Jesus is Betrayed and Arrested

(Matthew 26:47-56; Mark 14:43-40; Luke 22:47-53)

1After Jesus had said all of this, he went with his disciples across the Kidron valley to a place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. 2Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3So Judas took a detachment of soldiers and some officers from the high priests and the Pharisees and went there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.

4Then Jesus, knowing everything that was going to happen, went forward and asked them, “Who are you looking for?”

5They answered him, “Jesus from Nazareth.”a

Jesus told them, “I AM.” Judas, the man who betrayed him, was standing with them.

6When Jesusb told them, “I AM,” they backed away and fell to the ground.

7So he asked them again, “Who are you looking for?”

They said, “Jesus from Nazareth.”c

8Jesus replied, “I told you that I am the one,d so if you are looking for me, let these men go.” 9This was to fulfill what he had said, “I did not lose a single one of those you gave me.”e

10Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. 11Jesus told Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Shouldn’t I drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

Jesus before the High Priest

(Matthew 26:57-58; Mark 14:53-54; Luke 22:54)

12Then the soldiers, along with their commander and the Jewish officers, arrested Jesus and tied him up. 13First they brought him to Annas, because he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14Caiaphas was the person who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one man die for the people.

Peter Denies Jesus

(Matthew 26:69-70; Mark 14:66-68; Luke 22:55-57)

15Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Since the other disciple was known to the high priest, he accompanied Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. 16Peter, however, stood outside the gate. So this other disciple who was known to the high priest went out and spoke to the gatekeeper and brought Peter inside. 17The young woman at the gate asked Peter, “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples, too, are you?”

“I am not,” he replied.

18Meanwhile, the servants and officers were standing around a charcoal fire they had built and were warming themselves because it was cold. Peter was also standing with them, keeping himself warm.

The High Priest Questions Jesus

(Matthew 26:59-66; Mark 14:55-64; Luke 22:66-71)

19Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his own teaching. 20Jesus answered him, “I have spoken publicly to the world. I have always taught in the synagogue or in the Temple, where all Jews meet together, and I have said nothing in secret. 21Why do you question me? Question those who heard what I said. These are the people who know what I said.”

22When he said this, one of the officers standing nearby slapped Jesus on the face and demanded, “Is that any way to answer the high priest?”

23Jesus answered him, “If I have said anything wrong, tell me what it was.f But if I have told the truth, why do you hit me?” 24Then Annas sent him, with his hands tied, to Caiaphas the high priest.

Peter Denies Jesus Again

(Matthew 26:71-75; Mark 14:69-72; Luke 22:58-62)

25Meanwhile, Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. Some peopleg asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples, too, are you?”

He denied it by saying, “I am not!”

26Then one of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “I saw you in the garden with Jesus,h didn’t I?” 27Peter again denied it, and immediately a rooster crowed.

Pilate Questions Jesus

(Matthew 27:1-2; Mark 15:1-5; Luke 23:1-5)

28Then Jesus was led from Caiaphas to the governor’s headquartersi early in the morning. The Jewsj did not go into the headquarters, to avoid becoming uncleank and unable to eat the Passover meal. 29So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What accusation are you bringing against this man?”

30They answered him, “If he weren’t a criminal, we wouldn’t have handed him over to you.”

31Pilate told them, “You take him and try him according to your Law.”

The Jewish leadersl told him, “It is not legal for us to put anyone to death.” 32This was to fulfill what Jesus had saidm when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.

33So Pilate went back into the governor’s headquarters,n summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

34Jesus replied, “Are you asking this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about me?”

35Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? It is your own nation and high priests who have handed you over to me. What have you done?”

36Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom belonged to this world, my servants would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders.o But for now my kingdom is not from here.”

37Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?”

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. I was born for this, and I came into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is committed to the truth listens to my voice.”

38Pilate asked him, “What is ‘truth’?” and then he went out to the Jewish leadersp again and told them, “I find no basis for a charge against him. 39But you have a custom that I release one person for you at Passover. Do you want me to release for you the king of the Jews?”

40At this, they shouted out again, “Not this fellow, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.q