Focused Passage

John 18:28-40

The Arrested King: Betrayal, Sovereign Surrender, Denial, Trial, and the Kingdom Not of This World

Jesus sovereignly gives himself over to arrest, protects his disciples, rebukes violent resistance, submits to the Father’s cup, endures unjust priestly examination, is denied by Peter, testifies before Pilate to a kingdom not of this world, and is rejected in favor of Barabbas.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

28 Then they led Jesus away from Caiaphas into the Praetorium. By now it was early morning, and the Jews did not enter the Praetorium, to avoid being defiled and unable to eat the Passover.

29 So Pilate went out to them and asked, “What accusation are you bringing against this man?”

30 “If He were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed Him over to you.”

31 “You take Him and judge Him by your own law,” Pilate told them. “We are not permitted to execute anyone,” the Jews replied.

32 This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to indicate the kind of death He was going to die.

33 Pilate went back into the Praetorium, summoned Jesus, and asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

34 “Are you saying this on your own,” Jesus asked, “or did others tell you about Me?”

35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed You over to me. What have You done?”

36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm.”

37 “Then You are a king!” Pilate said. “You say that I am a king,” Jesus answered. “For this reason I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice.”

38 “What is truth?” Pilate asked. And having said this, he went out again to the Jews and told them, “I find no basis for a charge against Him.

39 But it is your custom that I release to you one prisoner at the Passover. So then, do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

40 “Not this man,” they shouted, “but Barabbas!” (Now Barabbas was an insurrectionist.)

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 28

Original words

Then οὖν G3767 Conjunction they led Ἄγουσιν G71 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦν G2424 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular away from ἀπὸ G575 Preposition - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular Caiaphas Καϊάφα G2533 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular into εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular Praetorium πραιτώριον G4232 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular By now δὲ G1161 Conjunction it was ἦν G1510 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular early morning πρωΐ G4404 Adverb and καὶ G2532 Conjunction [the Jews] αὐτοὶ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Plural {did} not οὐκ G3756 Adverb enter εἰσῆλθον G1525 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural . . . εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular Praetorium πραιτώριον G4232 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular to ἵνα G2443 Conjunction avoid μὴ G3361 Adverb being defiled μιανθῶσιν G3392 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Plural [and unable] ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction to eat φάγωσιν G5315 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural the τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular Passover πάσχα G3957 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Verse 29

Original words

So οὖν G3767 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Pilate Πιλᾶτος G4091 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular went Ἐξῆλθεν G1831 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular out ἔξω G1854 Adverb to πρὸς G4314 Preposition them αὐτοὺς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction asked φησίν G5346 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular What Τίνα G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Feminine Singular accusation κατηγορίαν G2724 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular are you bringing φέρετε G5342 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural against κατὰ G2596 Preposition this τούτου G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular man ἀνθρώπου G444 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Verse 30

Original words

If Εἰ G1487 Conjunction He οὗτος G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular were ἦν G1510 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular not μὴ G3361 Adverb vvv ποιῶν G4160 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular a criminal κακὸν G2556 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular they replied Ἀπεκρίθησαν G611 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural . . . καὶ G2532 Conjunction . . . εἶπαν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural . . . αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular vvv ἄν G302 Particle vvv οὐκ G3756 Adverb we would not have handed Him over παρεδώκαμεν G3860 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural . . . αὐτόν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular to you σοι G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular
Verse 31

Original words

You take Λάβετε G2983 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural Him αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular - ὑμεῖς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction judge κρίνατε G2919 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural Him αὐτόν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular by κατὰ G2596 Preposition your ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural [own] τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular law νόμον G3551 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular - οὖν G3767 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Pilate Πιλᾶτος G4091 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular told Εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular them αὐτοῖς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural vvv οὐκ G3756 Adverb We are not permitted ἔξεστιν G1832 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . Ἡμῖν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Plural to execute anyone ἀποκτεῖναι G615 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active . . . οὐδένα G3762 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular the οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural Jews Ἰουδαῖοι G2453 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural replied Εἶπον G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural - αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Verse 32

Original words

This ἵνα G2443 Conjunction was to fulfill πληρωθῇ G4137 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Singular the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular word λόγος G3056 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular that τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦ G2424 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular - ὃν G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular had spoken εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular to indicate σημαίνων G4591 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular the kind of ποίῳ G4169 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Dative Masculine Singular death θανάτῳ G2288 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular He was going ἤμελλεν G3195 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular to die ἀποθνήσκειν G599 Verb - Present Infinitive Active

BSB notes

  • See John 12:32–33.
Verse 33

Original words

- οὖν G3767 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Pilate Πιλᾶτος G4091 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular went Εἰσῆλθεν G1525 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular back πάλιν G3825 Adverb into εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular Praetorium πραιτώριον G4232 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction summoned ἐφώνησεν G5455 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦν G2424 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction asked εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular Are εἶ G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular You Σὺ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular King Βασιλεὺς G935 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular of the τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural Jews Ἰουδαίων G2453 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Verse 34

Original words

{Are} you σὺ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular saying λέγεις G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular this τοῦτο G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular on Ἀπὸ* G575 Preposition your own σεαυτοῦ* G4572 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 2nd Person Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular asked Ἀπεκρίθη G611 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular or G2228 Conjunction {did} others ἄλλοι G243 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural tell εἶπόν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural you σοι G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular about περὶ G4012 Preposition Me ἐμοῦ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Verse 35

Original words

Am εἰμι G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular . . . Μήτι G3385 IntPrtcl I ἐγὼ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular a Jew Ἰουδαῖός G2453 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Pilate Πιλᾶτος G4091 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular replied Ἀπεκρίθη G611 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular - τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular Your σὸν G4674 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Neuter 2nd Person Singular [own] τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular people ἔθνος G1484 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction - οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural chief priests ἀρχιερεῖς G749 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural handed παρέδωκάν G3860 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural You σε G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular {over} to me ἐμοί G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular What τί G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular have You done ἐποίησας G4160 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Verse 36

Original words

Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular answered Ἀπεκρίθη G611 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular My ἐμὴ G1699 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Feminine 1st Person Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular kingdom βασιλεία G932 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular is ἔστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular not οὐκ G3756 Adverb of ἐκ G1537 Preposition this τούτου G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular world κόσμου G2889 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular if εἰ G1487 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular vvv ἐμή G1699 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Feminine 1st Person Singular vvv G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular [it] βασιλεία G932 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular were ἦν G1510 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - ἐκ G1537 Preposition - τούτου G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular - κόσμου G2889 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular - ἄν G302 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural My ἐμοὶ G1699 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular - οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural servants ὑπηρέται G5257 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural - «οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural would fight ἠγωνίζοντο» G75 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural to ἵνα G2443 Conjunction vvv μὴ G3361 Adverb prevent My arrest παραδοθῶ G3860 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 1st Person Singular by the τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural Jews Ἰουδαίοις G2453 Adjective - Dative Masculine Plural But δὲ G1161 Conjunction now νῦν G3568 Adverb - G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular My ἐμὴ G1699 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Feminine 1st Person Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular kingdom βασιλεία G932 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular is ἔστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular not οὐκ G3756 Adverb of this realm ἐντεῦθεν G1782 Adverb
Verse 37

Original words

Then Οὐκοῦν G3766 Adverb You σύ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular are εἶ G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular a king βασιλεὺς G935 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular - οὖν G3767 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Pilate Πιλᾶτος G4091 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular said Εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular You Σὺ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular say λέγεις G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction I ἐγὼ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular am εἰμι G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular a king βασιλεύς G935 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular answered Ἀπεκρίθη G611 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular For εἰς G1519 Preposition this reason τοῦτο G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular I was born γεγέννημαι G1080 Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction - εἰς G1519 Preposition - τοῦτο G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular have come ἐλήλυθα G2064 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular into εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular world κόσμον G2889 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular to ἵνα G2443 Conjunction testify μαρτυρήσω G3140 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular to the τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular truth ἀληθείᾳ G225 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular Everyone πᾶς G3956 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular who G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular belongs to ὢν G1510 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular . . . ἐκ G1537 Preposition the τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular truth ἀληθείας G225 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular listens to ἀκούει G191 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular My μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular voice φωνῆς G5456 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Verse 38

Original words

What Τί G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular is ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular truth ἀλήθεια G225 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Pilate Πιλᾶτος G4091 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular asked Λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular And Καὶ G2532 Conjunction having said εἰπὼν G2036 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular this τοῦτο G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular he went out ἐξῆλθεν G1831 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular again πάλιν G3825 Adverb to πρὸς G4314 Preposition the τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural Jews Ἰουδαίους G2453 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction told λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular them αὐτοῖς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural I Ἐγὼ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular find εὑρίσκω G2147 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular no οὐδεμίαν G3762 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular basis for a charge αἰτίαν G156 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular against ἐν G1722 Preposition Him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Verse 39

Original words

But δὲ G1161 Conjunction it is ἔστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular your ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural custom συνήθεια G4914 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular that ἵνα G2443 Conjunction I release ἀπολύσω G630 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular to you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural one [prisoner] ἕνα G1520 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular at ἐν G1722 Preposition the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Singular Passover πάσχα G3957 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular So then οὖν G3767 Conjunction do you want βούλεσθε G1014 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural me to release ἀπολύσω G630 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular to you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular King Βασιλέα G935 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular of the τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural Jews Ἰουδαίων G2453 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Verse 40

Original words

Not Μὴ G3361 Adverb this [man] τοῦτον G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular - οὖν G3767 Conjunction they shouted Ἐκραύγασαν G2905 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural - πάλιν G3825 Adverb - λέγοντες G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural but ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular Barabbas Βαραββᾶν G912 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular ( Now δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Barabbas Βαραββᾶς G912 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular was ἦν G1510 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular an insurrectionist λῃστής G3027 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.