John 18: Arrest and Interrogations

• v.1-14 Jesus Arrested
• v.15-18 Peter’s First Denial
• v.19-24 The High Priest Questions Jesus
• v.25-27 Peter’s Second and Third Denials
• v.28- 40 Jesus Before Pilate

v.1-14 Jesus Arrested

v.1-3 Judas led soldiers to Gethsemane to arrest Jesus

v.1 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.

v.2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples.

v.3 So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.

[Note: They cross to Gethsemane where Judas knew where they would be, and Judas brought the arresting party there.]

v.4-9 Jesus takes the initiative

v.4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”

v.5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.)

v.6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

v.7 Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”  “Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.

v.8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.”

v.9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”

[Note: Jesus went to meet them and acknowledges he is the one they want. At this the power of God overcomes them and Jesus repeats the process but asks for the disciples to be let go. This was in accord with prophecy.]

v.10,11 Peter strikes out and Jesus rebukes him

v.10 Then 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.)

v.11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”

[Note: Peter struck off an ear. Jesus rebukes him. [Luke records Jesus healing the man – Lk 22:51]

v.12-14 Jesus arrested and taken to Annas

v.12,13 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year.

v.14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.

[Note: They arrest him and take him to Annas. Caiaphas had prophesied about Jesus. Caiaphas was high priest, but Annas was the older and had been high priest from AD6 to 15 and was still considered to be the ‘power behind the throne’ in Jerusalem. Thus Jesus was taken to him first but to keep with protocol he handed him on to his son-in-law who was the official high priest in residence.]

v.15-18 Peter’s First Denial

v.15,16 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in.

v.17 “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter.  He replied, “I am not.”

v.18 It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.

[Note: Peter and another [probably John] followed at a distance. A servant girl questions Peter, and he denied her question. They were in the courtyard around a fire.]

v.19-24 The High Priest Questions Jesus

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

v.20 “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.

v.21 Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”

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

v.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?”

v.24 Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

[Note: Jesus was being questioned inside and said he has always been open in his teaching, so why question, get others to testify. He is slapped by an official and asks why. Annas sends him on to Caiaphas.]

v.25-27 Peter’s Second and Third Denials

v.25 Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?”  He denied it, saying, “I am not.”

v.26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?”

v.27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.

[Note: Meanwhile Peter is challenged a second time and denies it again. Another servant challenges him and a third time he denies.]

v.28- 40 Jesus Before Pilate

v.28-32 Jesus is taken to Pilate

v.28 Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover.

v.29 So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?”

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

v.31 Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” “But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected.

v.32 This took place to fulfil what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die.

[Note: He is then taken from Caiaphas to Pilate. The Jews wait outside. Pilate asks them what charge and they reply, he’s a criminal. (If that’s all then…) You judge him, but they want an execution. This confirmed what Jesus had said about his death – see Mt 20:19.]

v.33-38 Pilate questions him but finds no charge

v.33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

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

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

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

v.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. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

v.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.

[Note: Pilate asks Jesus about being king of the Jews and Jesus asks where he got that from. Pilate persists and so Jesus says his kingdom is not of this world. They debate being king, but Jesus says he’s come to bring the truth and Pilate questions that, but tells the Jews he will release him.]

v.39,40 The crowd cry for Barabbas

v.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’?”

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

[Note: Pilate offers to release Jesus according to Passover custom, but they cry for Barabbas, a rebel, to be released.]

For those who may wish to make a study of this chapter, to perhaps think some more about what you have been reading, use the link below: