Matthew 26:57-68 - Jesus Before The Sanhedrin

⁵⁷ Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the High Priest, where the Teachers of the Law and the Councillors had assembled. ⁵⁸ Peter followed him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the offices, to see the end.

⁵⁹ Meanwhile the Chief Priests and the whole of the High Council were trying to get such false evidence against Jesus, as would warrant putting him to death, ⁶⁰ But they did not find any, although many came forward with false evidence. Later on, however, two men came forward and said: ⁶¹ "This man said 'I am able to destroy the Temple of God, and to build it in three days.'"

⁶² Then the High Priest stood up, and said to Jesus: "Have you no answer? What is this evidence which these men are giving against you?" ⁶³ But Jesus remained silent. On this the High Priest said to him: "I adjure you, by the Living God, to tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God."

⁶⁴ "It is true," Jesus answered; "Moreover I tell you all that hereafter you shall 'see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the Almighty, and coming on the clouds of the heavens.'"

⁶⁵ Then the High Priest tore his robes. "This is blasphemy!" he exclaimed. "Why do we want any more witnesses? You have just heard his blasphemy! ⁶⁶ What is your decision?" They answered: "He deserves death." ⁶⁷ Then they spat in his face, and struck him, while others dealt blows at him, saying as they did so: ⁶⁸ "Now play the Prophet for us, you Christ! Who was it that struck you?"

⁵³ Then they took Jesus to the High Priest; and all the Chief Priests, the Councillors, and the Teachers of the Law assembled. ⁵⁴ Peter, who had followed Jesus at a distance into the court- yard of the High Priest, was sitting there among the police- officers, warming himself at the blaze of the fire.

⁵⁵ Meanwhile the Chief Priest and the whole of the High Council were trying to get such evidence against Jesus as would warrant his being put to death, but they could not find any; ⁵⁶ For, though there were many who gave false evidence against him, yet their evidence did not agree. ⁵⁷ Presently some men stood up, and gave this false evidence against him-- ⁵⁸ "We ourselves heard him say 'I will destroy this Temple made with hands, and in three days build another made without hands.'" ⁵⁹ Yet not even on that point did their evidence agree.

⁶⁰ Then the High Priest stood forward, and questioned Jesus. "Have you no answer to make?" he asked. "What is this evidence which these men are giving against you?" ⁶¹ But Jesus remained silent, and made no answer. A second time the High Priest questioned him. "Are you," he asked, "the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?"

⁶² "I am," replied Jesus, "and you shall all see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the Almighty; and 'coming in the clouds of heaven'."

⁶³ At this the High Priest tore his vestments. "Why do we want any more witnesses?" he exclaimed. ⁶⁴ "You heard his blasphemy? What is your verdict?" They all condemned him, declaring that he deserved death. ⁶⁵ Some of those present began to spit at him, and to blindfold his eyes, and strike him, saying, as they did so, "Now play the Prophet!" and even the police-officers received him with blows.

⁵⁴ Those who had taken Jesus prisoner took him away into the house of the High Priest. Peter followed at a distance. ⁵⁵ But, when they had lit a fire in the center of the court-yard and had all sat down there, Peter seated himself in the middle of them. ⁵⁶ Presently a maidservant saw him sitting near the blaze of the fire. Fixing her eyes on him, she said: "Why, this man was one of his companions!"

⁵⁷ But Peter denied it. "I do not know him," he replied.

⁵⁸ A little while afterwards some one else--a man--saw him and said: "Why, you are one of them!" "No," Peter said, "I am not."

⁵⁹ About an hour later another man declared positively: "This man also was certainly with him. Why, he is a Galilean!"

⁶⁰ But Peter said: "I do not know what you are speaking about." Instantly, while he was still speaking, a cock crowed. ⁶¹ And the Master turned and looked at Peter; and Peter remembered the words that the Master had said to him-- "Before a cock has crowed to-day, you will disown me three times"; ⁶² And he went outside and wept bitterly.

⁶³ The men that held Jesus kept making sport of him and beating him. ⁶⁴ They blindfolded him and then questioned him. "Now play the Prophet," they said; "who was it that struck you?" ⁶⁵ And they heaped many other insults on him.

⁶⁶ At daybreak the National Council met--both the Chief Priests and the Teachers of the Law--and took Jesus before their High Council. ⁶⁷ "If you are the Christ," they said, "tell us so." "If I tell you," replied Jesus, "you will not believe me; ⁶⁸ And, if I question you, you will not answer. ⁶⁹ But from this hour 'the Son of Man will be seated on the right hand of God Almighty.'"

⁷⁰ "Are you, then, the Son of God?" they all asked. "It is true," answered Jesus, "I am."

⁷¹ At this they exclaimed: "Why do we want any more evidence? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips!"