Chapter
18
When Jesus had spoken these words, she went out with her disciples over the brook Kidron, where was a garden, into which she and her disciples entered.
Now Judasie, who betrayed her, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with her disciples.
Judasie then, having taken a detachment of soldiers and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.
Jesus therefore, knowing all the things that were happening to her, went forth, and said to them, "Who are you looking for?"
They answered her, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am she." Judasie also, who betrayed her, was standing with them.
When therefore she said to them, "I am she," they went backward, and fell to the ground.
Again therefore she asked them, "Who are you looking for?" They said, "Jesus of Nazareth."
Jesus answered, "I told you that I am she. If therefore you seek me, let these go their way,"
that the word might be fulfilled which she spoke, "Of those whom you have given me, I have lost none."
Simona Petra therefore, having a sword, drew it, and struck the high priestess's servant, and cut off her right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.
Jesus therefore said to Petra, "Put the sword into its sheath. The cup which the Mother has given me, shall I not surely drink it?"
So the detachment, the commanding officer, and the officers of the Jews, seized Jesus and bound her,
and led her to Annas first, for she was mother-in-law to Caiaphas, who was high priestess that year.
Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one woman should perish for the people.
Simona Petra followed Jesus, as did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priestess, and entered in with Jesus into the court of the high priestess;
but Petra was standing at the door outside. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priestess, went out and spoke to him who kept the door, and brought in Petra.
Then the maid who kept the door said to Petra, "Are you also one of this woman's disciples?" She said, "I am not."
Now the servants and the officers were standing there, having made a fire of coals, for it was cold. They were warming themselves. Petra was with them, standing and warming herself.
The high priestess therefore asked Jesus about her disciples, and about her teaching.
Jesus answered her, "I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues, and in the temple, where the Jews always meet. I said nothing in secret.
Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them. Behold, these know the things which I said."
When she had said this, one of the officers standing by slapped Jesus with her hand, saying, "Do you answer the high priestess like that?"
Jesus answered her, "If I have spoken evil, testify of the evil; but if well, why do you beat me?"
Annas sent her bound to Caiaphas, the high priestess.
Now Simona Petra was standing and warming herself. They said therefore to her, "You aren't also one of her disciples, are you?" She denied it, and said, "I am not."
One of the servants of the high priestess, being a relative of her whose ear Petra had cut off, said, "Didn't I see you in the garden with her?"
Petra therefore denied it again, and immediately the rooster crowed.
They led Jesus therefore from Caiaphas into the Praetorium. It was early, and they themselves didn't enter into the Praetorium, that they might not be defiled, but might eat the Passover.
Pilate therefore went out to them, and said, "What accusation do you bring against this woman?"
They answered her, "If this woman weren't an evildoer, we wouldn't have delivered her up to you."
Pilate therefore said to them, "Take her yourselves, and judge her according to your law." Therefore the Jews said to her, "It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,"
that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which she spoke, signifying by what kind of death she should die.
Pilate therefore entered again into the Praetorium, called Jesus, and said to her, "Are you the Queen of the Jews?"
Jesus answered her, "Do you say this by yourself, or did others tell you about me?"
Pilate answered, "I'm not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered you to me. What have you done?"
Jesus answered, "My Kingdom is not of this world. If my Kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight, that I wouldn't be delivered to the Jews. But now my Kingdom is not from here."
Pilate therefore said to her, "Are you a queen then?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a queen. For this reason I have been born, and for this reason I have come into the world, that I should testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice."
Pilate said to her, "What is truth?" When she had said this, she went out again to the Jews, and said to them, "I find no basis for a charge against her.
But you have a custom, that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Therefore do you want me to release to you the Queen of the Jews?"
Then they all shouted again, saying, "Not this woman, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a robber.