John 18:26-30
 
John 18:26 (KJB)
One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?
 
Here we see a family member of Malchus identifying Peter as being in the garden with Jesus. The cutting off the ear definitely drew attention to Peter and here he is being recognized as one of the disciples of Jesus. Not only did the damsel at the door of the palace identify him, but several others identified him but now it is a family member who identified him. In that particular situation, all that was needed for conviction was an accusation. Peter would have been executed if the family member of Malchus made a formal accusation.
 
John 18:27 (KJB)
Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.
 
Then Peter fulfilled the prophecy which Jesus gave concerning him as he denied the Lord the third time and then as soon he did that, the cock crowed. (Mat 26:74 KJV) Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. Peter began to curse and swear which was an attempt to further himself from association with Jesus. (Mat 26:75 KJV) And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly. Then Peter remembered what Jesus told him about denying Him three times. Peter then left the courtyard and had wept bitterly knowing what he had done and how much he did not want to do it. Yet, it was God’s plan that Jesus undergo this cup all alone.
 
John 18:28 (KJB)
Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.
 
It was probably about dawn now, when they took Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the judgment hall of Pilate. It was the official residence of the Governor of Judah. Since Pilate was a Gentile and an idolater, the Jews refused to enter into the house because it would have been a defilement. It shows you the total blindness of false religion. They would not go into the judgment hall for fear of defilement, yet they handed over their long awaited Messiah to the Romans for trial and execution and then went to celebrate the Passover. If they entered into the house of a gentile, they would be unclean till the evening which meant they would not be allowed to eat the Passover because they would be considered ceremonially unclean.
 
John 18:29 (KJB)
Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?
 
Pilate then went out to the Jews and asked them what was the charge they were making against Jesus? Pilate would not make any judgment until he knew the charges and if there truly was guilt. Pilate ruled Judea and Samaria from 25 to 35 A.D. and he was known for his cruelty. (Luke 13:1 KJV) There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. Pilate had heard of Jesus but never met Him until today. Pilate would not open a case against Jesus unless it was warranted according to Roman law which seemed more just than the justice the Jews gave Jesus up to this point.
 
John 18:30 (KJB)
They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.
 
They did not answer Pilates question concerning the accusations directly instead they tried to use a psychological tactic by calling Jesus a malefactor which is one who commits a crime. They wanted Pilate to filter his questions through the pre-set mindset of Jesus being a malefactor. What they did was to try and influence Pilate before any accusations were made. The Jews brought a general charge against Jesus because they had nothing to truly accuse Him of specifically which would warrant even being handed over to Pilate. They evaded a direct answer to the question because they feared that Pilate would release Him.

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