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19 The high priest therefore asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his teaching. 20 Jesus answered him, I have spoken openly to the world; I ever taught in [a]synagogues, and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and in secret spake I nothing. 21 Why askest thou me? ask them that have heard me, what I spake unto them: behold, these know the things which I said. 22 And when he had said this, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus [b]with his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so? 23 Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me? 24 Annas therefore sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.

25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said therefore unto him, Art thou also one of his disciples? He denied, and said, I am not. 26 One of the [c]servants of the high priest, being a kinsman of him whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him? 27 Peter therefore denied again: and straightway the cock crew.

28 They lead Jesus therefore from Caiaphas into the [d]Praetorium: and it was early; and they themselves entered not into the [e]Praetorium, that they might not be defiled, but might eat the passover. 29 Pilate therefore went out unto them, and saith, What accusation bring ye against this man? 30 They answered and said unto him, If this man were not an evil-doer, we should not have delivered him up unto thee. 31 Pilate therefore said unto them, Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law. The Jews said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death: 32 that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying by what manner of death he should die.

33 Pilate therefore entered again into the [f]Praetorium, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? 34 Jesus answered, Sayest thou this of thyself, or did others tell it thee concerning me? 35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? 36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my [g]servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. 37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, [h]Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end have I been born, and to this end am I come into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. 38 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 no crime in him. 39 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 cried out therefore again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.

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Footnotes

  1. John 18:20 Greek synagogue.
  2. John 18:22 Or, with a rod
  3. John 18:26 Greek bondservants.
  4. John 18:28 Or, palace
  5. John 18:28 Or, palace
  6. John 18:33 Or, palace
  7. John 18:36 Or, officers: as in verses 3, 12, 18, 22.
  8. John 18:37 Or, Thou sayest it, because I am a king.

The High Priest Questions Jesus(A)

19 Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.

20 “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues(B) or at the temple,(C) where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.(D) 21 Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”

22 When Jesus said this, one of the officials(E) nearby slapped him in the face.(F) “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.

23 “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?”(G) 24 Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas(H) the high priest.

Peter’s Second and Third Denials(I)

25 Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself.(J) So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?”

He denied it, saying, “I am not.”(K)

26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off,(L) challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?”(M) 27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.(N)

Jesus Before Pilate(O)

28 Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor.(P) By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace,(Q) because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover.(R) 29 So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?”

30 “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.”

31 Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.”

“But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. 32 This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die.(S)

33 Pilate then went back inside the palace,(T) summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”(U)

34 “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”

35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”

36 Jesus said, “My kingdom(V) is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders.(W) But now my kingdom is from another place.”(X)

37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth.(Y) Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”(Z)

38 “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.(AA) 39 But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?”

40 They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising.(AB)

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