1Da Jesus var færdig med at bede, gik han videre sammen med disciplene. De krydsede Kedrondalen og kom ind i en olivenplantage. (Matt 26,47; Mark 14,43; Luk 22,47)2Men også forræderen, Judas, kendte det sted, for Jesus havde ofte været der sammen med sine disciple.3Judas havde af ypperstepræsterne og farisæerne fået rådighed over templets vagtmandskab og en deling romerske soldater, og med brændende fakler, olielamper og våben nærmede de sig nu olivenplantagen.4Jesus vidste på forhånd, hvad der ville ske. Han trådte frem og spurgte: „Hvem søger I efter?”5„Jesus fra Nazaret,” svarede de. „Det er mig,” sagde Jesus. Også forræderen, Judas, stod dér mellem de andre.6Da Jesus sagde: „Det er mig,” veg de tilbage og faldt til jorden.7Igen spurgte Jesus: „Hvem søger I efter?” „Jesus fra Nazaret,” svarede de.8„Jeg har jo sagt jer, at det er mig,” sagde Jesus. „Når det altså er mig, I vil have fat i, så lad de andre gå!”9Således gik det i opfyldelse, som han tidligere havde sagt om, at ingen af hans disciple skulle gå fortabt.[1]10Simon Peter trak sit sværd, slog ud efter en af ypperstepræstens tjenere og huggede hans højre øre af. (Tjeneren hed Malkus.)11Men Jesus sagde til Peter: „Stik dit sværd i skeden! Skulle jeg ikke tømme det lidelsens bæger, som min Far har givet mig?”12Befalingsmanden gav da ordre til sine soldater og den jødiske tempelvagt om at pågribe Jesus og binde ham.13Derefter trak de af sted med ham. I første omgang førte de ham til Annas, som var svigerfar til Kajfas. Det var Kajfas, der var den officielle ypperstepræst i det år.[2]14Det var også Kajfas, der havde sagt til de jødiske ledere, at det var bedre, at én mand døde, end at hele folket gik til grunde.[3]
Peter svigter Jesus første gang
15Simon Peter fulgte efter Jesus sammen med en af de andre disciple, som kendte ypperstepræsten. Derfor fik den anden discipel tilladelse til at komme indenfor porten i ypperstepræstens gård, (Matt 26,69; Mark 14,66; Luk 22,55)16mens Peter blev stående udenfor. Den anden discipel talte med den pige, der stod vagt ved porten, og Peter fik så lov til at komme med indenfor.17Men da han gik forbi hende, udbrød hun: „Du er da vist en af hans disciple!” „Nej, det er jeg ikke!” røg det ud af Peter.18Vagtmandskabet fra templet og husets tjenestefolk stod og varmede sig omkring nogle trækulsgløder, for det var koldt den nat. Peter stillede sig også derhen for at få varmen.
Ypperstepræsten forhører Jesus
19Inde i huset begyndte ypperstepræsten at udspørge Jesus om hans disciple og om, hvad hans lære egentlig gik ud på.20„Jeg har talt til folk i fuld offentlighed,” svarede Jesus. „Mange gange har jeg undervist i synagogerne og på tempelpladsen, hvor alle har kunnet høre mig. Intet er sket bag lukkede døre.21Hvorfor spørger du mig? Hvorfor ikke spørge dem, der har hørt, når jeg har talt? De ved godt, hvad min undervisning går ud på.”22En af tempelvagterne gav Jesus et slag i ansigtet. „Er det en måde at svare ypperstepræsten på?” sagde han.23„Har jeg sagt noget forkert, så sig hvad det er,” svarede Jesus. „Men hvis det, jeg har sagt, er sandt, hvorfor slår du mig så?”24Annas havde nemlig sendt[4] Jesus videre til ypperstepræsten Kajfas med hænderne bundet.
Peter svigter Jesus anden og tredje gang
25Imens stod Simon Peter ude på gårdspladsen og varmede sig ved gløderne. „Du er da også en af hans disciple!” udbrød en af de omkringstående. „Nej, det er jeg ikke!” røg det ud af Peter endnu en gang. (Matt 26,71; Mark 14,69; Luk 22,58)26Men en af ypperstepræstens tjenere, som var i familie med den mand, hvis øre Peter havde hugget af, udbrød: „Jeg så dig selv ude i olivenplantagen sammen med Jesus!”27Igen benægtede Peter det, og i samme øjeblik var der en hane, der galede.
Pilatus bliver presset til at lade Jesus korsfæste
28Meget tidligt om morgenen førte man Jesus videre fra Kajfas’ gård til den romerske guvernørs borg. De jødiske ledere ville ikke gå ind et sted, hvor der boede en ikke-jøde, for det ville gøre dem urene, og så ville de ikke kunne deltage i påskefesten. (Matt 27,1; Matt 27,11; Mark 15,1; Luk 23,1; Luk 23,13)29Derfor gik guvernøren, Pilatus, ud til dem. „Hvad anklager I manden for?” spurgte han.30„Vi ville ikke have arresteret ham og bragt ham herhen, hvis han ikke havde overtrådt loven,” svarede de.31„Nå, men så tag og døm ham ifølge jeres lov!” „Men vi har ikke ret til at korsfæste[5] nogen,” indvendte de.32Dermed opfyldtes Jesu ord om, hvordan han skulle dø.33Pilatus gik nu ind i borgen igen og fik også Jesus ført derind. „Er du jødernes konge?” spurgte han.34„Har du selv fundet på det spørgsmål, eller har andre omtalt mig på den måde?” sagde Jesus.35„Er jeg måske jøde?” svarede Pilatus. „Dit eget folks ypperstepræster har overgivet dig til mig. Hvad har du gjort?”36„Mit rige er ikke af denne verden,” svarede Jesus. „Havde jeg ønsket at oprette et jordisk rige, så ville mine disciple have kæmpet for, at jeg ikke skulle blive fanget af de jødiske ledere.”37„Så er du altså en konge?” spurgte Pilatus. „På en måde er jeg en konge,” svarede Jesus. „Jeg er kommet til denne verden for at fortælle om sandheden. Det var derfor, jeg blev født, og alle, der hører sandheden til, vil adlyde mig.”38„Hvad er sandhed?” afbrød Pilatus. Derefter gik han igen udenfor til de jødiske ledere og sagde: „Jeg finder ham ikke skyldig.39Men nu er der jo tradition for, at jeg giver jer en fange fri hver påske. Ønsker I, at jeg skal løslade ‚jødernes konge’?”40„Nej, ikke ham, men Barabbas!” råbte de. Barabbas var en mand, der var fængslet for oprør mod romerne.
1When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. (2.Sam 15,23; Matt 26,30; Matt 26,36; Mark 14,26; Mark 14,32; Luk 22,39)2Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. (Luk 21,37; Luk 22,39; Luk 22,40)3So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. (Matt 26,47; Mark 14,43; Luk 22,47)4Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” (Joh 1,38; Joh 13,1; Joh 18,7; Joh 20,15)5They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.”[1] Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.6When Jesus[2] said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. (Matt 26,53; Joh 10,18; Åb 1,17)7So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” (Joh 18,4)8Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.”9This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” (Joh 17,12)10Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant[3] and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) (Luk 22,38)11So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?” (Es 51,22; Matt 20,22; Matt 26,39; Matt 26,42)
Jesus Faces Annas and Caiaphas
12So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews[4] arrested Jesus and bound him.13First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. (Matt 26,3; Matt 26,57; Luk 3,2; Joh 18,24; Joh 18,28; Ap G 4,6)14It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people. (Joh 11,50)
Peter Denies Jesus
15Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, (Matt 26,58; Mark 14,54; Luk 22,54)16but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. (Matt 26,69; Mark 14,66; Luk 22,55)17The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” (Ap G 12,13)18Now the servants[5] and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself. (Mark 14,54; Joh 18,25)
The High Priest Questions Jesus
19The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. (Matt 26,59; Mark 14,55; Luk 22,63)20Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. (Es 45,19; Es 48,16; Matt 26,55; Joh 7,4; Joh 7,26; Joh 8,26)21Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.”22When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” (Ap G 23,4)23Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?”24Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. (Joh 18,13)
Peter Denies Jesus Again
25Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” (Matt 26,71; Mark 14,69; Luk 22,58)26One of the servants 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?” (Joh 18,1; Joh 18,10)27Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed. (Joh 13,38)
Jesus Before Pilate
28Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters.[6] It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. (Matt 27,2; Matt 27,27; Mark 15,1; Luk 23,1; Joh 11,55; Joh 18,24; Joh 18,33; Joh 19,9; Joh 19,14; Ap G 10,28; Ap G 11,3)29So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” (Matt 27,11; Mark 15,2; Luk 23,2)30They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.”31Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” (Joh 19,6)32This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die. (Matt 20,19; Matt 26,2; Mark 10,33; Luk 18,32; Joh 12,32; Joh 13,18)
My Kingdom Is Not of This World
33So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” (Joh 19,9; Joh 19,12)34Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?”35Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?”36Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” (Dan 2,44; Dan 7,14; Dan 7,27; Matt 26,53; Luk 17,21; Joh 6,15; Joh 8,23; Joh 15,19; Joh 17,14; Joh 17,16; Joh 19,16; 1.Joh 2,16; 1.Joh 4,5)37Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” (Luk 22,70; Joh 3,11; Joh 3,32; Joh 5,31; Joh 8,13; Joh 8,18; Joh 8,47; Joh 10,16; Joh 10,27; Joh 12,27; Joh 16,28; Rom 14,9; 1.Joh 2,21; 1.Joh 3,19; 1.Joh 4,6)38Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. (Luk 23,4; Joh 19,4; Joh 19,6)39But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” (Matt 27,15; Matt 27,20; Mark 15,6; Luk 23,18)40They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.[7] (Ap G 3,14)