had met there many times before. And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.
3 So Judas arrived at the garden leading a group of soldiers and officers sent by the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying lanterns, torches, and weapons. Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.
4 Jesus already knew exactly what was going to happen. He stepped forward and asked them, "Who are you here for?" Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?
5 "Jesus of Nazareth," they answered. Jesus said, "That is me." Judas, the betrayer, was standing there with them. They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.
6 The instant Jesus said "That is me," the whole group stumbled backward and fell flat on the ground. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
7 He asked them a second time, "Who are you here for?" Again they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.
8 Jesus said, "I already told you that I am the one you are looking for. If it is me you want, let these other men walk away." Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:
9 He said this so that what he had spoken earlier would come true: "I did not lose a single one of those you gave me." That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.
10 Then Simon Peter pulled out a sword and swung it, cutting off the right ear of the high priest's servant. The servant's name was Malchus. Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.
11 Jesus told Peter, "Put that sword away! Do you think I would refuse to drink the cup of suffering my Father has given me?" Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
Jesus Before Annas and Caiaphas; Peter's Denials
Study note
Jesus is taken first to Annas, the former high priest, and then to Caiaphas. Meanwhile, Peter and another disciple follow. Peter gains entry to the courtyard but three times denies being Jesus' disciple -- first to a servant girl at the door, then to those warming themselves by the fire, and finally to a relative of Malchus. After the third denial, a rooster crows, fulfilling Jesus' prediction. The contrast between Jesus' courageous testimony and Peter's fearful denials is striking.
12 The soldiers, their commander, and the Jewish officers grabbed Jesus and tied him up. Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him,
13 They took him first to Annas. Annas was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who held the position of high priest that year. And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.
14 Caiaphas was the very one who had told the Jewish leaders it would be better for one man to die for the whole nation. Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.
15 Simon Peter and one other follower went after Jesus. That other follower had connections with the high priest, so he was able to go right into the high priest's courtyard with Jesus. And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.
16 Peter had to wait outside at the gate. The other follower, the one who knew the high priest, went back out and spoke to the girl watching the gate, and she let Peter in. But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.
17 The servant girl at the gate looked at Peter and asked, "Are you one of this man's followers too?" Peter said, "No, I am not." Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not.
18 The servants and officers had built a charcoal fire because the night was cold. They were standing around it keeping warm. Peter went over and stood with them, warming himself by the fire. And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.
19 Inside, the high priest began asking Jesus about his followers and what he had been teaching. The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.
20 Jesus answered, "I have spoken openly for everyone to hear. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, places where all Jewish people gather. I never said anything in secret." Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.
21 "Why are you questioning me? Ask the people who listened to me. They know exactly what I said." Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.
22 When Jesus said this, one of the officers standing nearby slapped him across the face. "Is that any way to talk to the high priest?" the officer demanded. And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?
23 Jesus calmly replied, "If something I said was wrong, point out what it was. But if I spoke the truth, why did you hit me?" Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?
24 Annas then sent Jesus, still tied up, to Caiaphas the high priest. Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.
25 Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing by the fire warming himself. Someone asked him, "Are you one of his followers too?" Peter denied it flatly: "No, I am not." And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not.
26 Then one of the high priest's servants spoke up. He was related to the man whose ear Peter had cut off. He said, "Didn't I see you in the garden with him?" One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?
27 Peter denied it one more time. At that moment, a rooster crowed. Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.
Jesus Before Pilate
Study note
The Jewish leaders bring Jesus to Pilate's headquarters but refuse to enter to avoid ceremonial defilement before Passover. Pilate questions Jesus about being the King of the Jews, and Jesus responds that his kingdom is not of this world. He declares that he came to testify to the truth, prompting Pilate's famous question, 'What is truth?' Finding no guilt in Jesus, Pilate offers to release him according to the Passover custom, but the crowd demands the release of Barabbas, a robber, instead.
28 Early in the morning, they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the Roman governor's building. The Jewish leaders would not go inside. Going in would make them unclean, and they wanted to eat the Passover meal. Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.
29 So Pilate came out to them and asked, "What is this man charged with?" Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?
30 They replied, "If he were not a criminal, we would not have brought him to you." They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.
31 Pilate said, "Then take him and judge him by your own laws." The Jewish leaders responded, "We do not have the authority to execute anyone." Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:
32 This happened so that what Jesus had said about how he would die would come true. That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.
33 Pilate went back inside, called for Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?
34 Jesus said, "Did you come up with that question yourself, or did someone else put that idea in your head?" Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?
35 Pilate replied, "Do I look like a Jew? Your own people and your chief priests are the ones who brought you to me. What did you do?" Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
36 Jesus answered, "The kingdom I rule is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would be fighting right now to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my kingdom does not operate the way this world does." Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
37 "So you are a king!" Pilate said. Jesus replied, "You are the one using that word. Here is why I was born and why I came into the world: to speak the truth. Everyone who cares about the truth listens to what I have to say." Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
38 Pilate muttered, "What is truth?" Then he walked back outside to the Jewish leaders and announced, "I cannot find this man guilty of anything." Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.
39 "But it is your custom for me to set one prisoner free at Passover time. Would you like me to release the King of the Jews?" But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
40 They all screamed, "No! Not him! Give us Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a robber. Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.