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Jesus Arrested
1 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his
disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side
there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.
2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because
Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas
came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and
some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees.
They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.
4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him,
went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”
5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus
said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them. 6
When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the
ground.
7 Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of
Nazareth,” they said.
8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are
looking for me, then let these men go.” 9 This happened so
that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not
lost one of those you gave me.”
10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and
struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear.
(The servant’s name was Malchus.)
11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall
I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”
12 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander
and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him 13
and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the one
who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if
one man died for the people.
Peter’s First Denial
15 Simon Peter and another disciple were following
Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest,
he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, 16 but
Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple,
who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the
servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in.
17 “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are
you?” she asked Peter. He replied, “I am not.”
18 It was cold, and the servants and officials stood
around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was
standing with them, warming himself.
The High Priest Questions Jesus
19 Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about
his disciples and his teaching.
20 “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied.
“I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all
the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. 21 Why
question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I
said.”
22 When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby
slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the
high priest?” he demanded.
23 “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied,
“testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why
did you strike me?” 24 Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas
the high priest.
Peter’s Second and Third Denials
25 Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there
warming himself. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his
disciples too, are you?” He denied it, saying, “I am not.”
26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of
the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t
I see you with him in the garden?” 27 Again Peter denied it,
and at that moment a rooster began to crow.
Jesus Before Pilate
28 Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to
the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early
morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not
enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the
Passover. 29 So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What
charges are you bringing against this man?”
30 “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we
would not have handed him over to you.”
31 Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by
your own law.” “But we have no right to execute anyone,”
they objected. 32 This took place to fulfill what Jesus had
said about the kind of death he was going to die.
33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned
Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
34 “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did
others talk to you about me?”
35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and
chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have
done?”
36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it
were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the
Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus
answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I
was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth.
Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
38 “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went
out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no
basis for a charge against him. 39 But it is your custom for
me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the
Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews?’”
40 They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!”
Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising.
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Cults 
Why Did God Permit Sin?
