Jesus Questioned by the High Priest

19 The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine.

20 Jesus answered him, (A)“I spoke openly to the world. I always taught (B)in synagogues and (C)in the temple, where [a]the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. 21 Why do you ask Me? Ask (D)those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.”

22 And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by (E)struck[b] Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?”

23 Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?”

24 (F)Then Annas sent Him bound to (G)Caiaphas the high priest.

Peter Denies Twice More

25 Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. (H)Therefore they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?”

He denied it and said, “I am not!”

26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” 27 Peter then denied again; and (I)immediately a rooster crowed.

In Pilate’s Court(J)

28 (K)Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. (L)But they themselves did not go into the [c]Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover. 29 (M)Pilate then went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?”

30 They answered and said to him, “If He were not [d]an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you.”

31 Then Pilate said to them, “You take Him and judge Him according to your law.”

Therefore the Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,” 32 (N)that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, (O)signifying by what death He would die.

33 (P)Then Pilate entered the [e]Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

34 Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?”

35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?”

36 (Q)Jesus answered, (R)“My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”

37 Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?”

Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, (S)that I should bear (T)witness to the truth. Everyone who (U)is of the truth (V)hears My voice.”

38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, (W)“I find no fault in Him at all.

Taking the Place of Barabbas(X)

39 (Y)“But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

40 (Z)Then they all cried again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” (AA)Now Barabbas was a robber.

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Footnotes

  1. John 18:20 NU all the Jews meet
  2. John 18:22 Lit. gave Jesus a slap,
  3. John 18:28 The governor’s headquarters
  4. John 18:30 a criminal
  5. John 18:33 The governor’s headquarters

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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