New Revised Standard NRS
The Message Bible MSG
1 After Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to a place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered.
1
Jesus, having prayed this prayer, left with his disciples and crossed over the brook Kidron at a place where there was a garden. He and his disciples entered it.
2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples.
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Judas, his betrayer, knew the place because Jesus and his disciples went there often.
3 So Judas brought a detachment of soldiers together with police from the chief priests and the Pharisees, and they came there with lanterns and torches and weapons.
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So Judas led the way to the garden, and the Roman soldiers and police sent by the high priests and Pharisees followed. They arrived there with lanterns and torches and swords.
4 Then Jesus, knowing all that was to happen to him, came forward and asked them, "Whom are you looking for?"
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Jesus, knowing by now everything that was coming down on him, went out and met them. He said, "Who are you after?" They answered, "Jesus the Nazarene."
5 They answered, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus replied, "I am he." Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.
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He said, "That's me." The soldiers recoiled, totally taken aback. Judas, his betrayer, stood out like a sore thumb.
6 When Jesus said to them, "I am he," they stepped back and fell to the ground.
6
7 Again he asked them, "Whom are you looking for?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth."
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Jesus asked again, "Who are you after?" They answered, "Jesus the Nazarene."
8 Jesus answered, "I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go."
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"I told you," said Jesus, "that's me. I'm the one. So if it's me you're after, let these others go."
9 This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken, "I did not lose a single one of those whom you gave me."
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(This validated the words in his prayer, "I didn't lose one of those you gave.")
10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest's slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave's name was Malchus.
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Just then Simon Peter, who was carrying a sword, pulled it from its sheath and struck the Chief Priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. Malchus was the servant's name.
11 Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?"
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Jesus ordered Peter, "Put back your sword. Do you think for a minute I'm not going to drink this cup the Father gave me?"
12 So the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus and bound him.
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Then the Roman soldiers under their commander, joined by the Jewish police, seized Jesus and tied him up.
13 First they took him to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year.
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They took him first to Annas, father-in-law of Caiaphas. Caiaphas was the Chief Priest that year.
14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one person die for the people.
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It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it was to their advantage that one man die for the people.
15 Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest,
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Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. That other disciple was known to the Chief Priest, and so he went in with Jesus to the Chief Priest's courtyard.
16 but Peter was standing outside at the gate. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman who guarded the gate, and brought Peter in.
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Peter had to stay outside. Then the other disciple went out, spoke to the doorkeeper, and got Peter in.
17 The woman said to Peter, "You are not also one of this man's disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not."
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The young woman who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, "Aren't you one of this man's disciples?" He said, "No, I'm not."
18 Now the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were standing around it and warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them and warming himself.
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The servants and police had made a fire because of the cold and were huddled there warming themselves. Peter stood with them, trying to get warm.
19 Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching.
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Annas interrogated Jesus regarding his disciples and his teaching.
20 Jesus answered, "I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret.
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Jesus answered, "I've spoken openly in public. I've taught regularly in meeting places and the Temple, where the Jews all come together. Everything has been out in the open. I've said nothing in secret.
21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said."
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So why are you treating me like a conspirator? Question those who have been listening to me. They know well what I have said. My teachings have all been aboveboard."
22 When he had said this, one of the police standing nearby struck Jesus on the face, saying, "Is that how you answer the high priest?"
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When he said this, one of the policemen standing there slapped Jesus across the face, saying, "How dare you speak to the Chief Priest like that!"
23 Jesus answered, "If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?"
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Jesus replied, "If I've said something wrong, prove it. But if I've spoken the plain truth, why this slapping around?"
24 Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
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Then Annas sent him, still tied up, to the Chief Priest Caiaphas.
25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They asked him, "You are not also one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not."
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Meanwhile, Simon Peter was back at the fire, still trying to get warm. The others there said to him, "Aren't you one of his disciples?" He denied it, "Not me."
26 One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, "Did I not see you in the garden with him?"
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One of the Chief Priest's servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, "Didn't I see you in the garden with him?"
27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment the cock crowed.
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Again, Peter denied it. Just then a rooster crowed.
28 Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate's headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover.
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They led Jesus then from Caiaphas to the Roman governor's palace. It was early morning. They themselves didn't enter the palace because they didn't want to be disqualified from eating the Passover.
29 So Pilate went out to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this man?"
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So Pilate came out to them and spoke. "What charge do you bring against this man?"
30 They answered, "If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you."
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They said, "If he hadn't been doing something evil, do you think we'd be here bothering you?"
31 Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law." The Jews replied, "We are not permitted to put anyone to death."
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Pilate said, "You take him. Judge him by your law."
32 (This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.)
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(This would confirm Jesus' word indicating the way he would die.)
33 Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?"
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Pilate went back into the palace and called for Jesus. He said, "Are you the 'King of the Jews'?"
34 Jesus answered, "Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?"
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Jesus answered, "Are you saying this on your own, or did others tell you this about me?"
35 Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?"
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Pilate said, "Do I look like a Jew? Your people and your high priests turned you over to me. What did you do?"
36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here."
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"My kingdom," said Jesus, "doesn't consist of what you see around you. If it did, my followers would fight so that I wouldn't be handed over to the Jews. But I'm not that kind of king, not the world's kind of king."
37 Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."
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Then Pilate said, "So, are you a king or not?" Jesus answered, "You tell me. Because I am King, I was born and entered the world so that I could witness to the truth. Everyone who cares for truth, who has any feeling for the truth, recognizes my voice."
38 Pilate asked him, "What is truth?" After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, "I find no case against him.
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Pilate said, "What is truth?" Then he went back out to the Jews and told them, "I find nothing wrong in this man."
39 But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?"
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It's your custom that I pardon one prisoner at Passover. Do you want me to pardon the 'King of the Jews'?"
40 They shouted in reply, "Not this man, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a bandit.
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They shouted back, "Not this one, but Barabbas!" Barabbas was a Jewish freedom fighter.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.