Matthew 26:57-68 - Jesus Before The Sanhedrin

⁵⁷ But the officers who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the High Priest, at whose house the Scribes and the Elders had assembled. ⁵⁸ And Peter kept following Him at a distance, till he came even to the court of the High Priest's palace, where he entered and sat down among the officers to see the issue.

⁵⁹ Meanwhile the High Priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death; ⁶⁰ but they could find none, although many false witnesses came forward. At length there came two ⁶¹ who testified, "This man said, 'I am able to pull down the Sanctuary of God and three days afterwards to build a new one.'"

⁶² Then the High Priest stood up and asked Him, "Have you no answer to make? What is it these men are saying in evidence against you?" ⁶³ Jesus however remained silent. Again the High Priest addressed Him. "In the name of the ever-living God," he said, "I now put you on your oath. Tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God."

⁶⁴ "I am He," replied Jesus. "But I tell you that, later on, you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Omnipotence, and coming on the clouds of the sky."

⁶⁵ Then the High Priest tore his robes and exclaimed, "Impious language! What further need have we of witnesses! See, you have now heard the impiety. ⁶⁶ What is your verdict?" "He deserves to die," they replied. ⁶⁷ Then they spat in His face, and struck Him--some with the fist, some with the open hand-- ⁶⁸ while they taunted Him, saying, "Christ, prove yourself a Prophet by telling us who it was that struck you."

⁵³ So they led Jesus away to the High Priest, and with him there assembled all the High Priests, Elders, and Scribes. ⁵⁴ Peter followed Jesus at a distance, as far as the outer court of the High Priest's palace. But there he remained sitting among the officers, and warming himself by the fire.

⁵⁵ Meanwhile the High Priests and the entire Sanhedrin were endeavouring to get evidence against Jesus in order to put Him to death, but could find none; ⁵⁶ for though many gave false testimony against Him, their statements did not tally. ⁵⁷ Then some came forward as witnesses and falsely declared, ⁵⁸ "We have heard him say, 'I will pull down this Sanctuary built by human hands, and three days afterwards I will erect another built without hands.'" ⁵⁹ But not even in this shape was their testimony consistent.

⁶⁰ At last the High Priest stood up, and advancing into the midst of them all, asked Jesus, "Have you no answer to make? What is the meaning of all this that these witnesses allege against you?" ⁶¹ But He remained silent, and gave no reply. A second time the High Priest questioned Him. "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" he said.

⁶² "I am," replied Jesus, "and you and others will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the divine Power, and coming amid the clouds of the sky."

⁶³ Rending his garments the High Priest exclaimed, "What need have we of witnesses after that? ⁶⁴ You all heard his impious words. What is your judgement?" Then with one voice they condemned Him as deserving of death. ⁶⁵ Thereupon some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, while striking Him with their fists and crying, "Prove that you are a prophet." The officers too struck Him with open hands as they took Him in charge.

⁵⁴ And they arrested Him and led Him away, and brought Him to the High Priest's house, while Peter followed a good way behind. ⁵⁵ And when they had lighted a fire in the middle of the court and had seated themselves in a group round it, Peter was sitting among them, ⁵⁶ when a maidservant saw him sitting by the fire, and, looking fixedly at him, she said, "This man also was with him."

⁵⁷ But he denied it, and declared, "Woman, I do not know him."

⁵⁸ Shortly afterwards a man saw him and said, "You, too, are one of them." "No, man, I am not," said Peter.

⁵⁹ After an interval of about an hour some one else stoutly maintained: "Certainly this fellow also was with him, for in fact he is a Galilaean."

⁶⁰ "Man, I don't know what you mean," replied Peter. No sooner had he spoken than a cock crowed. ⁶¹ The Master turned and looked on Peter; and Peter recollected the Master's words, how He had said to him, "This very day, before the cock crows, you will disown me three times." ⁶² And he went out and wept aloud bitterly.

⁶³ Meanwhile the men who held Jesus in custody repeatedly beat Him in cruel sport, ⁶⁴ or blindfolded Him, and then challenged Him. "Prove to us," they said, "that you are a prophet, by telling us who it was that struck you." ⁶⁵ And they said many other insulting things to Him.

⁶⁶ As soon as it was day, the whole body of the Elders, both High Priests and Scribes, assembled. Then He was brought into their Sanhedrin, and they asked Him, ⁶⁷ "Are you the Christ? Tell us." "If I tell you," He replied, "you will certainly not believe; ⁶⁸ and if I ask you questions, you will certainly not answer. ⁶⁹ But from this time forward the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of God's omnipotence."

⁷⁰ Thereupon they cried out with one voice, "You, then, are the Son of God?" "It is as you say," He answered; "I am He."

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