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¹ After praying, Jesus rode across Kidron Draw with his cowboys and entered an olive grove.

Jesus Is Arrested

² Now the double-crosser, Judas, knew the place well. Jesus had taken his cowboys there often. ³ Judas led the way to the olive grove. He brought with him some church mercenaries and church leaders. There were even a few Pharisees who tagged along. A long line of torches, swords, and lanterns made their way through the trees.

⁴ Jesus, knowing what was about to happen, walked out to meet them. He said, "Who are y'all looking for?"

⁵ "Jesus of Nazareth," one of the mercenaries said.

⁶ Jesus looked at the traitor Judas and said, "I AM he." They all drew back and fell down at the power of his words.

⁷ He asked them again, "Who are you looking for?"

"Jesus of Nazareth," they said again.

⁸ Jesus said, "I already told you that I AM he. I've asked you twice who you are looking for. You are looking for one man. Let the rest of these cowboys go." ⁹ This happened because Jesus had said, "I will not lose a single one you have given me."

¹⁰ Then Pete swung into action. He drew his sword and cut off the ear of Malchus, the head preacher's slave. ¹¹ But Jesus hollered at Pete and said, "Holster your weapon, cowboy. I have to finish the job my Father gave me. Even the suffering that goes with it."

¹² So the mercenaries, their commanding officer, and the church police arrested Jesus and handcuffed him. ¹³ They took him first to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the head preacher at that time. ¹⁴ Caiaphas is the one who said, "It's better that one man should die rather than all of them."

Pete Bails Out on Jesus for the First Time

¹⁵ Pete and another cowboy followed at a distance. The other cowboy knew the head preacher and was allowed to enter the courtyard with Jesus. ¹⁶ Pete waited outside. The other cowboy spoke to the girl working the gate and Pete was allowed in.

¹⁷ As they walked in, the girl working the gate asked, "Wait a minute. Aren't you one of the cowboys who ride for the man they just arrested?"

"Nope," Pete said. "Don't know who you're talking about."

¹⁸ The night was cold, and the servants had made a fire in the courtyard. Pete stood with them warming himself.

The Interrogation of Jesus

¹⁹ Inside the house, Annas started asking Jesus about his message and what he taught his cowboys.

²⁰ Jesus said, "I don't need to repeat myself. Y'all have heard everything I've said in the churches and the main church courtyard where all the Jews hang out. I haven't been secretive about one thing. ²¹ Why ask me what I said? Ask those that heard me."

²² The final word had barely come out of Jesus's mouth when a guard standing close by slapped him in the face and said, "That ain't no way to talk to the head preacher."

²³ Jesus looked at him and said, "Tell me what I said wrong. But if I've only told the truth, then why do you hit me?"

²⁴ Annas sent Jesus to the head preacher, Caiaphas. Jesus was still bound up tight like a criminal.

Pete Bails on Jesus Two More Times

²⁵ Meanwhile, Pete still stood by the fire. One of the men standing there asked him, "Aren't you one of the cowboys who rode with Jesus?"

Pete said, "Nope."

²⁶ There was a relative of the man whose ear Pete had cut off, and he said, "I'm pretty sure I saw you in that grove of olive trees with Jesus." ²⁷ Pete denied knowing Jesus a third time. At that moment, a rooster began to crow.

Pilate Interrogates Jesus

²⁸ Jesus was then dragged from Caiaphas's house to the Roman mansion to see the governor. It was early in the morning, and to avoid being disqualified from the Passover meal, no one entered the Roman mansion. ²⁹ Pilate came outside and asked, "What are the charges against this man?"

³⁰ The Jews said, "He is a criminal. Why else would we have brought him to you?"

³¹ Pilate shook his head and said, "Then take him back and deal with him yourselves according to your own law."

"But we can't execute anyone," they exclaimed. ³² (This fulfilled Jesus's words about how he would die.)

³³ Pilate walked back inside to his office and ordered Jesus brought in. "Are you the king of the Jews?"

³⁴ Jesus replied, "Where did you hear that?"

³⁵ "Do I look like a Jew to you?" Pilate spat back. "Your own people brought you to me. What have you done?"

³⁶ Jesus said, "My kingdom is not here. If it were, you wouldn't be able to take me. My cowboys would keep me safe from the Jewish leaders. My kingdom is not in this world."

³⁷ "Then you are a king!" said Pilate.

Jesus said, "You said it, I didn't. I was born to tell people the truth. The seekers of truth listen to me."

³⁸ "What is truth?" Pilate said sorrowfully. He then went out and tried to dismiss the charges against Jesus. ³⁹ Then Pilate said, "Jesus is in my custody, and I always release one prisoner to you at Passover. Do you want me to release this 'king of the Jews'?"

⁴⁰ "No," the screamed. "Give us Barabbas!" Barabbas had fought against the Romans.