Chapter 18

¹When Jesus had said these things, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where there was a garden, into which he entered with his disciples. ²And Judas also, who betrayed him, knew the place; because Jesus had often resorted thither together with his disciples. ³Judas therefore having received a band of soldiers and servants from the chief priests and the Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. ⁴Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said to them: Whom seek ye? ⁵They answered him: Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith to them: I am he. And Judas also, who betrayed him, stood with them. ⁶As soon therefore as he had said to them: I am he; they went backward, and fell to the ground. ⁷Again therefore he asked them: Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. ⁸Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he. If therefore you seek me, let these go their way. ⁹That the word might be fulfilled which he said: Of them whom thou hast given me, I have not lost any one. ¹⁰Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it, and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. And the name of the servant was Malchus. ¹¹Jesus therefore said to Peter: Put up thy sword into the scabbard. The chalice which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? ¹²Then the band and the tribune, and the servants of the Jews, took Jesus, and bound him: ¹³And they led him away to Annas first, for he was father in law to Caiphas, who was the high priest of that year. ¹⁴Now Caiphas was he who had given the counsel to the Jews: That it was expedient that one man should die for the people. ¹⁵And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. And that disciple was known to the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the court of the high priest. ¹⁶But Peter stood at the door without. The other disciple therefore, who was known to the high priest, went out, and spoke to the portress, and brought in Peter. ¹⁷The maid therefore that was portress, saith to Peter: Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith: I am not. ¹⁸Now the servants and ministers stood at a fire of coals, because it was cold, and warmed themselves. And with them was Peter also, standing, and warming himself. ¹⁹The high priest therefore asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. ²⁰Jesus answered him: I have spoken openly to the world: I have always taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither all the Jews resort; and in secret I have spoken nothing. ²¹Why asketh thou me? ask them who have heard what I have spoken unto them: behold they know what things I have said. ²²And when he had said these things, one of the servants standing by, gave Jesus a blow, saying: Answerest thou the high priest so? ²³Jesus answered him: If I have spoken evil, give testimony of the evil; but if well, why strikest thou me? ²⁴And Annas sent him bound to Caiphas the high priest. ²⁵And Simon Peter was standing, and warming himself. They said therefore to him: Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said: I am not. ²⁶One of the servants of the high priest (a kinsman to him whose ear Peter cut off) saith to him: Did I not see thee in the garden with him? ²⁷Again therefore Peter denied; and immediately the cock crew. ²⁸Then they led Jesus from Caiphas to the governor's hall. And it was morning; and they went not into the hall, that they might not be defiled, but that they might eat the pasch. ²⁹Pilate therefore went out to them, and said: What accusation bring you against this man? ³⁰They answered, and said to him: If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up to thee. ³¹Pilate therefore said to them: Take him you, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said to him: It is not lawful for us to put any man to death; ³²That the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he said, signifying what death he should die. ³³Pilate therefore went into the hall again, and called Jesus, and said to him: Art thou the king of the Jews? ³⁴Jesus answered: Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or have others told it thee of me? ³⁵Pilate answered: Am I a Jew? Thy own nation, and the chief priests, have delivered thee up to me: what hast thou done? ³⁶Jesus answered: My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would certainly strive that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now my kingdom is not from hence. ³⁷Pilate therefore said to him: Art thou a king then? Jesus answered: Thou sayest that I am a king. For this was I born, and for this came I into the world; that I should give testimony to the truth. Every one that is of the truth, heareth my voice. ³⁸Pilate saith to him: What is truth? And when he said this, he went out again to the Jews, and saith to them: I find no cause in him. ³⁹But you have a custom that I should release one unto you at the pasch: will you, therefore, that I release unto you the king of the Jews? ⁴⁰Then cried they all again, saying: Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.