Section 18:1–11

The authorities arrested Jesus

This section tells how Judas led the Jewish and Roman authorities to Jesus to arrest him. Their guards arrested Jesus in a garden, and he did not resist them.

Here are other possible section headings:

Jesus was arrested
-or-
The Jewish and Roman authorities arrested Jesus
-or-
Jesus’ enemies caused him to be arrested

Paragraph 18:1–3

Judas led Jesus’ enemies to him so that they could arrest him.

18:1a

After Jesus had spoken these words: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as these words may refer specifically to Jesus’ prayer in chapter 17. Or it may refer in general to all he said in chapters 13–17. Because Jesus’ prayer was the last thing that John recorded, it may be natural to refer specifically to that. For example:

When Jesus finished praying (New Century Version)

Here are other ways to translate this clause:

When he had said these things (NET Bible)
-or-
After this prayer (Revised English Bible)
-or-
After saying this

18:1b

He went out with His disciples across the Kidron Valley: The Berean Standard Bible, like the Greek text, does not say where Jesus was before he went out (left). If it is more natural in your language to include this information, there are two possible interpretations:

(1) Jesus left the city of Jerusalem. For example:

Jesus, with his disciples, left ⌊the city of Jerusalem⌋

(2) Jesus left the room/house where he and his disciples had eaten. For example:

Jesus, with his disciples, left ⌊the room⌋

If you do indicate where Jesus left, then it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) and most Bible scholars. However both interpretations are true.

He went out with His disciples: In some languages it is more natural to include His disciples in the subject of the sentence: For example:

he and his disciples crossed the Kidron Valley (Contemporary English Version)

He went out: If you did not make the subject “Jesus” explicit in 18:1a, it may be good to do so here. For example:

Jesus went out (Revised English Bible)

disciples: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as disciples refers to a “learner” who is in a special relationship with a teacher. The learner followed his teacher in order to learn from him and live based on his teaching and example. In the New Testament a disciples referred specifically to a person who was learning from a religious teacher. A disciple often lived with his teacher and followed him wherever he went. See how you translated this word in 1:35 and 2:2.

across the Kidron Valley: The Kidron valley was between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives. The Kidron River ran down the middle of the valley, but usually it had no water in it. Jesus and his disciples went across this dry river/stream/brook to get to the Mount of Olives. Here are other ways to translate this idea:

Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley (New International Version)
-or-
he left with his disciples and went across the brook called Kidron (Good News Translation)
-or-
he went with his disciples to the other side of the Kidron Valley (God’s Word)

18:1c

where they entered a garden: This expression indicates where Jesus went. After crossing the dry river, Jesus and his disciple arrived at a garden. It was probably near the bottom of the Mount of Olives (see Luke 22:39).

In some languages it may be natural to begin a new sentence here. For example:

There was a garden in that place (Good News Translation)
-or-
On the other side there was a garden (New Century Version)

they entered a garden: Jesus and his disciples went in among the trees. In some languages it may be natural to begin a new sentence here. For example:

Jesus and his disciples went into the/that orchard/grove.

a garden: This phrase here refers to a place where people grew olive trees (see the notes on Luke 21:37, 22:39). Use the expression that is natural in your language for referring to such a piece of land. In English, a “grove” and an “orchard” are both pieces of land where fruit or nut trees grow. For example:

an orchard (NET Bible)
-or-
a grove of olive trees (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
an olive grove (New International Version)

General Comment on 18:1a–c

In the Greek text 18:1 is one long sentence. In some languages it may be natural to break it up into two or more sentences. For example:

1a After Jesus had said this prayer, 1b he left with his disciples and went across the Kidron Brook. 1c There was a garden in that place, 1d and Jesus and his disciples went in. (Good News Translation)
-or-

1a After Jesus finished praying, 1b he and his disciples left that place. They crossed the valley where the Kidron stream ⌊sometimes⌋ flowed. 1c There was an orchard on the other side, 1d and they entered it.

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