John 18-19
New Life Version
Jesus Handed Over to Sinners (A)
18 When Jesus had said these things, He went with His followers across the small river Kidron. He and His followers went to a garden there. 2 Judas, who was handing Him over to the leaders, knew the place also. Jesus and His followers had met there many times. 3 Judas led some soldiers and some men who had been sent by the head religious leaders of the Jews and the proud religious law-keepers to the garden. They carried lamps and sticks that were burning and swords.
4 Jesus knew what was going to happen to Him. He went out and asked them, “Who are you looking for?” 5 The soldiers answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said, “I am Jesus.” Judas, who was handing Him over, was with them also.
6 When He said to them, “I am Jesus,” they stepped back and fell to the ground. 7 He asked them again, “Who are you looking for?” They said again, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8 He said, “I have told you that I am Jesus. If you are looking for Me, let these men go their way.” 9 He said this so the words He spoke might happen, “I have not lost one of those You gave Me.”
10 Simon Peter had a sword. He took it and hit a servant who was owned by the head religious leader and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. 11 Then Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back where it belongs. Am I not to go through what My Father has given Me to go through?”
Jesus Stands in Front of Annas
12 Then the soldiers and their captain and the men sent by the Jewish religious leaders took Jesus and tied Him. 13 They took Him to Annas first. He was the father-in-law of Caiaphas. Caiaphas was the head religious leader that year. 14 Caiaphas had talked to the Jews. He told them it would be a good thing if one man should die for the people.
Peter Lies about Jesus (B)
15 Simon Peter and another follower came behind Jesus. This other follower was known to the head religious leader. He went with Jesus to the head religious leader’s house. 16 Peter stood outside at the gate. The other follower, who was known by the head religious leader, went out and talked to the servant-girl who watched the gate. Then he took Peter inside. 17 The servant-girl who watched the door said to Peter, “Are you not a follower of this Man?” He said, “I am not!” 18 The servants who were owned by someone and the soldiers had made a fire because it was cold. They were getting warm by the fire. Peter was standing with them getting warm.
Jesus Stands in Front of Caiaphas (C)
19 The head religious leader of the Jews asked Jesus about His followers. He asked Jesus about His teaching. 20 Jesus said, “I have spoken very plain words to the world. I have always taught in the Jewish place of worship and in the house of God. It is where the Jews go all the time. My words have not been said in secret. 21 Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard what I said to them. They know what I said.”
22 Then one of the soldiers standing there hit Jesus with his hand. He said, “Is that how You talk to the head religious leaders?” 23 Jesus said, “If I said anything wrong, tell Me what was wrong. If I said what was right, why did you hit Me?” 24 Then Annas sent Jesus to Caiaphas, the head religious leader. Jesus was still tied up.
25 Simon Peter was standing there and getting warm. They said to him, “Are you not one of His followers also?” He lied and said he did not know Jesus and answered, “I am not!” 26 A servant who was owned by the head religious leader was there. He was of the family of the man whose ear Peter cut off. The man said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” 27 Again Peter lied and said he did not know Jesus. At once a rooster crowed.
Jesus Stands in Front of Pilate (D)
28 They led Jesus from Caiaphas into the court room. It was early in the morning. They did not go inside because their Law said if they did they would become dirty with sin. Then they would not be able to eat the religious supper to remember how the Jews left Egypt. 29 So Pilate came out to them. He asked, “What have you to say against the Man?” 30 The Jews said, “If He had not done wrong, we would not have brought Him to you.”
31 Then Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves and give Him a trial by your Law.” The Jews said to him, “It is against our Law to put anyone to death.” 32 This happened as Jesus said it would happen. He had told what kind of death He would die.
33 Then Pilate went back into the court room. He called for Jesus and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus said, “Do you ask Me this yourself, or did others say this to you about Me?” 35 Pilate said, “Do you think I am a Jew? Your own people and religious leaders have handed You over to me. What have You done?” 36 Jesus said, “My holy nation does not belong to this world. If My holy nation were of this world, My helpers would fight so I would not be handed over to the Jews. My holy nation is not of this world.” 37 Pilate said to Him, “So You are a King?” Jesus said, “You are right when you say that I am a King. I was born for this reason. I came into the world for this reason. I came to speak about the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
Jesus or Barabbas Is to Go Free (E)
38 Pilate said to Jesus, “What is truth?” After Pilate said this, he went out again to the Jews. He said, “I do not find Him guilty. 39 But every year a man who is in prison is allowed to go free at the special religious gathering to remember how the Jews left Egypt. Do you want the King of the Jews to go free?” 40 Then they spoke with loud voices, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.
The Crown of Thorns (F)
19 Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him beaten. 2 The soldiers put a crown of thorns on His head. They put a purple coat on Him. 3 Then they said, “Hello, King of the Jews!” and hit Him with their hands.
4 Pilate went out again and said to the people, “See, I bring Him out to you so you will know I do not find Him guilty.” 5 Jesus came out. He had on the crown of thorns and a purple coat. Pilate said to the people, “See! This is the Man!”
Pilate Tries to Let Jesus Go Free
6 The religious leaders and the soldiers saw Him. They spoke with loud voices, “Nail Him to a cross! Nail Him to a cross!” Pilate said, “Take Him yourselves and nail Him to a cross. As for me, I do not find Him guilty.” 7 The Jews said to Pilate, “We have a Law that says He should die because He has said He is the Son of God.”
8 When Pilate heard them say this, he was more afraid. 9 He went into the court room again. He said to Jesus, “Where do You come from?” Jesus did not say a word. 10 Pilate said, “Will You not speak to me? Do You not know that I have the right and the power to nail You to a cross? I have the right and the power to let You go free also.” 11 Jesus said, “You would not have any right or power over Me if it were not given you from above. For this reason the one who handed Me over to you has the worse sin.”
12 When Pilate heard this, he wanted to let Jesus go free. But the Jews kept saying, “If you let this Man go free, you are not a friend of Caesar! Whoever makes himself as a king is working against Caesar.” 13 When Pilate heard this, he had Jesus brought in front of him. Pilate sat down at the place where men stand in front of him if they are thought to be guilty. The place is called the Stone Floor.
14 It was the day to get ready for the special religious gathering to remember how the Jews left Egypt. It was about noon. Pilate said to the Jews, “See, your King!” 15 They spoke with a loud voice, “Take Him away! Nail Him to a cross!” Pilate said to them, “Do you want me to nail your King to a cross?” The head religious leaders said, “We have no king but Caesar!” 16 Then Pilate handed Him over to be nailed to a cross. They took Jesus and led Him away.
Jesus on the Cross (G)
17 Jesus carried His own cross to a hill called the Place of the Skull. 18 There they nailed Him to the cross. With Him were two others. There was one on each side of Jesus. 19 Then Pilate put a writing on the cross which said, JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 20 This was read by many of the Jews. The place where Jesus was nailed to the cross was near the city. The writing was written in the Hebrew and the Latin and the Greek languages. 21 Then the head religious leaders of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews’! Write, ‘He said, I am the King of the Jews.’” 22 Pilate said, “What I have written is to stay just as it is!”
They Divided His Clothes (H)
23 The soldiers who nailed Jesus to the cross took His clothes and divided them in four parts, each soldier getting one part. But His coat which was not sewed was made in one piece. 24 They said to each other, “Let us not cut it up. Let us draw names to see whose it should be.” This happened as the Holy Writings said it would happen, “They divided My clothes among them and they drew names for My coat.” (I) 25 This is what the soldiers did.
The Women at the Cross (J)
The mother of Jesus and her sister Mary, the wife of Cleophas, were standing near the cross. Mary Magdalene was there also. 26 Jesus saw His mother and the follower whom He loved standing near. He said to His mother, “Woman, look at your son.” 27 Then Jesus said to the follower, “Look at your mother.” From that time the follower took her to his own house.
The Death of Jesus (K)
28 Jesus knew that everything was now finished. Everything happened as the Holy Writings said it would happen. He said, “I am thirsty.” (L) 29 There was a jar full of sour wine near. They filled a sponge and put it on a stick and put it to His mouth. 30 Jesus took the sour wine and said, “It is finished.” He put His head down and gave up His spirit and died.
His Bones Were Not Broken
31 This was the day before the special religious gathering to remember how the Jews left Egypt. The next day was the Day of Rest and the great day of the religious gathering. The Jews went to Pilate and asked to have the legs of the men broken. They wanted their bodies taken away so they would not be hanging on the crosses on the Day of Rest. 32 Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and of the other one who had been nailed to crosses beside Jesus. 33 They came to Jesus. They saw He was already dead so they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pushed a spear into His side. Blood and water ran out.
35 The one who saw it is writing this and what he says is true. He knows he is telling the truth so you may believe. 36 These things happened as the Holy Writings said they would happen, “Not one of His bones will be broken.” (M) 37 And in another place the Holy Writings say, “They will look at Him Whose side they cut.” (N)
The Grave of Jesus (O)
38 Joseph was from the town of Arimathea. He was a follower of Jesus but was afraid of the Jews. So he worshiped without anyone knowing it. He asked Pilate if he could take away the body of Jesus. Pilate said he could. Then Joseph came and took it away. 39 Nicodemus came also. The first time he had come to Jesus had been at night. He brought with him a large box of spices. 40 Then they took the body of Jesus with the spices and put it in linen cloths. This was the way the Jews made a body ready for the grave.
41 There was a garden near the place where He had been nailed to the cross. In the garden there was a new grave in the side of the hill. No one had ever been laid there. 42 This place was near by. Because it was the day the Jews got ready for the special religious gathering, they laid Jesus in it.
Copyright © 1969, 2003 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.