Jesus Is Arrested (Mt. 26:47-56; Mk. 14:43-50; Lk. 22:47-53)

18 ¹When Jesus finished praying, he left with his followers. They went across the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden [of olive trees]. Jesus and his followers went there. ²Judas knew where this place was, because Jesus met there often with his followers. Judas was the one that turned against Jesus. ³So Judas led a group of soldiers to the garden. Judas also brought some guards from the leading priests and the Pharisees.* They were carrying torches, lanterns, and weapons. ⁴Jesus knew everything that would happen to him. Jesus went out and asked, "Who are you looking for?" ⁵The men answered, "Jesus from Nazareth." Jesus said, "I am Jesus." (Judas, the one that turned against Jesus, was standing there with them.) ⁶When Jesus said, "I am Jesus," the men moved back and fell to the ground. ⁷Jesus asked them again, "Who are you looking for?" The men said, "Jesus from Nazareth." ⁸Jesus said, "I told you that I am Jesus. So if you are looking for me, then let these other men go free." ⁹This happened so that the words Jesus said before would be true: "I have not lost any of the men you gave me." ¹⁰Simon Peter had a sword. He took out the sword and struck the servant of the high priest.* Peter cut off the servant's right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) ¹¹Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword back in its place! I must accept the cup* [of suffering] the Father has given me."

Jesus Is Brought Before Annas (Mt. 26:57-58; Mk. 14:53-54; Lk. 22:54)

¹²Then the soldiers with their commander and the Jewish guards arrested Jesus. They tied Jesus ¹³and brought him to Annas. Annas was the father-in-law of Caiaphas. Caiaphas was the high priest* that year. ¹⁴Caiaphas was the one that had told the Jews that it would be better if one man died for all the people.

Peter Lies About Knowing Jesus (Mt. 26:69-70; Mk. 14:66-68; Lk. 22:55-57)

¹⁵Simon Peter and another one of Jesus' followers went with Jesus. This follower knew the high priest.* So he went with Jesus into the yard of the high priest's house. ¹⁶But Peter waited outside near the door. The follower that knew the high priest came back outside. He spoke to the girl that opened the gate for people. Then he brought Peter inside. ¹⁷The girl at the gate said to Peter, "Are you also one of the followers of that man (Jesus)?" Peter answered, "No, I am not!" ¹⁸It was cold, so the servants and guards had built a fire. They were standing around it and warming themselves. Peter was standing with these men.

The High Priest Questions Jesus (Mt. 26:59-66; Mk. 14:55-64; Lk. 22:66-71)

¹⁹The high priest* asked Jesus questions about his followers. He asked Jesus questions about the things Jesus taught. ²⁰Jesus answered, "I have always spoken openly to all people. I always taught in the synagogues* and in the temple* area. All the Jews come together there. I never said anything in secret. ²¹So why do you question me? Ask the people that heard my teaching. They know what I said." ²²When Jesus said this, one of the guards standing there hit him. The guard said, "You should not talk to the high priest* like that!" ²³Jesus answered, "If I said something wrong, then tell everyone here what was wrong. But if the things I said are right, then why do you hit me?" ²⁴So Annas sent Jesus to Caiaphas the high priest.* Jesus was still tied.

Pharisees The Pharisees were a Jewish religious group that claimed to follow carefully all Jewish laws and customs. high priest The most important Jewish priest and leader. cup Jesus is talking about the bad things that will happen to him. Accepting these things will be very hard, like drinking a cup of something that tastes very bad. synagogue(s) Synagogues were places where Jews gathered for prayer, study of the Scriptures, and other public meetings. temple The special building in Jerusalem for Jewish worship.