Matthew 26:57-68 - Jesus Before The Sanhedrin

⁵⁷ Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had assembled. ⁵⁸ Peter, however, followed him at a distance as far as the high priest's courtyard. He went inside and sat down with the servants to see how this would end.

⁵⁹ Meanwhile, the high priests and the whole Council were looking for false testimony against Jesus in order to have him put to death. ⁶⁰ But they couldn't find any, even though many false witnesses had come forward. At last two men came forward ⁶¹ and stated, "This man said, "I can destroy the sanctuary of God and rebuild it in three days.'"

⁶² At this, the high priest stood up and asked Jesus, "Don't you have any answer to what these men are testifying against you?" ⁶³ But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest told him, "I command you by the living God to tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God!"

⁶⁴ Jesus told him, "You have said so. Nevertheless I tell you, from now on you will see "the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power' and "coming on the clouds of heaven.'"

⁶⁵ Then the high priest tore his robes and said, "He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? Listen! You yourselves have just heard the blasphemy! ⁶⁶ What is your verdict?" They replied, "He deserves to die!" ⁶⁷ Then they spit in his face and hit him. Some slapped him, ⁶⁸ saying, "Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who hit you?"

⁵³ Then they took Jesus to the high priest. All the high priests, elders, and scribes had gathered together. ⁵⁴ Peter followed Jesus at a distance as far as the high priest's courtyard. He was sitting with the servants and warming himself at the fire.

⁵⁵ Meanwhile, the high priests and the whole Council were looking for some testimony against Jesus in order to have him put to death, but they couldn't find any. ⁵⁶ Although many people gave false testimony against him, their testimony didn't agree. ⁵⁷ Then some men stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying, ⁵⁸ "We ourselves heard him say, "I will destroy this sanctuary made by human hands, and in three days I will build another one not made by human hands.'" ⁵⁹ But even on this point their testimony didn't agree.

⁶⁰ Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, "Don't you have any answer to what these men are testifying against you?" ⁶¹ But he kept silent and didn't answer at all. The high priest asked him again, "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?"

⁶² Jesus said, "I AM, and "you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power' and "coming with the clouds of heaven.'"

⁶³ Then the high priest tore his clothes. "Why do we still need witnesses?" he asked. ⁶⁴ "You have heard his blasphemy! What is your verdict?" All of them condemned him as deserving death. ⁶⁵ Some of them began to spit on him. They blindfolded him and kept hitting him with their fists and telling him, "Prophesy!" Even the servants took him and slapped him around.

⁵⁴ Then they arrested him, led him away, and brought him to the high priest's house. But Peter was following at a distance. ⁵⁵ When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had taken their seats, Peter, too, sat down among them. ⁵⁶ A servant girl saw him sitting by the fire, stared at him, and said, "This man was with him, too."

⁵⁷ But he denied it, "I don't know him, woman!" he responded.

⁵⁸ A little later, a man looked at him and said, "You are one of them, too." But Peter said, "Mister, I am not!"

⁵⁹ About an hour later, another man emphatically asserted, "This man was certainly with him, because he is a Galilean!"

⁶⁰ But Peter said, "Mister, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just then, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. ⁶¹ Then the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. And Peter remembered the word from the Lord, and how he had told him, "Before a rooster crows today, you will deny me three times." ⁶² So he went outside and cried bitterly.

⁶³ Then the men who were holding Jesus in custody began to make fun of him while they beat him. ⁶⁴ They blindfolded him and asked him over and over again, "Prophesy! Who is the one who hit you?" ⁶⁵ And they kept insulting him in many other ways.

⁶⁶ As soon as day came, the elders of the people, the high priests, and the scribes assembled and brought him before their Council. ⁶⁷ They said, "If you are the Messiah, tell us." ⁶⁸ But he told them, "If I tell you, you won't believe me, and if I ask you a question, you won't answer me. ⁶⁹ But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God."

⁷⁰ Then they all asked, "Are you, then, the Son of God?" He answered them, "You said it I AM."

⁷¹ "Why do we need any more testimony?" they asked. "We have heard it ourselves from his own mouth!"