John 18: 10-14, Arrest

Jesus has finished his last instructions to his disciples.  Those teachings began in the upper room of a house in Jerusalem and moved on to the Garden of Gethsemane and the Mount of Olives. Now the night will do its dirty work.

John 18: 10-14, Arrest

Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)

11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”

12 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him 
13 and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 
14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.

John even records the name of the servant who lost his ear! Peter's actions oscillate between anger and fear. A more stable Peter will appear after Pentecost.

Apparently Annas was a sort of "high-priest emeritus", retired but still very influential.  (So says commentator Merrill Tenney.)

Caiaphas, the younger and current high priest, is recorded here as saying, prophetically, that it would be good if one man died for the people.  This was not a positive statement by Caiaphas but a cynical one, yet he will end up carrying out that plan.