JMNT(i)
1 [After] saying these things, Jesus, together with His disciples, went out to the other side across the winter flow of the Kedron (the "brook, torrent or wadi of the Cedars"; or: the Kidron Valley) to where there was a garden (a place planted with trees and herbs), into which He Himself – and His disciples – entered.
2 Now Judah (or: Judas) – the one presently and progressively handing Him over – also had seen and knew the place, because Jesus had many times (or: frequently; often) been gathered there with His disciples.
3 Therefore Judah (Judas), getting and taking the detachment (or: squad [of Roman soldiers]) and subordinates (those who act under orders; deputies; Temple guards or Sanhedrin officers) from the chief (ranking) priests and from the Pharisees, is proceeding to come there with lanterns, torches and weapons (or: arms).
4 Then Jesus, having seen and being aware of (or: knowing) all the things progressively coming upon Him, went out and proceeds saying to them, "Whom are you folks presently seeking (looking for; or: What things are you men now trying to find)?"
5 They decidedly replied, "Jesus, the Nazarene." He then says to them, "I am (or: I, Myself, am; or: I am Being)" [B reads: "I am Jesus."]. Now Judah (Judas) – the one handing Him over – had also been standing with them,
6 then, as He said to them, "I, Myself, am (or: I am continuous Existence)," he [other MSS: they] went off into the rear (into the [area] back behind) and they suddenly fell to the ground.
7 Then He again inquired of them, "Whom are you presently seeking (looking for; or: What things are you men now trying to find)?" Now those men say, "Jesus, the Nazarene."
8 Jesus decidedly replies, "I told you that I, Myself, am (or: I am). Since (or: If), then, you men are presently seeking Me, allow these men to proceed departing,"
9 so that the word (or: saying) may be fulfilled which He said: "I lose (or: destroyed) not one from out of them whom You have given to Me as a possession."
10 Then Simon Peter, holding (or: having) a small sword, suddenly draws (or: unsheathed) it and hits (struck) the chief priest's slave, and cuts off his right ear. Now the name of the slave was Malchus.
11 Therefore Jesus says to Peter, "Thrust the small sword into the sheath (scabbard). The cup which the Father has given to Me and which I now have – should I not by all means drink it?"
12 Then the detachment (or: squad [of Roman soldiers]) and the military commander (tribune; commander of a thousand soldiers) and the subordinates (deputies) of the Jews (= religious authorities) together seized (apprehended; arrested) Jesus and bound Him (tied Him up),
13 then led Him first to Annas (or: Hannas), for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was [the] chief priest of that year.
14 Now Caiaphas was the one joining in counsel with and advising the Jews (= religious authorities) that it is progressively bearing together as an expedient advantage for one man to be dying over [the situation of] (or: on behalf of) the People.
15 So Simon Peter and another disciple kept on following Jesus. Now that [other] disciple was personally known by (or: intimate with; or: = a close friend of) the chief priest, and he went in together with Jesus into the courtyard of the chief priest's house.
16 Yet Peter had been, and remained, standing outside, facing toward the gate (or: door). Therefore the other disciple – the one well-known to the chief priest – went out and spoke to the gate keeper (porter; doorkeeper) and then leads Peter into the midst.
17 Then the young woman (or: young female servant) – the gate keeper (portress) – says to Peter, "Are you not also one of this man's disciples?" That one then says, "I am not! (or: No, I’m not.)"
18 Now the slaves and the subordinates (deputies; those under orders), having made a charcoal fire and keeping the embers going because it was cold, had been standing and kept on warming themselves, and so Peter, also, was standing with them and continued warming himself.
19 Then the chief priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and about His teaching.
20 Jesus considered and replied to him, "I Myself have publicly (outspokenly with boldness and freedom of speech which is the right of a citizen) spoken in the System (or: to the world of religion, culture, economics and government). I at all times taught in a synagogue, and within the Temple courts, where all the Jews are habitually coming together, and I have spoken nothing within a hidden place.
21 "Why are you men now proceeding in questioning Me? Question those being ones having heard what I spoke to them. See and consider, these have seen and know what things I, Myself, said."
22 Now [upon] His saying these things, one of the subordinates (deputies, or Temple guards) [who] had been standing at the side gave a striking blow to Jesus, with some instrument [such as a rod or a whip], saying, "Are you answering thus (or: in this way) to the chief priest?"
23 Jesus considered and replied to him, "If I spoke inappropriately (in an ugly way; badly; meanly; basely; worthlessly; abusively), testify (give evidence) concerning the inappropriateness (bear witness about the abuse, the base words, the mean and ugly attitude, the bad thing). Yet if ideally (beautifully; appropriately; excellently), why are you now lashing Me (flaying Me so as to remove My skin)?"
24 Then Annas (or: Hannas) sent Him off (or: away) on their mission – having been bound (tied up) – to Caiaphas, the chief priest.
25 Now Simon Peter was yet standing and warming himself. Then they said to him, "Are not you yourself, also, from out of His disciples?" That one denies (or: disowns), and says, "I am not."
26 One from out of the slaves of the chief priest – being a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off – is then saying, "Did I not see you within the garden with him?"
27 Then, again, Peter denied (disowned) – and immediately a cock (rooster) crowed.
28 Then they are progressively leading Jesus from Caiaphas into the Roman governor's headquarters (the Praetorium). Now it was early in the morning (between 3 and 6 A.M.), and they did not enter into the governor's headquarters so that they would not be polluted (defiled; made ceremonially impure), but still could eat the Passover meal.
29 Therefore, Pilate went forth outside to them and began his interrogation: "What accusation (formal charge) are you presently bringing with regard to (or: which pertains to; [other MSS add: against]) this man?"
30 So they decided a reply and said to him, "If this one were not continually doing an inappropriate thing (habitually doing bad or wrong), we would not give him over to you."
31 Then Pilate said to them, "You men, yourselves, take him and decide about (or: judge) him corresponding to (or: in accord with) your Law." The Jews (= religious authorities) said to him, "It is not allowed for us (authorized for us; the right is not given to us) to kill anyone,"
32 so that the word of Jesus could be fulfilled which He said, repeatedly indicating by signs (showing by symbols, omens, signals and tokens) by what kind of death He was being about to be progressively dying away (or: off).
33 So Pilate entered again into the governor's headquarters (the Praetorium) and summoned Jesus and then said to Him, "Are you yourself the king of the Jews? (or: So YOU are the king of the Judeans.)"
34 Jesus considered and replied, "Are you yourself now saying this from yourself, or did others tell you about Me?"
35 Pilate considered and replied, "Surely I myself am not a Jew! Your nation (ethnic group) and the chief priests gave you over to me. What did you do?"
36 Jesus decidedly replied, "My kingdom (My sovereignty; the realm and activity of My reign and activity; My reign as king) is not (does not exist being) from out of this System (world of organized government, culture, economics or religion; or: universe) as its source or origin. If My kingdom (or: reign, realm and sovereignty) were from out of this System (or: world of government, culture, religion and economy; secular society), as a source or origin, My subordinates (deputies; officers; those under My orders) would have been progressively contending, struggling and fighting, to the end that I could (or: would) not be given over to the Jews (= religious authorities). But now (= as a matter of fact, or, as it is) My kingdom and reign is not (does not exist being) from that source (from within this place; thence or hence)."
37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, "Are you yourself not, then, a king? (or: So then... you are yourself a king!)" Jesus discerningly replied, "You yourself continue saying that I am a king. Into this [position, or purpose] I Myself have been born, and I have come into this System (world and culture; social arrangement) and continue being present: to the end that I could and should bear witness to Reality (or: give testimony to and evidence of the Truth). Everyone being (or: who is existing) from out of Reality (or: the Truth) is habitually hearing, progressively listening [and thus: continually obeys] My voice."
38 Pilate then says to Him, "What is Reality (or: Truth)?" And upon saying this, he again goes out to the Jews (= religious authorities), and then says to them, "I, myself, continue finding not one cause for accusation (or: fault, responsibility, or reason for a case) within him.
39 "Now for you people there is a joint custom of intimate friendship and intercourse, for our mutual use, to the end that I should release one man to you within (at; during) the Passover. Are you men therefore continuing deliberately intended and purposed to the end that I should release to you the king of the Jews (or: Judeans)?"
40 Then they all yelled again, saying, "Not this fellow, but rather, Bar-Abba [meaning: a father's son, or: the son of the father]!" Now Bar-Abba had been a robber (one who appropriates what is not his by violence, and openly).