18:25 Meanwhile Simon Peter was standing in the courtyard 9 warming himself. They said to him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?” 10 Peter 11 denied it: “I am not!” 18:26 One of the high priest’s slaves, 12 a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, 13 said, “Did I not see you in the orchard 14 with him?” 15 18:27 Then Peter denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed. 16
18:28 Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the Roman governor’s residence. 17 (Now it was very early morning.) 18 They 19 did not go into the governor’s residence 20 so they would not be ceremonially defiled, but could eat the Passover meal. 18:29 So Pilate came outside to them and said, “What accusation 21 do you bring against this man?” 22 18:30 They replied, 23 “If this man 24 were not a criminal, 25 we would not have handed him over to you.” 26
18:31 Pilate told them, 27 “Take him yourselves and pass judgment on him 28 according to your own law!” 29 The Jewish leaders 30 replied, 31 “We cannot legally put anyone to death.” 32 18:32 (This happened 33 to fulfill the word Jesus had spoken when he indicated 34 what kind of death he was going to die. 35 )
18:33 So Pilate went back into the governor’s residence, 36 summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” 37 18:34 Jesus replied, 38 “Are you saying this on your own initiative, 39 or have others told you about me?” 18:35 Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? 40 Your own people 41 and your chief priests handed you over 42 to me. What have you done?”
18:36 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 43 handed over 44 to the Jewish authorities. 45 But as it is, 46 my kingdom is not from here.” 18:37 Then Pilate said, 47 “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 48 my voice.” 18:38 Pilate asked, 49 “What is truth?” 50
When he had said this he went back outside to the Jewish leaders 51 and announced, 52 “I find no basis for an accusation 53 against him. 18:39 But it is your custom that I release one prisoner 54 for you at the Passover. 55 So do you want me to release for you the king of the Jews?” 18:40 Then they shouted back, 56 “Not this man, 57 but Barabbas!” 58 (Now Barabbas was a revolutionary. 59 ) 60