Study Desk

The high priest^(r) questioned Jesus about His disciples and about His teaching.

"I have spoken openly to the world," Jesus answered him. "I have always taught in the synagogue^(s) and in the temple complex,^(t) where all the Jews congregate, and I haven't spoken anything in secret.

Why do you question Me? Question those who heard what I told them. Look, they know what I said."

When He had said these things, one of the temple police standing by slapped Jesus, saying, "Is this the way you answer the high priest?"

"If I have spoken wrongly," Jesus answered him, "give evidence^[b] about the wrong; but if rightly,^(u) why do you hit Me?"

Then^(v) Annas^(w) sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said to him, "You aren't one of His disciples too, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not!"

One of the high priest's slaves, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, "Didn't I see you with Him in the garden?"

Peter then denied it again. Immediately a rooster crowed.^(x)

Then^(y) they took Jesus from Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters.^(z) It was early morning. They did not enter the headquarters themselves; otherwise they would be defiled and unable to eat the Passover.

Then Pilate^(aa) came out to them and said, "What charge^(ab) do you bring against this man?"

They answered him, "If this man weren't a criminal,^[c] we wouldn't have handed Him over to you."

So Pilate told them, "Take Him yourselves and judge Him according to your law." "It's not legal^[d] for us to put anyone to death," the Jews declared.

They said this so that Jesus' words might be fulfilled signifying what kind of death He was going to die.^(ac)

Then Pilate went back into the headquarters, summoned Jesus, and said to Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?"^(ad)

Jesus answered, "Are you asking this on your own, or have others told you about Me?"

"I'm not a Jew, am I?" Pilate replied. "Your own nation and the chief priests handed You over to me. What have You done?"

"My kingdom^(ae) is not of this world," said Jesus. "If My kingdom were of this world,^(af) My servants ^[e](ag) would fight, so that I wouldn't be handed over to the Jews. As it is, My kingdom does not have its origin here." ^[f](ah)

"You are a king then?" Pilate asked. "You say that I'm a king," Jesus replied. "I was born for this, and I have come into the world^(ai) for this: to testify^(aj) to the truth.^(ak) Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice."

"What is truth?" said Pilate. After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, "I find no grounds^(al) for charging Him.

You^(am) have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at the Passover. So, do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?"

They shouted back, "Not this man, but Barabbas!"^(an) Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.^[g](ao)