These small group studies of John 18 contain outlines, cross-references, Bible study discussion questions, and applications.  Visit our library of inductive Bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the Bible you can use in your small group.

John 18 Bible Study and Questions – Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

Outline

I. The arrest of Christ (1-11)
II. First Jewish Trial before Annas (12-14, 19-24)
III. Peter and John follow and watch (15-18)
IV. Peter denies Christ the second and third times (25-27)
V. First Roman Trial before Pilate (28-38)
VI. Second Trial: Pilate offers to release Barabbas or Jesus (39-40)

Cross References

Matthew 26:30-35 – Peter’s denial predicted.

Timeline of Jesus’ last day

• The last supper, Communion Instituted (night before His death)
• The Lord’s prayer after dinner (night before)
• The prayer in the garden (night before, Matthew 26:36-46)
• The arrest (night before)
• The first trial before Annas (night before)
• Peter’s denial (night before)
• Jesus is beaten by the temple guards (night before Luke 22:63-65)
• Jesus’ second trial, before Caiaphas (night before Matthew 26:57-68)
• Jesus’ first Roman trial (the morning of His death (Matthew 27:1, John 18:28)

I. The arrest of Christ (1-11)

Discussion Questions

• What garden did Jesus go to?
• What was Judas’ job in the betrayal? Why did the priests need someone to betray Jesus?
• How many people are in a cohort?
• What does the fact that the Romans sent soldiers to help apprehend Jesus show about their involvement?
• Why did Jesus keep asking who they were seeking?
• What can you see here about Peter’s character?
• What did Jesus do about that person’s ear?

Cross-References

Matthew 26:47-56 – Parallel passage in Matthew of Jesus’ arrest.

Mark 14:51-52 – And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him, but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked.

Luke 22:51 – But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him.

Verse by Verse Commentary

Two things stand out to me about Jesus’ arrest, His determination and His compassion. He knew what was going to happen in the garden yet He still went there. He knew what the crowd was coming to do, but He approached them and didn’t hide. He wouldn’t allow His disciples to fight for Him because it was His “cup” to “drink” (John 18:11). He also could have called hundreds of thousands of angels to slaughter His opponents (Matthew 26:53), but He didn’t.

Make no mistake. Jesus didn’t get accidentally caught. He didn’t make a mistake and get turned in. Yes, the government was against Him and hundreds came to arrest Him, but He wasn’t under their authority. Some people say His death wasn’t that meaningful because He had no choice and was arrested by the government. He could have gotten out of it and away at any time, but He didn’t because He was determined. This determination is seen again and again throughout the book of John and in these chapters it reaches its climax with Jesus willingly giving up Himself to be arrested and finally killed.

Second, Jesus compassion really stands out. If anyone had cause to be bitter it was Jesus. Here His friend whom He had blessed and been kind to was betraying Him. The people He had given His life to help and serve were killing Him. The Romans who had nothing to do with Him were helping. What’s more they were coming against Him with clubs and swords as if He was a common criminal. Yet Jesus doesn’t grow bitter or hateful. Quite the opposite. First, He showed compassion to Judas. Read the cross-references.

He allowed Judas to kiss Him and He was friendly, even calling Judas friend. He didn’t rebuke Judas, but was polite.

Second, He showed compassion for His disciples. Though they were imperfect and had just failed Him by sleeping on watch repeatedly, Jesus was looking out for them until the end. He stands up to the crowd and repeatedly asks whom they seek in order to show to them they have no authority to take the disciples (8-9). He protected them from arrest because He had further plan for them later and perhaps because He knew the temptation would be too great for them to turn away from Him and it may cripple their faith. Until the very end He protected each one, not losing any.

Thirdly, He was compassionate towards the slave who came against Him and had his ear chopped off by Peter. He deserved it, but Jesus still healed Him. Compassion is shown towards those who don’t deserve it. Judas didn’t deserve compassion. The disciples didn’t deserve compassion. The slave didn’t deserve compassion. Also, Jesus showed compassion to others at a time when most would have only been concerned with their own life. Sometimes it is easy to show compassion to others when everything is going well in our life. But it is not so easy when to show compassion after we face a lot of hard trials. Until the end Jesus was outward focused, not inward focused.

Let us remember to be determined to fulfill our duty to God no matter what the cost and to be compassionate to others even if they don’t deserve it and we are in the middle of a tough time.

II. First Jewish Trial before Annas (12-14, 19-24)

Discussion Questions

• Who is Annas and why was he important?
• Who do you think is the other disciple mentioned in 15?
• Why would Peter deny his relationship to Christ?
• What can we learn from this?
• Has there ever be a time when we are tempted to deny or minimize our relationship to God? When?
• Why did Jesus answer like He did in verses 20-21?
• What was Jesus asking for in verse 23? Why?

Cross-References

Deuteronomy 17:6, 19:15-19 – Two or three witnesses in agreement were needed to condemn somebody. A malicious false witness was to be punished.

Verse by Verse Commentary

Annas was the high priest from 6-15 AD and was removed by Pilate’s predecessor. Five of his sons plus his son-in-law Caiaphas had each had stints as high priest. Therefore Annas still had a lot of influence and his opinion counted. Jesus appeared before Annas in the first of His two Jewish trials. This first trial was an informal one. Annas’ verdict wouldn’t be valid for the Romans to accept, but his advice would likely influence Caiaphas and the rest of the Sanhedrin council.

From verses 15-18 there is a bit of a break from focusing on Jesus and the attention is shifted towards Peter and another disciple. These were the only two disciples who were brave enough to follow Jesus, the rest apparently having fled. The unnamed one very likely refers to John as it is his style not to name himself. John had a little bit of Guan Xi (a Chinse word meaning favor or relationship) with the high priest and so was allowed into the court and he was able to also use this guan xi to get Peter in. They wanted to watch and see what happened. Here Peter denies Christ for the first time.

In verse 19 the attention shifts back to Jesus. According to normal Jewish trials it wasn’t normal and perhaps it was even illegal to question the defendant. Jesus himself says that what He has taught is known and if they have any questions they should find some witnesses (Deuteronomy 17:6, 19:15-19). For this comment He was struck. But in 23 He defends it, once again pointing out the unfairness of this trial. Later on in His second Jewish trial and also the trial with Pilate Jesus was silent against all accusations. He didn’t defend Himself against wrong statements, but occasionally verified that something was true (He was a king, He was the Son of God).

So when Jesus opened His mouth here it wasn’t out of a hope that a fair trial would free Him, but I believe it was to show that the trial was unfair and biased and He was innocent. Jesus didn’t want there to be any doubt in our minds or others there that He deserved death. If He deserved it, it wouldn’t be effective in saving us. Annas couldn’t get anything useful out of Jesus so sent Him to Caiaphas.

III. Peter and John follow and watch (15-18)

Discussion Questions

• What can we learn from Peter’s denials?
• Why do you think Peter denied Christ though he was committed to Him?
• Why are things like this even mentioned in the Bible?

Cross-References

Matthew 26:69-75 – A parallel passage of Peter’s denial which gives more details.

Luke 12:9 – But the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God.

Romans 1:16 – For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Acts 14:3 – So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

Verse by Verse Commentary

Peter was one of only two disciples who even followed Jesus this far. So in essence he was the second bravest disciple. Yet he still vehemently denies his relationship to Christ. He is scared and doesn’t want to face the fate that Jesus did. 

These kinds of things are included in the Bible so that we can learn from the mistakes of others without experiencing them all firsthand. There is no doubt Peter was committed. He truly meant it when he expressed willingness to die for Christ. But he was prideful and self-confident rather than God-confident. He relied on himself and his own strength. The result was disastrous. Not one, not two, but THREE serious denials of His relationship to Christ.

This can happen to anyone. No one is immune. If we get prideful and think we are immune we will fall. We must be alert to Satan’s attacks all the time and continually rely on God and be confident in Him. This is really a sad event and Peter himself weeps bitterly over it. But learn from Peter’s mistake. I’m sure if Peter were here now he would tell us how sorrowful and full of grief he was and urge is to always humbly stand for Christ no matter what the consequences. Don’t experience this sadness for yourself.

Illustration – Pastor Lamb is a famous pastor in China who first denied Christ to save himself from getting thrown in to jail. Later he went back to the police to withdraw his denial and profess his belief. Subsequently they did throw him in prison.

The rooster was Jesus’ way to remind Peter about the prophecy. Even during this time Jesus was still teaching Peter. Normally after we sin comes the moment of recognition and guilt when we feel very sorry for what we did. Try to think of that moment ahead of time before doing the sin!

Below we will discuss more about Peter’s denial of Jesus.

Second Jewish Trial

The second trial is not mentioned in detail here in John. Read about it in the following Cross-references and discuss.

Matthew 26:57-68 – Jesus’ second trial (before Caiaphas).

Luke 22:63-65 – They already started beating Jesus before His second Jewish trial.

IV. Peter denies Jesus (15-18, 25-27)

Unlike Judas, Peter was a real disciple. You can see his heart here.

John 13:36-37 – Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.” Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”

A disciple is a follower of Jesus. Peter wanted to follow Jesus. There is a lot to admire about Peter here.

Verse by Verse Commentary

Peter denied Jesus.

John 18:25-27 – Now 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.” One 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?” Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.

Peter Loved Jesus

There is no doubt that Peter loved Jesus. He had already given up his career as a fisherman and spent a lot of time away from home for three years to follow Jesus.

Peter had Good intentions

Peter had good intentions. He truly wanted to follow Jesus. At that moment, he was even willing to die for Jesus if it came to that.

The problem was not his intentions, but his self-confidence.

Peter was Self-confident

Matthew 26:33 – Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.”

Peter had promised to follow Jesus to the end, even if it meant his death. This promise was made hours before. Notice Peter’s emphasis on “I” and on comparing himself to the others. He thought he was the most spiritual of them all.

Peter put his confidence in his flesh, his steely determination to follow Jesus no matter what. This was a problem of self-reliance, believing in himself instead of in Jesus.

Peter did not plan to deny Jesus, but it happened. It happened because of pride.

What should Peter have done when Jesus said this?

He should have come to Jesus and begged for help. He should have told Jesus, “I want to follow you, but I am so weak. I know I can’t stand for you on my own. Please help me. Please give me the strength to stand for you.”

There is no record that Peter asked Jesus for help or prayed to God for strength. In his mind, he didn’t need to. He was a faithful disciple and his will was strong enough.

Ask the person next to you, “Is it good to be self-confident?”

Self-confidence vs God-confidence

How many times does the term “self-confidence” appear in the Bible? The answer is zero.

In all of Scripture, we are never told that we should have confidence in ourselves or our own ability. Actually, we are warned against this repeatedly. We are reminded about how weak our flesh is and how we need God.

Jeremiah 17:5-9 Thus says the Lord:
“Cursed is the man who trusts in man
and makes flesh his strength,
whose heart turns away from the Lord.
He is like a shrub in the desert,
and shall not see any good come.
He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness,
in an uninhabited salt land.
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
whose trust is the Lord.
He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately sick;
who can understand it?

This says that putting our trust in any man, whether a politician, a pastor, or ourselves is futile.

I have asked many people, “What do you believe in?” Many have answered, “I believe in myself.”

This is a form of idolatry.

Such people vastly overestimate their own strengths and abilities. They vastly underestimate their own weaknesses and sins.

The text above says that our heart is deceitful and desperately wicked.

We should not trust in ourselves because we are weak. Peter was confident in his ability to stay the course. Within twenty-four hours he fell.

Let’s not just think about Peter, but about ourselves. How often do you rely on your own flesh?

• Do we tell ourselves “I won’t get angry with my family today” and then lose it?
• Is there a temptation or addiction you are facing that you are sure you can just will away, and then it comes back again?
• Do you trust in your own ability to teach a class, ace an exam, or preach a great sermon?

If we are to be a good disciple of Jesus, we need to put away our self-confidence.

What does that look like? That doesn’t mean you go into an interview with slumped shoulders and downcast eyes, answering questions with a mumbled “I don’t know.” It doesn’t mean we are timid or shirk back from opportunities to serve God.

We are to replace that self-confidence with God-confidence.

Proverbs 3:26 – For the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.

That is the very essence of what it means to be a disciple. When we come to Christ, we stop believing in ourselves. We recognize our sins and our weaknesses. We acknowledge that we are lost and helpless to save ourselves. We don’t stop trusting in anything. Instead, we transfer trust from ourselves to God.

V. First Roman Trial before Pilate (28-38)

Discussion Questions

• What is the Praetorium?
• Why wouldn’t they enter it? Why is this ironic?
• Why did the Jews not want to judge Jesus themselves?
• How did this fit into Jesus’ previous prophecy?
• Why wouldn’t Jesus directly answer the charges leveled against Him?
• What kind of kingdom is Christ’s?
• What does Pilate’s question in verse 38 show?
• What kind of person was Barabbas?
• Why would the Jews ask for Barabbas to be released instead of Jesus?

Cross-References

Matthew 27:11-14 – Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

Luke 23:1-5 Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.”

Verse by Verse Commentary

From this trial we see the Jewish determination, Pilate’s weak complicity, and Jesus’ reaffirmation about Himself.

The Jews were determined to not only punish Jesus, but to kill Him. They had no real evidence and no real charges and they knew it. They simply told Pilate that if Jesus weren’t bad they wouldn’t have brought Him. Later they resorted to making up false evidence against Jesus. Also the Jews wanted Pilate’s help because they were not allowed to perform capital punishment. This too was part of God’s divine plan. This right had been taken away when the Romans started governing Judea. If the Jews had been able to execute Jesus they would have and they would have stoned Him. But Jesus prophesied in John 3:17 that He would be “lifted up”. He would be lifted up in crucifixion, but not in stoning, so it was necessary for the Romans to get involved. All this time the Jews hypocrisy is appalling. They were unwilling to enter a Gentile’s dwelling or building, believing that it would defile them. As normal, they maintained their ceremonial cleanliness while their hearts were rotten and they were engaged in the biggest sin in the history of the world.

Starting here, we also see Pilate’s complicity. He wasn’t a stupid man. He could see what was going on. He knew Jesus had done nothing worthy of death. But as a political leader he decided to bend to satisfy the people under him. He wanted to make them happy and he feared what they might do if he didn’t listen to them. All the time he attempted to maintain his innocence, yet he was guilty to because as a leader his responsibility was to do right. If Pilate satisfied them this time he could also probably expect some return favor later. Pilate was also very cynical asking “what is truth?” and thinking there was no ultimate or absolute truth. This is very common with politicians. They often make a lot of little compromises for their supposed “greater good”.

They often abandon truth thinking it is not practical or cannot be found. They engage in a lot of under the table deals and they do favors in order to gain some favor with others. None of us here will probably ever be political leaders, but we should respect those who do what is right without bowing to public pressure. It’s rare though. For ourselves, if we have the position of leadership we need to realize that sometimes being a good leader will make us unpopular. Sure, we should think about the needs of those we are leading, but in the end we have to do what is right even if some are displeased by that.

Also here we see Jesus’ reaffirming His mission. His goal was never to set up a political kingdom (which Pilate would have feared). His kingdom was never and would never be part of the evil world system. Once again Jesus reaffirms who He is admitting that He is a King. He was either insane, a blatant liar, or really the Son of God with an invisible, spiritual kingdom. Jesus doesn’t defend Himself from personal attacks, but neither does He back down from His claims of being divine.

VI. Second Trial: Pilate offers to release Barabbas or Jesus (39-40)

There was a custom at the Passover to release one prisoner to the crowd. Perhaps Pilate was hoping the crowd would be more sensible than the leaders and that if they requested Jesus to be free their own leaders would have to give in. But instead the Jewish leaders incited the crowd against Jesus and they demanded Pilate to release Barabbas.

Points to Learn from John 18

1. Jesus’ determination and compassion
2. The terrible wickedness of humans
3. Peter’s pride and the importance of humbly relying on God
4. Pilate’s political complicity and weakness
5. God’s sovereign control. Throughout this process is nothing more clear than God’s control over the process to make a way for our sins to be forgiven and for all prophecy to be fulfilled!