# John 18 đź“–: Betrayed, Arrested, and Denied
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#🧠Chapter Summary]]
> [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application]]
> [[#đź’¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đź”— Related Passages]]
> [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đź“‚ Internal Notes]]
## đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### Betrayal and Arrest
**Principle**: Jesus was never a victim and did not lose control. He was only arrested because His time had come.
[[#Verse 01.]] When he had said these things, Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley. There was an orchard there, and he and his disciples went into it.Â
[[#Verse 02.]] (Now Judas, the one who betrayed him, knew the place too, because Jesus had met there many times with his disciples.)Â
[[#Verse 03.]] So Judas obtained a squad of soldiers and some officers of the chief priests and Pharisees. They came to the orchard with lanterns and torches and weapons.
[[#Verse 04.]] Then Jesus, because he knew everything that was going to happen to him, came and asked them, “Who are you looking for?”Â
[[#Verse 05.]] They replied, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He told them, “I am he.” (Now Judas, the one who betrayed him, was standing there with them.)Â
[[#Verse 06.]] So when Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they retreated and fell to the ground.
[[#Verse 07.]] Then Jesus asked them again, “Who are you looking for?” And they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.”
[[#Verse 08.]] Jesus replied, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, let these men go.”Â
[[#Verse 09.]] He said this to fulfill the word he had spoken, “I have not lost a single one of those whom you gave me.”
[[#Verse 10.]] Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, pulled it out and struck the high priest’s slave, cutting off his right ear. (Now the slave’s name was Malchus.)
[[#Verse 11.]] But Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath! Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?”
### Jesus Before Annas
**Principle**: A man of integrity can stand before a crowd of evil men without fear.
[[#Verse 12.]] Then the squad of soldiers with their commanding officer and the officers of the Jewish leaders arrested Jesus and tied him up.Â
[[#Verse 13.]] They brought him first to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.Â
[[#Verse 14.]] (Now it was Caiaphas who had advised the Jewish leaders that it was to their advantage that one man die for the people.)
### Peter’s First Denial
**Principle**: Pressure tests us all.
[[#Verse 15.]] Simon Peter and another disciple followed them as they brought Jesus to Annas. (Now the other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, and he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard.)
[[#Verse 16.]] But Peter was left standing outside by the door. So the other disciple who was acquainted with the high priest came out and spoke to the slave girl who watched the door, and brought Peter inside.Â
[[#Verse 17.]] The girl who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, “You’re not one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” He replied, “I am not.”Â
[[#Verse 18.]] (Now the slaves and the guards were standing around a charcoal fire they had made, warming themselves because it was cold. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.)
### Jesus Questioned by Annas
**Principle**: Jesus shows what a True High Priest look like.
[[#Verse 19.]] While this was happening, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching.
[[#Verse 20.]] Jesus replied, “I have spoken publicly to the world. I always taught in the synagogues and in the temple courts, where all the Jewish people assemble together. I have said nothing in secret.Â
[[#Verse 21.]] Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said. They know what I said.”Â
[[#Verse 22.]] When Jesus had said this, one of the high priest’s officers who stood nearby struck him on the face and said, “Is that the way you answer the high priest?”Â
[[#Verse 23.]] Jesus replied,“If I have said something wrong, confirm what is wrong. But if I spoke correctly, why strike me?”Â
[[#Verse 24.]] Then Annas sent him, still tied up, to Caiaphas the high priest.
### Peter’s Second and Third Denials
**Principle**: Difficulty reveals hearts.
[[#Verse 25.]] Meanwhile Simon Peter was standing in the courtyard warming himself. They said to him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?” Peter denied it: “I am not!”Â
[[#Verse 26.]] One of the high priest’s slaves, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the orchard with him?”
[[#Verse 27.]]Â Then Peter denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed.
### Jesus Brought Before Pilate
**Principle**: Without knowing it, evil people can still fulfill God’s purposes.
[[#Verse 28.]] Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the Roman governor’s residence. (Now it was very early morning.) They did not go into the governor’s residence so they would not be ceremonially defiled, but could eat the Passover meal.Â
[[#Verse 29.]] So Pilate came outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?”Â
[[#Verse 30.]] They replied, “If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.”
[[#Verse 31.]] Pilate told them, “Take him yourselves and pass judgment on him according to your own law!” The Jewish leaders replied, “We cannot legally put anyone to death.”Â
[[#Verse 32.]] (This happened to fulfill the word Jesus had spoken when he indicated what kind of death he was going to die.)
### Pilate Questions Jesus
**Principle**: Bring your questions to Jesus. He will open the world show you the depth of His wisdom.
[[#Verse 33.]] So Pilate went back into the governor’s residence, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
[[#Verse 34.]] Jesus replied, “Are you saying this on your own initiative, or have others told you about me?”Â
[[#Verse 35.]] Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own people and your chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?”
[[#Verse 36.]] Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my servants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish authorities. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.”Â
[[#Verse 37.]] Then Pilate said, “So you are a king!” Jesus replied, “You say that I am a king. For this reason I was born, and for this reason I came into the world—to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”Â
[[#Verse 38.]] Pilate asked, “What is truth?” When he had said this he went back outside to the Jewish leaders and announced, “I find no basis for an accusation against him.
[[#Verse 39.]] But it is your custom that I release one prisoner for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release for you the king of the Jews?”Â
[[#Verse 40.]] Then they shouted back, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” (Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.)
## đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary
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###### Verse 40.
## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley (18:1), the same valley David crossed when he fled from his son Absalom (2 Samuel 15:23).
2. John calls the place an orchard or garden. Matthew and Mark name it Gethsemane, meaning "oil press."
3. A cohort of Roman soldiers (18:3) could number several hundred men, though only a detachment may have come.
4. Only John names Peter as the one who cut off the servant's ear and names the servant, Malchus (18:10).
5. Annas (18:13) had been high priest from AD 6 to 15 and remained powerful, and five of his sons served as high priest after him.
6. Peter stood warming himself by a charcoal fire (18:18). The only other charcoal fire in the New Testament is in 21:9, where Jesus restores him.
7. The leaders would not enter Pilate's headquarters so they would not become ritually unclean before eating the Passover (18:28).
8. Under Roman rule, the Jewish leaders were not permitted to carry out the death penalty (18:31).
9. Pilate's name appears on a stone inscription found at Caesarea Maritima in 1961, calling him prefect of Judea.
10. Barabbas is called a revolutionary (18:40), a word that could describe a bandit or insurrectionist.
## 🧠Chapter Summary
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the King whose kingdom is not from this world (18:36). He gave Himself up willingly to protect His disciples and to drink the cup the Father gave Him (18:8, 11; Matthew 26:39).
## 🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đź’¬ Discussion Questions
1. When Jesus said "I am he," the soldiers drew back and fell to the ground (18:6). What does that show about who was really in control?
2. Peter boldly drew a sword but later denied Jesus three times (18:10, 17, 25-27). Why can courage turn to fear so quickly?
3. Pilate asked, "What is truth?" (18:38). How would you answer someone who asks that question today?
## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember
- đź“– verses 4-6: Jesus steps forward and says "I am he," and His arresters fall to the ground.
- đź“– verse 11: Jesus chooses to drink the cup the Father has given Him.
- đź“– verse 36: Jesus' kingdom is not from this world.
- đź“– verse 37: Jesus came into the world to testify to the truth.
## đź”— Related Passages
- đź”— [[2 Samuel 15#Verse 23.|2 Samuel 15:23]] - David crosses the Kidron when betrayed.
- đź”— [[Exodus 03#Verse 14.|Exodus 3:14]] - God's name: I AM.
- đź”— [[Matthew 26#Verse 39.|Matthew 26:39]] - The cup the Father gave.
- đź”— [[Matthew 26#Verse 69.|Matthew 26:69-75]] - Peter's denials.
- đź”— [[Daniel 02#Verse 44.|Daniel 2:44]] - A kingdom that will never be destroyed.
## 🙏 Devotional Reflection
đź“ť SOAP: [[John 18 - SOAP|The King is Here]]
## đź“‚ Internal Notes