181 When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the ravine of the Kidron , where there was a garden , in which He entered with His disciples . 2 Now Judas also , who was betraying Him, knew the place , for Jesus had often met there with His disciples . 3 Judas then , having received the Roman cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees , came there with lanterns and torches and weapons . 4 So Jesus , knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to them, " Whom do you seek ?" 5 They answered Him, "Jesus the Nazarene ." He said to them, "I am He." And Judas also , who was betraying Him, was standing with them. 6 So when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground . 7 Therefore He again asked them, " Whom do you seek ?" And they said , "Jesus the Nazarene ." 8 Jesus answered , "I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way ," 9 to fulfill the word which He spoke , " Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one ." 10 Simon Peter then , having a sword , drew it and struck the high priest's slave , and cut off his right ear ; and the slave's name was Malchus . 11 So Jesus said to Peter , "Put the sword into the sheath ; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?"
12 So the Roman cohort and the commander and the officers of the Jews , arrested Jesus and bound Him,
13 and led Him to Annas first ; for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas , who was high priest that year . 14 Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people .
15 Simon Peter was following Jesus , and so was another disciple . Now that disciple was known to the high priest , and entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest , 16 but Peter was standing at the door outside . So the other disciple , who was known to the high priest , went out and spoke to the doorkeeper , and brought Peter in. 17 Then the slave-girl who kept the door said to Peter , " You are not also one of this man's disciples , are you?" He said , "I am not." 18 Now the slaves and the officers were standing there, having made a charcoal fire , for it was cold and they were warming themselves; and Peter was also with them, standing and warming himself.
19 The high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples , and about His teaching . 20 Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world ; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple , where all the Jews come together ; and I spoke nothing in secret . 21 "Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; they know what I said ." 22 When He had said this , one of the officers standing nearby struck e Jesus , saying , "Is that the way You answer the high priest ?" 23 Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken wrongly , testify of the wrong ; but if rightly , why do you strike Me?" 24 So Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest .
25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, " You are not also one of His disciples , are you?" He denied it, and said , "I am not." 26 One of the slaves of the high priest , being a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off , said , "Did I not see you in the garden with Him?" 27 Peter then denied it again , and immediately a rooster crowed .
28 Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium , and it was early ; and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium so that they would not be defiled , but might eat the Passover . 29 Therefore Pilate went out to them and said , "What accusation do you bring against this Man ?" 30 They answered and said to him, "If this Man were not an evildoer , we would not have delivered Him to you." 31 So Pilate said to them, "Take Him yourselves , and judge Him according to your law ." The Jews said to him, "We are not permitted to put anyone to death ," 32 to fulfill the word of Jesus which He spoke , signifying by what kind of death He was about to die . 33 Therefore Pilate entered again into the Praetorium , and summoned Jesus and said to Him, " Are You the King of the Jews ?" 34 Jesus answered , "Are you saying this on your own initiative , or did others tell you about Me?" 35 Pilate answered , "I am not a Jew , am I? Your own nation and the chief priests 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 My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews ; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm ." 37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, "So You are a king ?" Jesus answered , " You say correctly that I am a king . For this I have been born , and for this I have come into the world , to testify to the truth . Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice ." 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 no guilt in Him.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on John 18:1-38
Commentary on John 18:1-12
(Read John 18:1-12)
Sin began in the garden of Eden, there the curse was pronounced, there the Redeemer was promised; and in a garden that promised Seed entered into conflict with the old serpent. Christ was buried also in a garden. Let us, when we walk in our gardens, take occasion from thence to mediate on Christ's sufferings in a garden. Our Lord Jesus, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth and asked, Whom seek ye? When the people would have forced him to a crown, he withdrew, 15, but when they came to force him to a cross, he offered himself; for he came into this world to suffer, and went to the other world to reign. He showed plainly what he could have done; when he struck them down he could have struck them dead, but he would not do so. It must have been the effect of Divine power, that the officers and soldiers let the disciples go away quietly, after the resistance which had been offered. Christ set us an example of meekness in sufferings, and a pattern of submission to God's will in every thing that concerns us. It is but a cup, a small matter. It is a cup that is given us; sufferings are gifts. It is given us by a Father, who has a father's authority, and does us no wrong; a father's affection, and means us no hurt. From the example of our Saviour we should learn how to receive our lighter afflictions, and to ask ourselves whether we ought to oppose our Father's will, or to distrust his love. We were bound with the cords of our iniquities, with the yoke of our transgressions. Christ, being made a sin-offering for us, to free us from those bonds, himself submitted to be bound for us. To his bonds we owe our liberty; thus the Son makes us free.
Commentary on John 18:13-27
(Read John 18:13-27)
Simon Peter denied his Master. The particulars have been noticed in the remarks on the other Gospels. The beginning of sin is as the letting forth of water. The sin of lying is a fruitful sin; one lie needs another to support it, and that another. If a call to expose ourselves to danger be clear, we may hope God will enable us to honour him; if it be not, we may fear that God will leave us to shame ourselves. They said nothing concerning the miracles of Jesus, by which he had done so much good, and which proved his doctrine. Thus the enemies of Christ, whilst they quarrel with his truth, wilfully shut their eyes against it. He appeals to those who heard him. The doctrine of Christ may safely appeal to all that know it, and those who judge in truth bear witness to it. Our resentment of injuries must never be passionate. He reasoned with the man that did him the injury, and so may we.
Commentary on John 18:28-32
(Read John 18:28-32)
It was unjust to put one to death who had done so much good, therefore the Jews were willing to save themselves from reproach. Many fear the scandal of an ill thing, more than the sin of it. Christ had said he should be delivered to the Gentiles, and they should put him to death; hereby that saying was fulfilled. He had said that he should be crucified, lifted up. If the Jews had judged him by their law, he had been stoned; crucifying never was used among the Jews. It is determined concerning us, though not discovered to us, what death we shall die: this should free us from disquiet about that matter. Lord, what, when, and how, thou hast appointed.
Commentary on John 18:33-40
(Read John 18:33-40)
Art thou the King of the Jews? that King of the Jews who has been so long expected? Messiah the Prince; art thou he? Dost thou call thyself so, and wouldest thou be thought so? Christ answered this question with another; not for evasion, but that Pilate might consider what he did. He never took upon him any earthly power, never were any traitorous principles or practices laid to him. Christ gave an account of the nature of his kingdom. Its nature is not worldly; it is a kingdom within men, set up in their hearts and consciences; its riches spiritual, its power spiritual, and it glory within. Its supports are not worldly; its weapons are spiritual; it needed not, nor used, force to maintain and advance it, nor opposed any kingdom but that of sin and Satan. Its object and design are not worldly. When Christ said, I am the Truth, he said, in effect, I am a King. He conquers by the convincing evidence of truth; he rules by the commanding power of truth. The subjects of this kingdom are those that are of the truth. Pilate put a good question, he said, What is truth? When we search the Scriptures, and attend the ministry of the word, it must be with this inquiry, What is truth? and with this prayer, Lead me in thy truth; into all truth. But many put this question, who have not patience to preserve in their search after truth; or not humility enough to receive it. By this solemn declaration of Christ's innocence, it appears, that though the Lord Jesus was treated as the worst of evil-doers, he never deserved such treatment. But it unfolds the design of his death; that he died as a Sacrifice for our sins. Pilate was willing to please all sides; and was governed more by worldly wisdom than by the rules of justice. Sin is a robber, yet is foolishly chosen by many rather than Christ, who would truly enrich us. Let us endeavour to make our accusers ashamed as Christ did; and let us beware of crucifying Christ afresh.