American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
John 18
1
When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.
Reference
Parallel theme
Mark 14:32
2 Samuel 15:23
John 18:26
1 Kings 15:13
2 Kings 23:12
2 Kings 23:6
2 Chronicles 30:14
2 Chronicles 15:16
References Jesus
Matthew 26:36
Word
John 14:31
2
And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus often resorted thither with his disciples.
Reference
3
Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, comes thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.
Reference
4
Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come on him, went forth, and said to them, Whom seek you?
Reference
5
They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus said to them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.
6
As soon then as he had said to them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
Reference
Parallel theme
Psalm 27:2
7
Then asked he them again, Whom seek you? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.
Reference
References Jesus
John 18:4
8
Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore you seek me, let these go their way:
9
That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spoke, Of them which you gave me have I lost none.
Reference
Parallel theme
John 17:12
10
Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.
Reference
People
11
Then said Jesus to Peter, Put up your sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father has given me, shall I not drink it?
Reference
Parallel theme
Matthew 26:39
Matthew 26:42
2 Corinthians 10:4
Luke 22:42
References Jesus
Matthew 20:22
John 20:17
Hebrews 12:2
Word
John 15:10
12
Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him,
Reference
Parallel theme
John 18:3
Acts 21:37
Acts 21:31
Matthew 27:2
Genesis 22:9
Luke 22:54
Judges 16:21
References Jesus
Matthew 26:57
Mark 14:53
Mark 15:1
13
And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.
Reference
14
Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.
15
And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known to the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.
Reference
16
But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known to the high priest, and spoke to her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.
17
Then said the damsel that kept the door to Peter, Are not you also one of this man's disciples? He said, I am not.
18
And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.
Reference
Parallel theme
Psalm 1:1
Proverbs 13:20
John 21:9
Genesis 49:6
References Peter
Mark 14:54
John 18:25
19
The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.
20
Jesus answered him, I spoke openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, where the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.
Reference
Parallel theme
Isaiah 48:16
John 7:26
John 7:4
Isaiah 45:19
Luke 4:15
References Jesus
Matthew 4:23
Matthew 9:35
Temple
Luke 21:37
Matthew 26:55
21
Why ask you me? ask them which heard me, what I have said to them: behold, they know what I said.
22
And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answer you the high priest so?
23
Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smite you me?
25
And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore to him, Are not you also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not.
Reference
26
One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, said, Did not I see you in the garden with him?
Reference
27
Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.
Reference
Parallel theme
John 13:38
28
Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas to the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.
Reference
Judgment
John 18:33
John 19:9
Parallel theme
John 19:14
Acts 11:3
Acts 10:28
John 11:55
Deuteronomy 16:2
Micah 2:1
References Jesus
Matthew 27:27
Acts 3:13
29
Pilate then went out to them, and said, What accusation bring you against this man?
Reference
Parallel theme
Matthew 27:23
30
They answered and said to him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up to you.
31
Then said Pilate to them, Take you him, 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:
Reference
Parallel theme
John 19:15
32
That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spoke, signifying what death he should die.
Reference
Parallel theme
Matthew 26:2
Matthew 20:19
John 3:14
Mark 10:33
Deuteronomy 21:23
Psalm 22:16
Galatians 3:13
References Jesus
John 8:28
33
Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said to him, Are you the King of the Jews?
Reference
34
Jesus answered him, Say you this thing of yourself, or did others tell it you of 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
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
Reference
Kingdom
John 6:15
Romans 14:17
Daniel 7:14
Daniel 2:44
Zechariah 9:9
Parallel theme
Matthew 26:53
Luke 12:14
John 8:15
References Jesus
1 Timothy 6:13
37
Pilate therefore said to him, Are you a king then? Jesus answered, You say that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Every one that is of the truth hears my voice.
Reference
Parallel theme
John 8:47
John 7:17
Truth
1 John 4:6
John 8:14
1 John 3:19
John 14:6
1 Peter 1:22
1 John 5:20
Witness
Isaiah 55:4
1 Timothy 6:13
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, I find in him no fault at all.
Reference
39
But you have a custom, that I should release to you one at the passover: will you therefore that I release to you the King of the Jews?
Summary of John 18
John 18 begins the final stage of Jesus' earthly ministry as He enters the garden with His disciples and willingly faces the arrest that will lead to His crucifixion.
Jesus knows exactly what is coming, yet He does not attempt to escape.
When the soldiers arrive, He steps forward and identifies Himself, demonstrating that His arrest is not an unexpected accident but something He knowingly accepts as part of His mission.
When the arresting group comes for Him, Jesus specifically asks that His disciples be allowed to go free, continuing to protect them even at the moment when He is being taken away.
Peter, however, reacts differently.
He draws a sword and attacks the high priest's servant, but Jesus immediately tells him to put the sword away and accepts the suffering that the Father has given Him.
The contrast is important: Peter tries to defend Jesus through violence, while Jesus willingly accepts the path of suffering.
Jesus is then taken first to Annas and later to Caiaphas, where the Jewish leadership questions Him about His teaching and disciples.
Jesus emphasizes that He has always taught openly and has nothing to hide.
When one of the officials strikes Him, Jesus calmly challenges the injustice of the action rather than responding with violence.
While Jesus remains faithful during His questioning, Peter is being tested outside.
Three separate times Peter is asked whether he is one of Jesus' disciples, and three times he denies knowing Jesus.
After the third denial, the rooster crows, fulfilling Jesus' prediction that Peter would deny Him three times.
The narrative then shifts to the Roman authorities.
The Jewish leaders bring Jesus to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, because they need Roman authority to carry out a death sentence.
They accuse Jesus of wrongdoing, but the precise issue becomes the question of whether He is a king.
Pilate questions Jesus about His kingship, and Jesus explains that His kingdom is not from this world.
Jesus does not deny that He is a king, but He makes clear that His kingdom does not operate through military power or political rebellion.
If His kingdom were an ordinary earthly kingdom, His followers would fight to prevent His arrest.
Instead, Jesus' mission is centered on truth.
He explains that He came into the world to testify to the truth and that those who belong to the truth listen to His voice.
Pilate responds with the famous question, “What is truth?”, but does not appear to recognize that Truth itself is standing before him.
Pilate finds no clear basis for condemning Jesus, yet the Jewish leaders continue demanding His release.
Pilate offers the crowd a choice between Jesus and Barabbas, a prisoner associated with rebellion, but the crowd chooses Barabbas.
The chapter therefore ends with Jesus being rejected while a guilty prisoner is released.
John 18 presents a striking contrast between Jesus' willing obedience and the fear, violence, denial, political pressure, and injustice surrounding Him.
Jesus remains calm and purposeful throughout the chapter because He understands that His suffering is connected with His mission from the Father.
Peter, by contrast, demonstrates how quickly fear can cause even a devoted disciple to deny the person he loves.
Pilate demonstrates another kind of failure: he appears to recognize that Jesus is not guilty of a serious crime, yet he allows political pressure to influence his decision.
The chapter's central message is that Jesus remains faithful and in control even when surrounded by betrayal, violence, false accusations, denial, and political injustice.
He does not establish His kingdom through weapons or force but through truth, obedience, sacrifice, and ultimately His death.
John 18 therefore marks the decisive transition from Jesus' teaching ministry to His suffering and crucifixion, while showing that the apparent defeat of Jesus is actually the deliberate fulfillment of His mission.
Jesus knows exactly what is coming, yet He does not attempt to escape.
When the soldiers arrive, He steps forward and identifies Himself, demonstrating that His arrest is not an unexpected accident but something He knowingly accepts as part of His mission.
When the arresting group comes for Him, Jesus specifically asks that His disciples be allowed to go free, continuing to protect them even at the moment when He is being taken away.
Peter, however, reacts differently.
He draws a sword and attacks the high priest's servant, but Jesus immediately tells him to put the sword away and accepts the suffering that the Father has given Him.
The contrast is important: Peter tries to defend Jesus through violence, while Jesus willingly accepts the path of suffering.
Jesus is then taken first to Annas and later to Caiaphas, where the Jewish leadership questions Him about His teaching and disciples.
Jesus emphasizes that He has always taught openly and has nothing to hide.
When one of the officials strikes Him, Jesus calmly challenges the injustice of the action rather than responding with violence.
While Jesus remains faithful during His questioning, Peter is being tested outside.
Three separate times Peter is asked whether he is one of Jesus' disciples, and three times he denies knowing Jesus.
After the third denial, the rooster crows, fulfilling Jesus' prediction that Peter would deny Him three times.
The narrative then shifts to the Roman authorities.
The Jewish leaders bring Jesus to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, because they need Roman authority to carry out a death sentence.
They accuse Jesus of wrongdoing, but the precise issue becomes the question of whether He is a king.
Pilate questions Jesus about His kingship, and Jesus explains that His kingdom is not from this world.
Jesus does not deny that He is a king, but He makes clear that His kingdom does not operate through military power or political rebellion.
If His kingdom were an ordinary earthly kingdom, His followers would fight to prevent His arrest.
Instead, Jesus' mission is centered on truth.
He explains that He came into the world to testify to the truth and that those who belong to the truth listen to His voice.
Pilate responds with the famous question, “What is truth?”, but does not appear to recognize that Truth itself is standing before him.
Pilate finds no clear basis for condemning Jesus, yet the Jewish leaders continue demanding His release.
Pilate offers the crowd a choice between Jesus and Barabbas, a prisoner associated with rebellion, but the crowd chooses Barabbas.
The chapter therefore ends with Jesus being rejected while a guilty prisoner is released.
John 18 presents a striking contrast between Jesus' willing obedience and the fear, violence, denial, political pressure, and injustice surrounding Him.
Jesus remains calm and purposeful throughout the chapter because He understands that His suffering is connected with His mission from the Father.
Peter, by contrast, demonstrates how quickly fear can cause even a devoted disciple to deny the person he loves.
Pilate demonstrates another kind of failure: he appears to recognize that Jesus is not guilty of a serious crime, yet he allows political pressure to influence his decision.
The chapter's central message is that Jesus remains faithful and in control even when surrounded by betrayal, violence, false accusations, denial, and political injustice.
He does not establish His kingdom through weapons or force but through truth, obedience, sacrifice, and ultimately His death.
John 18 therefore marks the decisive transition from Jesus' teaching ministry to His suffering and crucifixion, while showing that the apparent defeat of Jesus is actually the deliberate fulfillment of His mission.