John 18 Berean Standard Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 After Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples across the Kidron Valley, where they entered a garden.
1 Ταῦτα εἰπὼν ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐξῆλθε σὺν τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ πέραν τοῦ χειμάρρου τῶν Κέδρων, ὅπου ἦν κῆπος, εἰς ὃν εἰσῆλθεν αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ.
2 Now Judas His betrayer also knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with His disciples.
2 ᾔδει δὲ καὶ Ἰούδας ὁ παραδιδοὺς αὐτὸν τὸν τόπον, ὅτι πολλάκις συνήχθη καὶ ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐκεῖ μετὰ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ.
3 So Judas brought a band of soldiers and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees. They arrived at the garden carrying lanterns, torches, and weapons.
3 ὁ οὖν Ἰούδας λαβὼν τὴν σπεῖραν καὶ ἐκ τῶν ἀρχιερέων καὶ Φαρισαίων ὑπηρέτας ἔρχεται ἐκεῖ μετὰ φανῶν καὶ λαμπάδων καὶ ὅπλων.
4 Jesus, knowing all that was coming upon Him, stepped forward and asked them, “Whom are you seeking?”
4 Ἰησοῦς οὖν εἰδὼς πάντα τὰ ἐρχόμενα ἐπ᾽ αὐτόν, ἐξελθὼν εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· τίνα ζητεῖτε;
5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. Jesus said, “I am He.” And Judas His betrayer was standing there with them.
5 ἀπεκρίθησαν αὐτῷ· Ἰησοῦν τὸν Ναζωραῖον. λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς· ἐγώ εἰμι. εἱστήκει δὲ καὶ Ἰούδας ὁ παραδιδοὺς αὐτὸν μετ᾽ αὐτῶν.
6 When Jesus said, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
6 ὡς οὖν εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι, ἀπῆλθον εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω καὶ ἔπεσον χαμαί.
7 So He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered.
7 πάλιν οὖν αὐτοὺς ἐπηρώτησε· τίνα ζητεῖτε; οἱ δὲ εἶπον· Ἰησοῦν τὸν Ναζωραῖον.
8 “I told you that I am He,” Jesus replied. “So if you are looking for Me, let these men go.”
8 ἀπεκρίθη Ἰησοῦς· εἶπον ὑμῖν ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι. εἰ οὖν ἐμὲ ζητεῖτε, ἄφετε τούτους ὑπάγειν·
9 This was to fulfill the word He had spoken: “I have not lost one of those You have given Me.”
9 ἵνα πληρωθῇ ὁ λόγος ὃν εἶπεν, ὅτι οὓς δέδωκάς μοι, οὐκ ἀπώλεσα ἐξ αὐτῶν οὐδένα.
10 Then Simon Peter drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
10 Σίμων οὖν Πέτρος ἔχων μάχαιραν εἵλκυσεν αὐτήν, καὶ ἔπαισε τὸν τοῦ ἀρχιερέως δοῦλον καὶ ἀπέκοψεν αὐτοῦ τὸ ὠτίον τὸ δεξιόν· ἦν δὲ ὄνομα τῷ δούλῳ Μάλχος.
11 “Put your sword back in its sheath!” Jesus said to Peter. “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given Me?”
11 εἶπεν οὖν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τῷ Πέτρῳ· βάλε τὴν μάχαιραν εἰς τὴν θήκην· τὸ ποτήριον ὃ δέδωκέ μοι ὁ πατήρ, οὐ μὴ πίω αὐτό;
12 Then the band of soldiers, with its commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him.
12 Ἡ οὖν σπεῖρα καὶ ὁ χιλίαρχος καὶ οἱ ὑπηρέται τῶν Ἰουδαίων συνέλαβον τὸν Ἰησοῦν καὶ ἔδησαν αὐτόν,
13 They brought Him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year.
13 καὶ ἀπήγαγον αὐτὸν πρὸς Ἄνναν πρῶτον· ἦν γὰρ πενθερὸς τοῦ Καϊάφα, ὃς ἦν ἀρχιερεὺς τοῦ ἐνιαυτοῦ ἐκείνου.
14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be better if one man died for the people.
14 ἦν δὲ Καϊάφας ὁ συμβουλεύσας τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις ὅτι συμφέρει ἕνα ἄνθρωπον ἀπολέσθαι ὑπὲρ τοῦ λαοῦ.
15 Now Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he also went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest.
15 Ἠκολούθει δὲ τῷ Ἰησοῦ Σίμων Πέτρος καὶ ὁ ἄλλος μαθητής. ὁ δὲ μαθητὴς ἐκεῖνος ἦν γνωστὸς τῷ ἀρχιερεῖ, καὶ συνεισῆλθε τῷ Ἰησοῦ εἰς τὴν αὐλὴν τοῦ ἀρχιερέως·
16 But Peter stood outside at the door. Then the disciple who was known to the high priest went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in.
16 ὁ δὲ Πέτρος εἱστήκει πρὸς τῇ θύρᾳ ἔξω. ἐξῆλθεν οὖν ὁ μαθητὴς ὁ ἄλλος, ὃς ἦν γνωστὸς τῷ ἀρχιερεῖ, καὶ εἶπε τῇ θυρωρῷ, καὶ εἰσήγαγε τὸν Πέτρον.
17 At this, the servant girl watching the door said to Peter, “Aren’t you also one of this man’s disciples?” “I am not,” he answered.
17 λέγει οὖν ἡ παιδίσκη ἡ θυρωρὸς τῷ Πέτρῳ· μὴ καὶ σὺ ἐκ τῶν μαθητῶν εἶ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου τούτου; λέγει ἐκεῖνος· οὐκ εἰμί.
18 Because it was cold, the servants and officers were standing around a charcoal fire they had made to keep warm. And Peter was also standing with them, warming himself.
18 εἱστήκεισαν δὲ οἱ δοῦλοι καὶ οἱ ὑπηρέται ἀνθρακιὰν πεποιηκότες, ὅτι ψῦχος ἦν, καὶ ἐθερμαίνοντο· ἦν δὲ μετ᾽ αὐτῶν ὁ Πέτρος ἑστὼς καὶ θερμαινόμενος.
19 Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and His teaching.
19 Ὁ οὖν ἀρχιερεὺς ἠρώτησε τὸν Ἰησοῦν περὶ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ καὶ περὶ τῆς διδαχῆς αὐτοῦ.
20 “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus answered. “I always taught in the synagogues and at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.
20 ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· ἐγὼ παρρησίᾳ ἐλάλησα τῷ κόσμῳ· ἐγὼ πάντοτε ἐδίδαξα ἐν συναγωγῇ καὶ ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ, ὅπου πάντοτε οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι συνέρχονται, καὶ ἐν κρυπτῷ ἐλάλησα οὐδέν.
21 Why are you asking Me? Ask those who heard My message. Surely they know what I said.”
21 τί με ἐπερωτᾷς; ἐπερώτησον τοὺς ἀκηκοότας τί ἐλάλησα αὐτοῖς· ἴδε οὗτοι οἴδασιν ἃ εἶπον ἐγώ.
22 When Jesus had said this, one of the officers standing nearby slapped Him in the face and said, “Is this how You answer the high priest?”
22 ταῦτα δὲ αὐτοῦ εἰπόντος εἷς τῶν ὑπηρετῶν παρεστηκὼς ἔδωκε ῥάπισμα τῷ Ἰησοῦ εἰπών· οὕτως ἀποκρίνῃ τῷ ἀρχιερεῖ;
23 Jesus replied, “If I said something wrong, testify as to what was wrong. But if I spoke correctly, why did you strike Me?”
23 ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· εἰ κακῶς ἐλάλησα, μαρτύρησον περὶ τοῦ κακοῦ· εἰ δὲ καλῶς, τί με δέρεις;
24 Then Annas sent Him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest.
24 ἀπέστειλεν αὐτὸν ὁ Ἄννας δεδεμένον πρὸς Καϊάφαν τὸν ἀρχιερέα.
25 Simon Peter was still standing and warming himself. So they asked him, “Aren’t you also one of His disciples?” He denied it and said, “I am not.”
25 Ἦν δὲ Σίμων Πέτρος ἑστὼς καὶ θερμαινόμενος. εἶπον οὖν αὐτῷ· μὴ καὶ σὺ ἐκ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ εἶ;
26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Didn’t I see you with Him in the garden?”
26 ἠρνήσατο οὖν ἐκεῖνος καὶ εἶπεν· οὐκ εἰμί. λέγει εἷς ἐκ τῶν δούλων τοῦ ἀρχιερέως, συγγενὴς ὢν οὗ ἀπέκοψε Πέτρος τὸ ὠτίον· οὐκ ἐγώ σε εἶδον ἐν τῷ κήπῳ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ;
27 Peter denied it once more, and immediately a rooster crowed.
27 πάλιν οὖν ἠρνήσατο ὁ Πέτρος, καὶ εὐθέως ἀλέκτωρ ἐφώνησεν.
28 Then they led Jesus away from Caiaphas into the Praetorium. By now it was early morning, and the Jews did not enter the Praetorium, to avoid being defiled and unable to eat the Passover.
28 Ἄγουσιν οὖν τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἀπὸ τοῦ Καϊάφα εἰς τὸ πραιτώριον· ἦν δὲ πρωΐ· καὶ αὐτοὶ οὐκ εἰσῆλθον εἰς τὸ πραιτώριον, ἵνα μὴ μιανθῶσιν, ἀλλ᾽ ἵνα φάγωσι τὸ πάσχα.
29 So Pilate went out to them and asked, “What accusation are you bringing against this man?”
29 ἐξῆλθεν οὖν ὁ Πιλᾶτος πρὸς αὐτοὺς καὶ εἶπε· τίνα κατηγορίαν φέρετε κατὰ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου τούτου;
30 “If He were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed Him over to you.”
30 ἀπεκρίθησαν καὶ εἶπον αὐτῷ· εἰ μὴ ἦν οὗτος κακοποιός, οὐκ ἄν σοι παρεδώκαμεν αὐτόν.
31 “You take Him and judge Him by your own law,” Pilate told them. “We are not permitted to execute anyone,” the Jews replied.
31 εἶπεν οὖν αὐτοῖς ὁ Πιλᾶτος· λάβετε αὐτὸν ὑμεῖς καὶ κατὰ τὸν νόμον ὑμῶν κρίνατε αὐτόν. εἶπον οὖν αὐτῷ οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι· ἡμῖν οὐκ ἔξεστιν ἀποκτεῖναι οὐδένα·
32 This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to indicate the kind of death He was going to die.
32 ἵνα ὁ λόγος τοῦ Ἰησοῦ πληρωθῇ ὃν εἶπε σημαίνων ποίῳ θανάτῳ ἤμελλεν ἀποθνήσκειν.
33 Pilate went back into the Praetorium, summoned Jesus, and asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
33 Εἰσῆλθεν οὖν εἰς τὸ πραιτώριον πάλιν ὁ Πιλᾶτος καὶ ἐφώνησε τὸν Ἰησοῦν καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· σὺ εἶ ὁ βασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων;
34 “Are you saying this on your own,” Jesus asked, “or did others tell you about Me?”
34 ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· ἀφ᾽ ἑαυτοῦ σὺ τοῦτο λέγεις ἢ ἄλλοι σοι εἶπον περὶ ἐμοῦ;
35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed You over to me. What have You done?”
35 ἀπεκρίθη ὁ Πιλᾶτος· μήτι ἐγὼ Ἰουδαῖός εἰμι; τὸ ἔθνος τὸ σὸν καὶ οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς παρέδωκάν σε ἐμοί· τί ἐποίησας;
36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm.”
36 ἀπεκρίθη Ἰησοῦς· ἡ βασιλεία ἡ ἐμὴ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου τούτου· εἰ ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου τούτου ἦν ἡ βασιλεία ἡ ἐμή, οἱ ὑπηρέται ἂν οἱ ἐμοὶ ἠγωνίζοντο, ἵνα μὴ παραδοθῶ τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις· νῦν δὲ ἡ βασιλεία ἡ ἐμὴ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐντεῦθεν.
37 “Then You are a king!” Pilate said. “You say that I am a king,” Jesus answered. “For this reason I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice.”
37 εἶπεν οὖν αὐτῷ ὁ Πιλᾶτος· οὐκοῦν βασιλεὺς εἶ σύ; ἀπεκρίθη Ἰησοῦς· σὺ λέγεις ὅτι βασιλεύς εἰμι ἐγώ. ἐγὼ εἰς τοῦτο γεγέννημαι καὶ εἰς τοῦτο ἐλήλυθα εἰς τὸν κόσμον, ἵνα μαρτυρήσω τῇ ἀληθείᾳ. πᾶς ὁ ὢν ἐκ τῆς ἀληθείας ἀκούει μου τῆς φωνῆς.
38 “What is truth?” Pilate asked. And having said this, he went out again to the Jews and told them, “I find no basis for a charge against Him.
38 λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Πιλᾶτος· τί ἐστιν ἀλήθεια; καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν πάλιν ἐξῆλθε πρὸς τοὺς Ἰουδαίους καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· ἐγὼ οὐδεμίαν αἰτίαν εὑρίσκω ἐν αὐτῷ·
39 But it is your custom that I release to you one prisoner at the Passover. So then, do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”
39 ἔστι δὲ συνήθεια ὑμῖν ἵνα ἕνα ὑμῖν ἀπολύσω ἐν τῷ πάσχα· βούλεσθε οὖν ὑμῖν ἀπολύσω τὸν βασιλέα τῶν Ἰουδαίων;
40 “Not this man,” they shouted, “but Barabbas!” (Now Barabbas was an insurrectionist.)
40 ἐκραύγασαν οὖν πάλιν πάντες λέγοντες· μὴ τοῦτον, ἀλλὰ τὸν Βαραββᾶν. ἦν δὲ ὁ Βαραββᾶς λῃστής.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Annas
Named as high priest alongside Caiaphas when John began preaching, and as the father-in-law of Caiaphas, to whom Jesus was brought first.
Cited in the guide: Luke 3:2; John 18:13; John 18:24
Malchus
The servant of the high priest whose right ear Simon Peter cut off in the garden.
Cited in the guide: John 18:10
Pontius Pilate
Roman governor of Judea who questioned Jesus, found no guilt in Him, released Barabbas, and gave Him up to be crucified and permitted Joseph of Arimathea to take the body.
Cited in the guide: Matthew 27:2; Luke 3:1; John 18:38
Cross references (39)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 2 Samuel 15:23; Matthew 26:36; Mark 14:32; John 18:26; Luke 22:39–40
- 2 Luke 21:37; Luke 22:39; Mark 11:11–12
- 3 John 18:12; Luke 22:47–53; Psalm 3:1–2; Acts 1:16; Psalm 22:12
- 4 John 13:1; John 18:7; Acts 2:28; Acts 20:22–23; Psalm 27:3
- 5 Isaiah 3:9; John 1:46; Matthew 21:11; Matthew 2:23; John 19:19
- 6 Psalm 27:2; Psalm 70:2–3; 2 Kings 1:9–15; Acts 4:29–30; Luke 9:54–56
- 7 John 18:4
- 8 John 10:28; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Isaiah 53:6; 1 Peter 5:7; John 13:1
- 9 John 17:12
- 10 Matthew 26:51–54; Mark 14:47; Luke 22:49–51; John 18:26; Mark 14:30
- 11 Matthew 26:39; Matthew 20:22; John 20:17; John 12:27–28; Hebrews 12:2
- 12 John 18:3; Matthew 26:57; Mark 15:1; Luke 22:54; Acts 22:24–28
- 13 John 18:24; Luke 3:2; Matthew 26:3; John 11:51; Matthew 26:57
- 14 John 11:49–52
- 15 Luke 22:54; Mark 14:54; Matthew 26:58–68; Matthew 26:3
- 16 Luke 22:55–57; Matthew 26:69; Mark 14:66–68
- 17 Matthew 26:69–70; Mark 14:66–68; John 18:25; Matthew 26:33; Luke 22:56–57
- 18 Mark 14:54; John 18:25; Luke 22:55–56; Mark 14:67; Psalm 26:4–10
- 19 Mark 14:55–65; Luke 20:20; Luke 11:53–54; Matthew 26:59–68; Luke 22:63–71
- 20 John 7:26; Isaiah 48:16; Matthew 4:23; Luke 21:37; Matthew 26:55
- 21 Luke 22:67; Mark 14:55–59; Matthew 26:59–60; Acts 24:18–20; Acts 24:12–13
- 22 John 19:3; Luke 22:63–64; Mark 14:65; Isaiah 50:5–7; Matthew 26:67–68
- 23 1 Peter 2:20–23; 2 Corinthians 10:1; Matthew 5:39; Acts 23:2–5
- 24 John 18:13; Matthew 26:57
- 25 Mark 14:67–72; John 18:17–18; Matthew 26:71–75; Proverbs 29:25; Genesis 18:15
- 26 John 18:10; John 18:1; Mark 14:70–71; Luke 22:59–60; Matthew 26:73
- 27 John 13:38; Mark 14:71–72; Luke 22:60–62; Matthew 26:34; Mark 14:30
- 28 John 18:33; John 19:9; John 19:14; Mark 15:1–5; Matthew 27:27
- 29 Mark 15:2–5; Matthew 27:23; Matthew 27:11–14; Luke 23:2–3; Acts 23:28–30
- 30 Mark 15:3; John 19:12; Luke 23:2–5; Mark 10:33; Luke 20:19–26
- 31 John 19:6–7; John 19:15; Ezekiel 21:26–27; Acts 25:18–20; Hosea 3:4–5
- 32 John 3:14; Matthew 26:2; Matthew 20:19; John 12:32–33; Luke 18:32–33
- 33 Luke 23:3–4; John 19:3; Acts 2:34–36; John 12:13; Zechariah 9:9
- 35 John 19:11; Acts 22:22–24; Acts 25:19–20; John 19:6; Nehemiah 4:2
- 36 Luke 17:20–21; Colossians 1:12–14; John 6:15; Romans 14:17; Daniel 2:44
- 37 1 John 4:6; John 8:47; John 8:14; John 10:26–27; 1 John 3:19
- 38 John 19:4; John 19:6; Luke 23:4; Acts 17:32; Acts 24:25–26
- 39 Matthew 27:15–18; Mark 15:6–14; Luke 23:16–23; Matthew 27:20–23
- 40 Matthew 27:26; Mark 15:15; Matthew 27:16; Luke 23:25; Mark 15:7
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
When the grand and lengthened discourse was concluded which the Lord delivered after supper, and on the eve of shedding His blood for us, to the disciples who were then with Him, and had added the prayer addressed to His Father, the evangelist John began thereafter the narrative of His passion in these words: "When Jesus had so spoken, He …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 7 (1888)
An awful thing is death, and very full of terror, but not to those who have learnt the true wisdom which is above. For he that knows nothing certain concerning things to come, but deems it to be a certain dissolution and end of life, with reason shudders and is afraid, as though he were passing into non-existence.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 14 (1889)
… the precepts which He taught, did not offer the other cheek to the servant of the high priest when smiting Him thereon; but, so far from that, said, "If I have spoken evil, hear witness of the evil; but if well, why smitest thou me?" Yet was He not on that account unprepared in heart, for the salvation of all, …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
For, because both continued with Him at His crucifixion, taking away the ground of his own commendation, he saith, "That disciple was known unto the high priest." But James survived not a long time, but from the beginning he was so greatly filled with warmth, and so forsook all the things of men, and mounted up to an height unutterable, …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
Ought he not to have followed the example of Jesus, and said, If ye seek Me, let these go their way?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)