Matthew 26:57-68 - Jesus Before The Sanhedrin

⁵⁷ Then all his disciples forsook him and fled; but those who had apprehended Jesus led him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had assembled. ⁵⁸ Now Peter was following him, afar off, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; and when he got in, he was sitting with the officers, to see the end.

⁵⁹ And the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were trying to get false evidence against Jesus, in order that they might have him executed; ⁶⁰ but they found none, although many false witnesses came forward. ⁶¹ However, at last two came forward who said, "This fellow declared, 'I can destroy the Temple of God and build it in three days.'"

⁶² Rising to his feet the high priest asked Jesus. "Do you make no answer? What is it that these are testifying against you?" ⁶³ But Jesus kept silence. Again the high priest addressed him, "I adjure you by the Living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God!"

⁶⁴ "I am He," Jesus answered; "yet I tell you that from this time on you will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming upon the clouds of heaven."

⁶⁵ Then the high priest tore his garments, saying. "He has spoken blasphemy! What further need have we of witnesses? For behold, now you have heard his blasphemy! ⁶⁶ "What is your verdict?" "He ought to die," they answered. ⁶⁷ Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and some struck him with the palms of their hands, and cried. ⁶⁸ "Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it who struck you?"

⁵³ Then they took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests and elders and Scribes came with him. ⁵⁴ Peter also had followed Jesus at a distance, until he was inside the court of the high priest. There he was sitting among the officers, warming himself in the light of the fire.

⁵⁵ Meanwhile the high priests and all of the Sanhedrin were trying to get evidence against Jesus, so as to have him put to death, but they found none; ⁵⁶ for though many gave false witness against him, their testimony did not agree. ⁵⁷ Some came forward and swore falsely, saying, ⁵⁸ "We heard him say, 'I will tear down this temple made by hands, and in three days I will build another temple not made by hands.'" ⁵⁹ But even their evidence did not agree.

⁶⁰ Then the high priest rose and stood forth among them. "Have you no answer to make?" he asked Jesus; "What is it that these testify against you?" ⁶¹ But he remained silent, and answered nothing. Again the high priest questioned him. "Are you the Christ," he said, "the Son of the Blessed?"

⁶² "I am," Jesus answered, "and you all shall see the Son of man seated on the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven."

⁶³ Then the high priest tore his vestments. "Why do we need any further witness?" he exclaimed. ⁶⁴ "Did you hear his blasphemy? What is your verdict?" ⁶⁵ Then they all condemn him to be worthy of death. Some began to spit on him, and to blindfold him while striking him and saying, "Prophesy." The officers, too, received him into custody with blows.

⁵⁴ So they seized him and led him away, and took him to the house of the high priest; while Peter was following him a long way off. ⁵⁵ And when they had lighted a fire in the center of the court, and had sat down together, Peter was taking his seat among them. ⁵⁶ But a certain maid servant saw him taking his seat near the fire and, with a sharp glance at him, she said, "This fellow was with him, too!"

⁵⁷ But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I know nothing about him."

⁵⁸ A little later a man saw him, and said, "You too are one of them" But Peter declared, "Man, I am not."

⁵⁹ But an hour afterwards another man kept insisting, saying. "Really, this fellow was with him. Why, he is a Galilean."

⁶⁰ "Man," said Peter, "I do not know what you mean." And immediately, while he was still speaking, the cock crew. ⁶¹ Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter, and Peter recollected the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, "This very day, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." ⁶² And Peter went outside and wept with bitter crying.

⁶³ Meanwhile the men who were holding Jesus in custody kept mocking and striking him. ⁶⁴ They would blindfold him and ask him. "Prophesy! Tell who struck you!" ⁶⁵ And they said many other insulting things against him.

⁶⁶ When it became the day the elders if the people met with the high priests and the Scribes and had brought before the Sanhedrin, saying. ⁶⁷ "Are you the Christ? Tell us!" "If I tell you," he answered, "you will not believe; ⁶⁸ "And if I ask you, you will not answer. ⁶⁹ "But from henceforth the Son of man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God."

⁷⁰ Then they all said, "Are you then the Son of God."

⁷¹ "What need we of further evidence? for we ourselves have heard it from his own lips."