Veritable King James Version
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.
2Now Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with His disciples.
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.
4Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to Him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?”
5They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am He.” Judas, who betrayed Him, was standing with them.
6When Jesus said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
7So He asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
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.”
10Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)
11So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given Me?”
Translation notes
Greek Terms and Choices:
“Brook Kidron” (cheimarron tou Kedrōn) valley, translated as “brook Kidron.”
“Garden” (kēpos) Gethsemane, retained as “garden” (cf. Mark 14:32).
“Judas, who betrayed Him” (Ioudas ho paradidous auton) repeated epithet, translated as “Judas, who betrayed Him.”
“Band of soldiers” (speiran) Roman cohort, translated as “band of soldiers.”
“Officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees” (hypēretas ek tōn archiereōn kai tōn Pharisaiōn) temple police, translated as “officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees.”
“Lanterns and torches and weapons” (phanōn kai lampadōn kai hoplōn) night arrest, translated literally.
“Knowing all that would happen” (eidōs panta ta erchomena ep’ auton) omniscience, translated as “knowing all that would happen.”
“Whom do you seek” (tina zēteite) initiative, translated as “Whom do you seek.”
“Jesus of Nazareth” (Iēsoun ton Nazōraion) title, translated as “Jesus of Nazareth.”
“I am He” (egō eimi) divine claim (echoes Exodus 3:14), translated as “I am He.”
“Drew back and fell to the ground” (apēlthon eis ta opisō kai epesan chamai) supernatural, translated literally.
“Let these men go” (aphete toutous hypagein) protection, translated as “let these men go.”
“To fulfill the word” alludes to 17:12, translated as “to fulfill the word.”
“High priest’s servant” (doulou tou archiereōs) slave, translated as “high priest’s servant.”
“Malchus” (Malchos) name, retained.
“Put your sword into its sheath” (bale tēn machairan eis tēn thēkēn) command, translated as “put your sword into its sheath.”
“The cup that the Father has given Me” (to potērion ho dedōken moi ho patēr) suffering, translated as “the cup that the Father has given Me.”
Pronouns:
“Jesus,” “He,” “Him,” “His,” “I,” “Me,” “My,” “You” capitalized per VKJV deity convention (*ho Iēsous*, *autos*, *egō*).
“He,” “him,” “his” for Judas/Malchus/Peter (*auton*, masculine) lowercase and gender-specific.
“They,” “them” for soldiers/officers/disciples (*autoi*, *autois*) gender-neutral as groups.
“She,” “her” for servant girl (*autē*, feminine) lowercase and gender-specific.
12So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews 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.
14It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.
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,
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.
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.”
18Now the servants 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.
19The high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples and His teaching.
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.
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?”
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.
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.”
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?”
27Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.
Translation notes
Greek Terms and Choices:
“Band of soldiers...captain” (speira...chiliarchos) Roman cohort and tribune, translated as “band of soldiers...captain.”
“Officers of the Jews” (hypēretai tōn Ioudaiōn) temple police, translated as “officers of the Jews.”
“Arrested...bound Him” (synelabon...edēsan auton) capture, translated as “arrested...bound Him.”
“Annas” (Annan) former high priest, retained.
“Father-in-law of Caiaphas” (pentheros tou Kaïapha) family, translated literally.
“It would be expedient that one man should die for the people” alludes to 11:50, translated as “it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.”
“Another disciple” (allos mathētēs) likely John, translated as “another disciple.”
“Servant girl who kept watch at the door” (thyrōros hē paidiskē) gatekeeper, translated as “servant girl who kept watch at the door.”
“Charcoal fire” (anthrakian) detail, translated as “charcoal fire.”
“The high priest then questioned Jesus” (ērōtēsen ho archiereus ton Iēsoun) interrogation, translated as “the high priest then questioned Jesus.”
“I have spoken openly” (parrēsia lelala) public, translated as “I have spoken openly.”
“Struck Jesus with his hand” (edōken rapisma tō Iēsou) slap, translated as “struck Jesus with his hand.”
“If what I said is wrong” (ei kakōs elalēsa) condition, translated as “if what I said is wrong.”
“Annas then sent Him bound” (apesteilen auton dedemenon) transfer, translated as “Annas then sent Him bound.”
“One of the servants...a relative” (heis ek tōn doulōn...syggenēs) witness, translated as “one of the servants...a relative.”
“A rooster crowed” (alektōr ephōnēsen) fulfillment, translated as “a rooster crowed.”
Pronouns:
“Jesus,” “He,” “Him,” “His,” “I,” “Me,” “My,” “You” capitalized per VKJV deity convention.
“He,” “him,” “his” for Pilate/Barabbas (*auton*, masculine) lowercase and gender-specific.
“They,” “them,” “you” for Jews/disciples (*autoi*, *hymeis*) gender-neutral as groups.
28Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. 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.
29So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?”
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.”
32This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death He was going to die.
33So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
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.”
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.”
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.
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?”
40They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.
Translation notes
Greek Terms and Choices:
“Governor’s headquarters” (praitōrion) praetorium, translated as “governor’s headquarters.”
“Early morning” (prōi) time, translated as “early morning.”
“Defiled” (mianthōsin) ritual uncleanness, translated as “defiled.”
“What accusation” (tina katēgorian) charge, translated as “what accusation.”
“Doing evil” (kakopoios) criminal, translated as “doing evil.”
“Take him yourselves and judge him” (labete auton hymeis kai krinate) sarcasm, translated literally.
“It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death” (hēmin ouk exestin apokteinai oudena) Roman law, translated as “not lawful for us to put anyone to death.”
“To fulfill the word” alludes to 12:32–33, translated as “to fulfill the word.”
“Are You the King of the Jews” (sy ei ho basileus tōn Ioudaiōn) question, translated as “Are You the King of the Jews.”
“Do you say this of your own accord” (apo seautou sy touto legeis) source, translated as “do you say this of your own accord.”
“Am I a Jew” (mēti egō Ioudaios eimi) irony, translated as “Am I a Jew.”
“My kingdom is not of this world” (hē basileia hē emē ouk estin ek tou kosmou toutou) spiritual, translated literally.
“My servants would have been fighting” (hoi hypēretai hoi emoi ēgōnizonto) hypothetical, translated as “My servants would have been fighting.”
“To bear witness to the truth” (martyreō tē alētheia) purpose, translated as “to bear witness to the truth.”
“Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice” (pas ho ōn ek tēs alētheias akouei mou tēs phōnēs) discernment, translated literally.
“What is truth” (ti estin alētheia) philosophical, translated as “What is truth.”
“I find no guilt in Him” (egō ouden heuriskō en autō aition) innocence, translated as “I find no guilt in Him.”
“Release one man for you at the Passover” (apolysō hymin hena kata to pascha) custom, translated as “release one man for you at the Passover.”
“The King of the Jews” (ton basilea tōn Ioudaiōn) ironic, translated as “the King of the Jews.”
“Barabbas” (Barabban) name, retained.
“Robber” (lēstēs) bandit, translated as “robber.”
Pronouns:
“Jesus,” “He,” “Him,” “His,” “I,” “Me,” “My,” “You” capitalized per VKJV deity convention.
“He,” “him,” “his” for Pilate/Barabbas (*auton*, masculine) lowercase and gender-specific.
“They,” “them,” “you” for Jews/disciples (*autoi*, *hymeis*) gender-neutral as groups.
© Veritable King James Version, 2026. All Rights Reserved.