Thematic Bible


Thematic Bible




The pupil should be satisfied to become like his teacher, and the slave should be satisfied to become like his master. If men have called the Head of the house Beelzebub, how much worse names will they heap upon the members of His family! Verse ConceptsFalse Accusations, Examples OfChristlikenessBeelzebubGrowth Of EvilSlavesBecoming Like PeopleRelatives Also InvolvedAccused Of Being Demonised

And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, "Just look! Your disciples are doing something that it is against the law to do on the sabbath!" But He said to them, "Did you never read what David did, when he and his soldiers became hungry? How he went into the house of God, and they ate the sacred loaves, which it was against the law for him or his soldiers to eat, or for anyone except the priests? read more.
Or, did you never read in the law that the priests in the temple break the sabbath, and yet are not guilty? But I tell you, there is something greater than the temple here! If you only knew what that saying means, 'It is mercy and not sacrifice that I want,' you would not have condemned men who are not guilty. For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath." And on leaving there He went into their synagogue. Now there was a man there with one hand withered. And, to get a charge against Him, they asked Him, "Is it right to cure people on the sabbath?" But He said to them, "What man is there among you, if he has only one sheep and it falls into a ditch on the sabbath, will not lay hold on it and lift it out? And how much more a man is worth than a sheep! So it is right to do good on the sabbath." Then He said to the man, "Hold out your hand." And he held it out, and it was cured so that it became like the other. But the Pharisees went out and held a consultation against Him, to put Him to death.

Now the high priests and the whole council were trying to get false testimony against Jesus, to have Him put to death; but they could not, although many false witnesses came forward to testify. At last two men came forward and said, "This man said, 'I can tear down the temple of God, and build it again in three days.'"


They took Jesus away to the high priest, and all the high priests, elders, and scribes met there. And Peter followed Him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; he was sitting with the attendants and warming himself before the fire. The high priests and the whole council were trying to get evidence against Jesus to put Him to death, but they could find none, read more.
for although many men gave false testimony against Him, their testimonies did not agree. Some took the witness stand and gave this false testimony against Him: "We ourselves have heard Him say, 'I will tear down this temple built by men's hands, and in three days I will build another, made without hands.'" But even in this matter their testimony did not agree. Then the high priest arose in the midst and asked Jesus, "Have you no answer to make? What about this testimony they are giving against you?" But He kept silent and made no answer at all. So the high priest again questioned Him in these words, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" Jesus said, "Yes, I am, and you will all see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Almighty and coming in the clouds of the sky!" Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "What more evidence do we need now? Did you hear His own blasphemy? What do you think now?" And they all condemned Him as deserving to die. And some of them started to spit on Him and to blindfold Him and to hit Him with their fists, and say to Him, "Now play the prophet!" Even the attendants took charge of Him with slaps at Him.

Here they began to make the following charges against Him: "We have found this fellow corrupting our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar and claiming to be a king himself." Verse ConceptsFalse Accusations, Examples OfClaimsMessiahCaesarChrist, Names ForBeing MisleadCalled Himself The ChristTax To Be Paidtaxes

They retorted, "If He were not a criminal, we would not have turned Him over to you." Verse ConceptsIndignities Suffered By ChristFalse Accusations, Examples OfHanding Over Christ

Then one of the Twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the high priests, and said, "What will you give me to turn Him over to you?" Then they paid him thirty pieces of silver. So from that time he kept looking for a good opportunity to turn Him over to them.

Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the high priests to betray Him to them. They were delighted to hear it, and promised to pay him for it. So he kept looking for a good opportunity to betray Him to them.

But Satan entered into Judas, who is called Iscariot, who belonged to the circle of the Twelve. So he went off and discussed with the high priests and captains of the temple how he could betray Him to them. They were delighted and made a bargain to pay him for it. read more.
He in turn accepted their offer and began to seek a favorable opportunity to betray Him to them without exciting an uprising.





"Listen to another story. There was once an owner of an estate who planted a vineyard and built a fence around it, and hewed out a wine-vat in it, and built a tower, and rented it to tenant farmers, and then went abroad. But when the time for gathering grapes was near, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his rent. But the tenants took his slaves and beat the first one, killed the second, and stoned the third. read more.
Again he sent other slaves, and more than at first, and they treated them exactly the same way. At last he sent his son to them, for he said to himself, 'They will surely respect my son.' But when the tenants saw the son, they said among themselves, 'This is his heir, come on, let us kill him, and get all that is coming to him!' So they took him and drove him out of the vineyard and murdered him. Now when the owner of the estate comes back, what will he do to these tenants?" They answered, "In vengeance he will put the scoundrels to death, and rent the vineyard to other tenants who will promptly pay him the rent."

When the high priests and the Pharisees heard His stories, they knew that He was speaking about them, Verse ConceptsJesus Using ParablesUnderstanding God's Wordpharisees

"The scribes and Pharisees have taken Moses' seat as teachers. So everything they tell you, do and practice, but stop doing what they do, for they preach but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens and fasten them on men's shoulders, but they refuse to lift a finger to help bear them. read more.
They do what they do to attract people's attention. They wear on their coats Scripture texts in big letters, and they wear large tassels, and they like the places of honor at feasts and the front seats in synagogues, to be greeted with honor in public places, and to have men call them 'Teacher.'

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"A curse on you, you hypocritical scribes and Pharisees! For you bolt the doors of the kingdom of heaven in men's faces, for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you let those who are trying to do so go in. Omitted Text. A curse on you, you hypocritical scribes and Pharisees! For you scour land and sea to win a single convert, and when he is won you make him twice as fit for the pit as you are. read more.
A curse on you, you blind leaders who say, 'Whoever swears by the sanctuary is not duty-bound, but whoever swears by the gold of the sanctuary is duty-bound.' You blind fools! which is greater, the gold, or the sanctuary that makes the gold sacred? You say, 'Whoever swears by the altar is not duty-bound, but whoever swears by the offering on the altar is duty-bound!' You blind men! which is greater, the offering, or the altar that makes the offering sacred? So whoever swears by the altar swears by everything on it; whoever swears by the sanctuary swears by it and by Him who dwells in it; whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it. "A curse on you, you hypocritical scribes and Pharisees! For you pay tithes on mint and dill and cummin, and yet leave out the more vital matters of the law, justice, love and fidelity. These latter especially you ought to have done, but ought not to have left out the former. You blind leaders, who are straining out the gnat but gulping down the camel! A curse on you, you hypocritical scribes and Pharisees, for you clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside they are full of your greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisees! You must first clean the inside of the cup and the dish, so that the outside may be clean too. "A curse on you, you hypocritical scribes and Pharisees, for you are like white-washed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead people's bones and everything that is unclean! So you, too, on the outside seem to people to be upright, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. "A curse on you, you hypocritical scribes and Pharisees, for you build tombs for the prophets, and decorate monuments for the upright, and say, 'If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have been sharers with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' So you are witnessing against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Then fill up to the brim the cup of your forefathers' guilt! You serpents! You brood of vipers! How can you escape a sentence to the pit!

Now the high priests and the whole council were trying to get false testimony against Jesus, to have Him put to death; but they could not, although many false witnesses came forward to testify. At last two men came forward and said, "This man said, 'I can tear down the temple of God, and build it again in three days.'" read more.
Then the high priest arose and said to Him, "Have you no answer to make? What do you say to the evidence that they bring against you?" But Jesus kept silent. So the high priest said to Him, "I charge you, on your oath, in the name of the living God, tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus answered him, "Yes, I am. But I tell you, you will all soon see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Almighty, and coming on the clouds of the sky." Then the high priest tore his clothes, and said, "He has uttered blasphemy, What more evidence do we need? You have just heard His blasphemy. What do you think now?" Then they answered, "He deserves to die." After that they spit in His face and hit Him with their fists, and others boxed His ears, saying, "Play the prophet, you Christ, and tell us who struck you."

Then He began to speak to them in stories. "A man once planted a vineyard and fenced it in and hewed out a wine-vat and built a watchtower; then he rented it to tenant farmers, and went abroad. At the proper time he sent a slave to the tenants to collect his part of the grape crop. But they took him and beat him and sent him back empty-handed. read more.
And again he sent another slave to them, and they beat his head and treated him shamefully. Then he sent a third one, and they killed him, and many others, some of whom they beat, some they killed. He had one more to send, his dearly loved son; at last he sent him to them, for he said to himself, 'They will surely respect my son.' But those tenants said among themselves, 'This is his heir; come on, let us kill him, and all that is coming to him will be ours.' So they took him and killed him, and threw his body outside the vineyard. Now what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come back and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others. Have you never read this passage of Scripture: "'That stone which the builders threw away has now become the cornerstone; This is the work of the Lord, and seems wonderful to us'?" Then they were trying to have Him arrested, but they were afraid of the people, for they knew that He aimed this story at them. And so they left Him and went away.









Now the high priests and the whole council were trying to get false testimony against Jesus, to have Him put to death; but they could not, although many false witnesses came forward to testify. At last two men came forward and said, "This man said, 'I can tear down the temple of God, and build it again in three days.'" read more.
Then the high priest arose and said to Him, "Have you no answer to make? What do you say to the evidence that they bring against you?"

For he knew that they had turned Him over to the court out of envy. Now while he was on the bench, his wife sent him this word, "Do not have anything to do with that righteous man, for I have this morning suffered excruciating pain in a dream caused by Him." But the high priests and the elders lined up the crowds to ask for Barabbas, and to have Jesus put to death. read more.
Still the governor answered, "Which of the two do you want me to set free for you?" And they said, "Barabbas." Pilate asked them, "What then shall I do with Jesus. the so-called Christ?" They all answered, "Have Him crucified!" He asked, "Why, what has He done that is wrong?" But they kept on shouting louder and louder, "Have Him crucified!" So Pilate, since he saw that he was making no headway with them, but that a riot was about to break out instead, took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, and said, "I am not responsible for this man's death; you must see to it yourselves." And all the people answered, "His blood be on us and on our children!" Then he set Barabbas free for them, but had Jesus flogged and turned over to be crucified.

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They took Jesus away to the high priest, and all the high priests, elders, and scribes met there. Verse ConceptsOld Age, Attitudes ToAssembling LeadersOpposition To Christ From ScribesThe Chief Priests Convened

The high priests and the whole council were trying to get evidence against Jesus to put Him to death, but they could find none, for although many men gave false testimony against Him, their testimonies did not agree. Some took the witness stand and gave this false testimony against Him: read more.
"We ourselves have heard Him say, 'I will tear down this temple built by men's hands, and in three days I will build another, made without hands.'" But even in this matter their testimony did not agree. Then the high priest arose in the midst and asked Jesus, "Have you no answer to make? What about this testimony they are giving against you?" But He kept silent and made no answer at all. So the high priest again questioned Him in these words, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" Jesus said, "Yes, I am, and you will all see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Almighty and coming in the clouds of the sky!" Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "What more evidence do we need now? Did you hear His own blasphemy? What do you think now?" And they all condemned Him as deserving to die. And some of them started to spit on Him and to blindfold Him and to hit Him with their fists, and say to Him, "Now play the prophet!" Even the attendants took charge of Him with slaps at Him.


But they ordered the prisoners to step outside the council, and they conferred together and repeated, "What shall we do with these men? For it is evident to everybody living in Jerusalem that an unmistakable wonder-work has been done by them; and we cannot deny it. But to keep it from spreading farther among the people, let us severely threaten them not to say anything at all to anyone else about this person." read more.
So they called them in and ordered them not to speak or teach at all about the name of Jesus.

So they instigated men to say, "We have heard him speaking abusive words against Moses and God." By this means they excited the people, the elders, and the scribes, and so they rushed upon him, seized him, and brought him before the council. Then they put up false witnesses who said, "This man never stops saying things against this holy place and against the law, read more.
for we have heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth will tear this place down, and change the customs which Moses handed down to us."

At the same time he was hoping to get money from Paul, and so he kept on sending for him and talking with him. But at the close of two whole years Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and as he wanted to gratify the Jews, Felix left Paul still in prison.

Now the high priests and the whole council were trying to get false testimony against Jesus, to have Him put to death; but they could not, although many false witnesses came forward to testify. At last two men came forward and said, "This man said, 'I can tear down the temple of God, and build it again in three days.'"

And Peter followed Him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; he was sitting with the attendants and warming himself before the fire. The high priests and the whole council were trying to get evidence against Jesus to put Him to death, but they could find none, for although many men gave false testimony against Him, their testimonies did not agree. read more.
Some took the witness stand and gave this false testimony against Him: "We ourselves have heard Him say, 'I will tear down this temple built by men's hands, and in three days I will build another, made without hands.'" But even in this matter their testimony did not agree.


As soon as day broke, all the high priests and elders held a consultation against Jesus, to put Him to death. So they bound Him, led Him away, and turned Him over to Pilate the governor.

And when He had come into the temple, the high priests and elders of the people came up to Him while He was teaching, and asked, "What sort of authority have you for doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" Verse ConceptsChief priestsLeaders, SpiritualEntering The TempleChrist TeachingChrist In The TempleGod Appointing His SonResolving Conflict

As soon as it was daylight, the high priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes; and the whole council, after binding Jesus, took Him away and turned Him over to Pilate. Verse Conceptsenemies, of Jesus Christelders, as community leadersBad Decision Making ExamplesRopesTeachers Of The LawCommitteesHanding Over ChristOpposition To Christ From ScribesThe Chief Priests ConvenedTying Up

Then the high priests and the elders of the people met in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and plotted to arrest Jesus by stratagem and put Him to death. But they kept saying, "It must not be at the feast, for a riot may break out among the people."

The men who had laid hands on Jesus took Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, at whose home the scribes and elders had met. And Peter followed Him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest's home; he even went inside and was sitting among the attendants to see how it would end. Now the high priests and the whole council were trying to get false testimony against Jesus, to have Him put to death; read more.
but they could not, although many false witnesses came forward to testify. At last two men came forward and said, "This man said, 'I can tear down the temple of God, and build it again in three days.'" Then the high priest arose and said to Him, "Have you no answer to make? What do you say to the evidence that they bring against you?" But Jesus kept silent. So the high priest said to Him, "I charge you, on your oath, in the name of the living God, tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus answered him, "Yes, I am. But I tell you, you will all soon see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Almighty, and coming on the clouds of the sky." Then the high priest tore his clothes, and said, "He has uttered blasphemy, What more evidence do we need? You have just heard His blasphemy. What do you think now?" Then they answered, "He deserves to die." After that they spit in His face and hit Him with their fists, and others boxed His ears, saying, "Play the prophet, you Christ, and tell us who struck you."

At that very moment, while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, came up, and with him a crowd of men with swords and clubs, from the high priests, scribes, and elders. Now His betrayer had given them a signal, saying, "The one I kiss is He; seize Him and lead Him safely away." So when he came he went straight up to Jesus, and said, "Rabbi," and with much affection kissed Him. read more.
Then they laid hands on Him and arrested Him. But one of the bystanders drew his sword and struck at the high priest's slave and cut his ear off. And Jesus spoke and said to them, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me, as though I were a robber? Day after day I used to be with you teaching in the temple, and you never laid hands on me. But this is so to fulfill the Scriptures." Then all His disciples forsook Him and made their escape. And a young man was following Him, with only a linen sheet thrown about his body; and they seized him, but he left the linen sheet behind and fled away naked. They took Jesus away to the high priest, and all the high priests, elders, and scribes met there. And Peter followed Him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; he was sitting with the attendants and warming himself before the fire. The high priests and the whole council were trying to get evidence against Jesus to put Him to death, but they could find none, for although many men gave false testimony against Him, their testimonies did not agree. Some took the witness stand and gave this false testimony against Him: "We ourselves have heard Him say, 'I will tear down this temple built by men's hands, and in three days I will build another, made without hands.'" But even in this matter their testimony did not agree. Then the high priest arose in the midst and asked Jesus, "Have you no answer to make? What about this testimony they are giving against you?" But He kept silent and made no answer at all. So the high priest again questioned Him in these words, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" Jesus said, "Yes, I am, and you will all see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Almighty and coming in the clouds of the sky!" Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "What more evidence do we need now? Did you hear His own blasphemy? What do you think now?" And they all condemned Him as deserving to die. And some of them started to spit on Him and to blindfold Him and to hit Him with their fists, and say to Him, "Now play the prophet!" Even the attendants took charge of Him with slaps at Him.

Then Jesus said to the high priests, captains of the temple, and elders, who had come to take Him, "Have you come out with swords and clubs as though I were a robber? While I was among you day after day in the temple, you never laid a hand on me! But this is your opportunity, even the power which darkness gives you!" Then they arrested Him and led Him away and brought Him to the house of the high priest. Peter was following at a distance. read more.
And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had taken their seats together, Peter, too, was sitting among them. A servant girl saw him sitting by the fire and fixed her eyes on him and said, "This fellow was with Him too." But he denied it and said, "I do not know Him, woman." A little later a man looked at him and said, "You are one of them too." But Peter said, "Man, I am not." About an hour later another man emphatically asserted, "He certainly was with Him, for he is a Galilean!" But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you mean." And all at once, while he was still speaking, a cock crowed. Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter, and Peter was reminded of the word that the Lord had spoken to him, "Before a cock crows today, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and burst into bitter tears. Then the men who held Him in custody flogged Him and made sport of Him, and after blindfolding Him they asked Him, "Play the prophet and tell us who it is that struck you!" And they continued to say many other abusive things to Him. As soon as day came, the elders of the people, the high priests, and the scribes assembled, and brought Him back before their council, and said, "Tell us, if you are the Christ." But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I ask you a question, you will not answer me. But from today the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God." Then they all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?" And He answered, "Yes, I am." Then they said, "What more evidence do we need? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth!"

While they were talking to the people, the high priests, the military commander of the temple, and the Sadducees came down upon them, because they were very much disturbed over their continuing to teach the people and to declare in the case of Jesus the resurrection from the dead. So they arrested them and put them into prison until next morning, for it was already evening. read more.
But many of those who heard their message believed, and the number of the men grew to about five thousand. On the next day the leading members of the council, the elders, and the scribes, met in Jerusalem, including Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all that were members of the high priest's family. They had the men stand before them and repeatedly inquired of them, "By what sort of power and authority have you done this?" Then Peter, because he was filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Leaders and elders of the people, if it is for a good deed to a helpless man, or to learn how he was cured, that we are today being tried, you and all the people of Israel must know that it is by the authority of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead -- yes, I repeat it, it is by His authority that this man stands here before you well. He is the stone that was thrown away by you builders, which has become the cornerstone. There is no salvation by anyone else, for no one else in all the wide world has been appointed among men as our only medium by which to be saved." They were surprised to see the courage shown by Peter and John and to find that they were uneducated men, and especially untrained in the schools, but they recognized the fact that they had been companions of Jesus, and since they saw the man who had been cured standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. But they ordered the prisoners to step outside the council, and they conferred together and repeated, "What shall we do with these men? For it is evident to everybody living in Jerusalem that an unmistakable wonder-work has been done by them; and we cannot deny it. But to keep it from spreading farther among the people, let us severely threaten them not to say anything at all to anyone else about this person." So they called them in and ordered them not to speak or teach at all about the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, "You must decide whether it is right in the sight of God to obey you instead of Him, for we cannot keep from telling what we have seen and heard." So, after further threatening them, they turned them loose, because they could not find any way to punish them, on account of the people, because they all continued to praise God for what had taken place,

But members of the synagogue known as that of the Libyans, Cyreneans, and Alexandrians, and men from Cilicia and Asia, got to debating with Stephen, but they could not cope with his good practical sense and the spiritual power with which he usually spoke. So they instigated men to say, "We have heard him speaking abusive words against Moses and God." read more.
By this means they excited the people, the elders, and the scribes, and so they rushed upon him, seized him, and brought him before the council. Then they put up false witnesses who said, "This man never stops saying things against this holy place and against the law, for we have heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth will tear this place down, and change the customs which Moses handed down to us." Then all who were seated in the council fixed their eyes upon him and saw that his face was like that of an angel.

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The high priest asked, "Are these statements true?" He answered: "Listen, brothers and fathers. The glorious God appeared to our forefather Abraham while he was in Mesopotamia before he ever made his home in Haran, and said to him, 'Leave your country and your kinsmen and come to Whatever country I may show you.' read more.
So he left the country of the Chaldeans and for a time made his home in Haran. Then after the death of his father, God had him move to this country in which you now live. He gave him no property in it, not even a foot of land, and yet He promised to give it to him and his descendants after him, as a permanent possession, although he had no child at that time. This is what God promised: 'His descendants will be strangers living in a foreign land, and its people will enslave and oppress them for four hundred years.' But God further promised: 'I will pass sentence on the nation that enslaves them, and after that they will leave that country and worship me on this very spot.' And with Abraham He made the sacred compact of circumcision, and he became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs. And the patriarchs became jealous of Joseph and sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him and delivered him from all his troubles, and allowed him to win favor and to show wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and so he appointed Joseph governor of Egypt and of his whole household. Then a famine spread all over Egypt and Canaan, and with it great suffering, and our forefathers could not find the simplest food. But Jacob heard that there was food in Egypt and sent our forefathers on their first visit down there. On their second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and thus Joseph's race was revealed to Pharaoh. Then Joseph sent and invited his father Jacob and all his kinsmen, seventy-five in all; and Jacob came down to Egypt. There he and our forefathers died and were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb which Abraham had bought with a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. As the time approached for realizing the promise which God had made to Abraham, the people multiplied and became more numerous in Egypt, until another king, who knew nothing about Joseph, ascended the throne. By taking a cunning advantage of our race he oppressed our forefathers by forcing them to expose their infants so that they should not live. At this time Moses was born. He was a divinely beautiful child. For three months he was cared for in his father's house. When he was exposed, Pharaoh's daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son. Thus Moses was educated in all the culture of the Egyptians, and was a mighty man in speech and action. As he was rounding out his fortieth year, it occurred to him to visit his brothers, the descendants of Israel. Because he saw one of them being mistreated, he defended and avenged the man who was suffering ill-treatment by striking down the Egyptian. He supposed that his brothers would understand that God through his instrumentality was going to deliver them, but they did not. The next day he showed himself to two of them engaged in a fight, and he tried to get them to make friends, saying, 'You are brothers, why should you harm each other?' But the man who was harming his brother pushed him aside, saying, 'Who made you our ruler and referee? Do you want to kill me as you did the Egyptian yesterday?' At this statement Moses fled, and went and lived in the land of Midian, and became the father of two sons. When forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the desert of Mount Sinai, in the flame of a burning bush. When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight, and when he went up to look at it, the voice of the Lord said to him, 'I am the God of your forefathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.' Moses was so terrified that he did not dare to look at the bush. Then the Lord said to him, 'Take your shoes off your feet, for the place where you are standing is sacred ground. Because I have seen the oppression of my people in Egypt and heard their groans, I have come down to deliver them. So come! I will send you back to Egypt as my messenger.' That very Moses whom they refused, saying, 'Who made you our ruler and referee?' was the man whom God sent to be both their ruler and deliverer, by the help of the angel who had appeared to him in the bush. It was he who brought them out of Egypt by performing wonders and signs there and at the Red Sea -- as he did also in the desert for forty years. It was this Moses who said to the descendants of Israel, 'God will raise up a prophet for you from among you, just as He did me.' This is the one who in the congregation in the desert went between the angel, who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and our forefathers, who also received, to be handed down to you, utterances that still live. But our forefathers would not listen to him, but pushed him aside, and in their hearts they hankered after Egypt; and they said to Aaron, 'Make us gods to march in front of us, for as for this Moses, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him!' In those days they even made a calf, and offered sacrifice to their idol, and held a celebration over the works of their own hands. So God turned away from them and gave them over to worship the starry host, as it is written in the Book of the Prophets: 'Did you really offer me victims and sacrifices those forty years in the desert, O house of Israel? No, you offered me the tent of Moloch and the star of your god Rompha, the images you had made to worship! So I will now remove you beyond Babylon.' "In the desert our forefathers had the tent of the testimony, like the model Moses had seen, as God who spoke to him ordered him to make it. This tent our forefathers brought in and passed on when under Joshua they dispossessed the nations which God drove out before them, and it remained until the time of David. He found favor with God and begged to design a dwelling for the God of Jacob, but it was Solomon who came to build a house for Him. But the Most High does not live in buildings built by human hands. As the prophet says: '"Heaven is my throne, and earth a footstool for my feet. What house can you build for me?" says the Lord; "Or what place is there in which I can rest? Was it not my hand that made them all?"' "You people, stubborn in will, heathenish in hearts and ears, you are always resisting the Holy Spirit, as your forefathers did, too. Which of the prophets did your forefathers fail to persecute? They killed the prophets who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have betrayed and murdered Him, you who received the law by order of the angels, and yet you did not obey it!" As they continued to listen to this address, they were becoming infuriated and began to grind their teeth at him. But since he was full of the Holy Spirit, he looked right into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at God's right hand. So he said, "Look! I see heaven open, and the Son of Man standing at God's right hand." But they raised a great shout and held their ears, and all together rushed upon him, and dragged him out of the city and continued stoning him. The witnesses, in the meantime, laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. They continued stoning Stephen as he continued praying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!"

Paul fixed his eyes upon the council and said, "Brothers, with a clear conscience I have done my duty to God up to this very day." At this the high priest Ananias ordered the people standing near him to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, "You white-washed wall, God will strike you! Do you sit as a judge to try me in accordance with the law and yet in violation of the law you order them to strike me?" read more.
The people standing near him said, "Do you mean to insult God's high priest?" Paul answered, "I did not know, brothers, that he was high priest, for the Scripture says, 'You must not speak evil against any ruler of your people.'"

Then the high priests and the elders of the people met in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, Verse ConceptsScribesChrist Would Be KilledThe Elderlypriests

The men who had laid hands on Jesus took Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, at whose home the scribes and elders had met. And Peter followed Him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest's home; he even went inside and was sitting among the attendants to see how it would end. Now the high priests and the whole council were trying to get false testimony against Jesus, to have Him put to death; read more.
but they could not, although many false witnesses came forward to testify. At last two men came forward and said, "This man said, 'I can tear down the temple of God, and build it again in three days.'" Then the high priest arose and said to Him, "Have you no answer to make? What do you say to the evidence that they bring against you?"

So they obeyed, and about the break of day they went into the temple square and began to teach. The high priest and his party arrived and called a meeting of the council and the whole senate of the sons of Israel, and sent to the prison to have the men brought in. But the attendants who went for them could not find them in the jail, and so came back and reported, "We found the prison safely locked and the keepers on duty at the doors, but on opening the doors we found no one on the inside." read more.
When the military commander of the temple square and the high priest heard this, they were utterly at a loss to know how this might turn out. But somebody came by and reported to them, "The men that you put in jail are standing right here in the temple square, teaching the people." Then the military commander went with his attendants and brought them back, but without any violence, for they were afraid of being pelted with stones by the people. So they brought them and had them stand before the council. And the high priest asked them, "Did we not positively forbid you to teach anymore on this authority, and yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and now want to bring on us the people's vengeance for this man's death!"

"We ourselves have heard Him say, 'I will tear down this temple built by men's hands, and in three days I will build another, made without hands.'" Verse ConceptsAbolitionThe Perfect TempleDestruction Of The TempleRebuilding The Temple

The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and in accordance with that law He deserves to die, for claiming to be God's Son." Verse ConceptsDeath penaltyClaimsNecessitySonsDeath As PunishmentCalled Himself The ChristEffect Of The LawChild Of God

But Jesus kept silent. So the high priest said to Him, "I charge you, on your oath, in the name of the living God, tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus answered him, "Yes, I am. But I tell you, you will all soon see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Almighty, and coming on the clouds of the sky." Then the high priest tore his clothes, and said, "He has uttered blasphemy, What more evidence do we need? You have just heard His blasphemy.

and said, "This man said, 'I can tear down the temple of God, and build it again in three days.'" Verse ConceptsAbolitionThe Perfect TempleDestruction Of The TempleRebuilding The Temple

But He kept silent and made no answer at all. So the high priest again questioned Him in these words, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" Jesus said, "Yes, I am, and you will all see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Almighty and coming in the clouds of the sky!" Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "What more evidence do we need now? read more.
Did you hear His own blasphemy? What do you think now?" And they all condemned Him as deserving to die.

"Tell us, if you are the Christ." But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I ask you a question, you will not answer me. But from today the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God." read more.
Then they all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?" And He answered, "Yes, I am." Then they said, "What more evidence do we need? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth!"

Now the high priests and the whole council were trying to get false testimony against Jesus, to have Him put to death; but they could not, although many false witnesses came forward to testify. At last two men came forward and said, "This man said, 'I can tear down the temple of God, and build it again in three days.'" read more.
Then the high priest arose and said to Him, "Have you no answer to make? What do you say to the evidence that they bring against you?" But Jesus kept silent. So the high priest said to Him, "I charge you, on your oath, in the name of the living God, tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus answered him, "Yes, I am. But I tell you, you will all soon see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Almighty, and coming on the clouds of the sky." Then the high priest tore his clothes, and said, "He has uttered blasphemy, What more evidence do we need? You have just heard His blasphemy. What do you think now?" Then they answered, "He deserves to die." After that they spit in His face and hit Him with their fists, and others boxed His ears, saying, "Play the prophet, you Christ, and tell us who struck you."

The high priests and the whole council were trying to get evidence against Jesus to put Him to death, but they could find none, for although many men gave false testimony against Him, their testimonies did not agree. Some took the witness stand and gave this false testimony against Him: read more.
"We ourselves have heard Him say, 'I will tear down this temple built by men's hands, and in three days I will build another, made without hands.'" But even in this matter their testimony did not agree. Then the high priest arose in the midst and asked Jesus, "Have you no answer to make? What about this testimony they are giving against you?" But He kept silent and made no answer at all. So the high priest again questioned Him in these words, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" Jesus said, "Yes, I am, and you will all see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Almighty and coming in the clouds of the sky!" Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "What more evidence do we need now? Did you hear His own blasphemy? What do you think now?" And they all condemned Him as deserving to die. And some of them started to spit on Him and to blindfold Him and to hit Him with their fists, and say to Him, "Now play the prophet!" Even the attendants took charge of Him with slaps at Him.

Then the men who held Him in custody flogged Him and made sport of Him, and after blindfolding Him they asked Him, "Play the prophet and tell us who it is that struck you!" And they continued to say many other abusive things to Him. read more.
As soon as day came, the elders of the people, the high priests, and the scribes assembled, and brought Him back before their council, and said, "Tell us, if you are the Christ." But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I ask you a question, you will not answer me. But from today the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God." Then they all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?" And He answered, "Yes, I am." Then they said, "What more evidence do we need? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth!"

Then the high priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and His teaching. Jesus answered him, "I have spoken publicly to the world; I have always taught in the synagogues and in the temple where all the Jews are in the habit of meeting, and I have not spoken anything in secret. So why are you questioning me? Ask those who heard what I told them. Of course, they know what I said."


The men who had laid hands on Jesus took Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, at whose home the scribes and elders had met. And Peter followed Him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest's home; he even went inside and was sitting among the attendants to see how it would end. Now the high priests and the whole council were trying to get false testimony against Jesus, to have Him put to death; read more.
but they could not, although many false witnesses came forward to testify. At last two men came forward and said, "This man said, 'I can tear down the temple of God, and build it again in three days.'" Then the high priest arose and said to Him, "Have you no answer to make? What do you say to the evidence that they bring against you?"





Then He left them again and prayed the third time, using the same words. Verse ConceptsCommunicating Three TimesSaying RepeatedlyJesus Praying

After that He came back to the disciples and said to them: "Still sleeping! Still resting! See! The time has come for the Son of Man to be betrayed into the hands of sinful men! Get up and let us be going. Look! Here comes my betrayer!" Even while He was still speaking, here came Judas, one of the Twelve, and with him a crowd, with swords and clubs, from the high priests and the elders of the people. read more.
Now His betrayer had given them a signal by saying, "The one I kiss is He. Seize Him!" And he went straight up to Jesus and said, "Good evening, Rabbi," and affectionately kissed Him. Jesus said to him, "My friend, do what you came for." Then they came up, laid hands on Jesus, and arrested Him. One of the men with Jesus put out his hand and drew his sword, and with a thrust at the high priest's slave cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back where it belongs, for all who wield the sword will die by the sword. Do you suppose that I am unable to appeal to my Father and have Him furnish me on the spot one hundred thousand angels? How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, for they say this is the way it must be?" At that time Jesus said to the crowds: "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me, as though I were a robber? Day after day I used to sit teaching in the temple, and you never laid hands on me. But this has all taken place so that the writings of the prophets may be fulfilled." Then the disciples all forsook Him and made their escape. The men who had laid hands on Jesus took Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, at whose home the scribes and elders had met. And Peter followed Him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest's home; he even went inside and was sitting among the attendants to see how it would end. Now the high priests and the whole council were trying to get false testimony against Jesus, to have Him put to death; but they could not, although many false witnesses came forward to testify. At last two men came forward and said, "This man said, 'I can tear down the temple of God, and build it again in three days.'" Then the high priest arose and said to Him, "Have you no answer to make? What do you say to the evidence that they bring against you?" But Jesus kept silent. So the high priest said to Him, "I charge you, on your oath, in the name of the living God, tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus answered him, "Yes, I am. But I tell you, you will all soon see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Almighty, and coming on the clouds of the sky." Then the high priest tore his clothes, and said, "He has uttered blasphemy, What more evidence do we need? You have just heard His blasphemy. What do you think now?" Then they answered, "He deserves to die." After that they spit in His face and hit Him with their fists, and others boxed His ears, saying, "Play the prophet, you Christ, and tell us who struck you." Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a waiting girl came up to him, and said, "You, too, were with Jesus the Galilean." But he denied it before them all, and said, "I do not understand what you mean." Then he went out into the gateway, and another waiting girl saw him, and said to those there, "This fellow was with Jesus the Nazarene." Again he denied it, and even swore, "I do not know the man!" A few minutes afterward the bystanders came up to Peter and said, "You are surely one of them, too, for your accent gives you away." Then he commenced cursing and swearing, "I do not know the man!" And at once a cock crowed. Then Peter remembered Jesus' words, "Before a cock crows, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly.

They took Jesus away to the high priest, and all the high priests, elders, and scribes met there. And Peter followed Him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; he was sitting with the attendants and warming himself before the fire. The high priests and the whole council were trying to get evidence against Jesus to put Him to death, but they could find none, read more.
for although many men gave false testimony against Him, their testimonies did not agree. Some took the witness stand and gave this false testimony against Him: "We ourselves have heard Him say, 'I will tear down this temple built by men's hands, and in three days I will build another, made without hands.'" But even in this matter their testimony did not agree. Then the high priest arose in the midst and asked Jesus, "Have you no answer to make? What about this testimony they are giving against you?" But He kept silent and made no answer at all. So the high priest again questioned Him in these words, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" Jesus said, "Yes, I am, and you will all see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Almighty and coming in the clouds of the sky!" Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "What more evidence do we need now? Did you hear His own blasphemy? What do you think now?" And they all condemned Him as deserving to die. And some of them started to spit on Him and to blindfold Him and to hit Him with their fists, and say to Him, "Now play the prophet!" Even the attendants took charge of Him with slaps at Him.

As soon as day broke, all the high priests and elders held a consultation against Jesus, to put Him to death. So they bound Him, led Him away, and turned Him over to Pilate the governor.

Then Pilate called a meeting of the high priests, the leaders of the council, and the people, and said to them, "You brought this man to me on a charge of turning the people from allegiance, and here in your presence I have examined Him and do not find Him guilty of the charges you make against Him. No; nor does Herod, for he has sent Him back to us. Indeed, He has done nothing to deserve the death penalty. read more.
So I will flog Him and let Him go." Omitted Text. But they all together began to shout, "Away with this fellow, but let us have Barabbas released! (He was a man who had been put in prison for a riot that had occurred in the city and for murder.) Then Pilate again appealed to them, for He wanted to let Jesus go. But they continued to shout at him, "Crucify Him, crucify Him? Then a third time he spoke to them, "Why, what wrong has He done? I have found nothing in Him deserving the death penalty. So I will flog Him and let Him go." But they continued to press him with loud voices in their ceaseless demands that He be crucified, and their shouts began to prevail. Then Pilate pronounced his sentence that their demand be carried out.

The men who had laid hands on Jesus took Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, at whose home the scribes and elders had met. And Peter followed Him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest's home; he even went inside and was sitting among the attendants to see how it would end. Now the high priests and the whole council were trying to get false testimony against Jesus, to have Him put to death; read more.
but they could not, although many false witnesses came forward to testify. At last two men came forward and said, "This man said, 'I can tear down the temple of God, and build it again in three days.'" Then the high priest arose and said to Him, "Have you no answer to make? What do you say to the evidence that they bring against you?" But Jesus kept silent. So the high priest said to Him, "I charge you, on your oath, in the name of the living God, tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus answered him, "Yes, I am. But I tell you, you will all soon see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Almighty, and coming on the clouds of the sky." Then the high priest tore his clothes, and said, "He has uttered blasphemy, What more evidence do we need? You have just heard His blasphemy. What do you think now?" Then they answered, "He deserves to die." After that they spit in His face and hit Him with their fists, and others boxed His ears, saying, "Play the prophet, you Christ, and tell us who struck you."

Then they arrested Him and led Him away and brought Him to the house of the high priest. Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had taken their seats together, Peter, too, was sitting among them. A servant girl saw him sitting by the fire and fixed her eyes on him and said, "This fellow was with Him too." read more.
But he denied it and said, "I do not know Him, woman." A little later a man looked at him and said, "You are one of them too." But Peter said, "Man, I am not." About an hour later another man emphatically asserted, "He certainly was with Him, for he is a Galilean!" But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you mean." And all at once, while he was still speaking, a cock crowed. Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter, and Peter was reminded of the word that the Lord had spoken to him, "Before a cock crows today, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and burst into bitter tears. Then the men who held Him in custody flogged Him and made sport of Him, and after blindfolding Him they asked Him, "Play the prophet and tell us who it is that struck you!" And they continued to say many other abusive things to Him. As soon as day came, the elders of the people, the high priests, and the scribes assembled, and brought Him back before their council, and said, "Tell us, if you are the Christ." But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I ask you a question, you will not answer me. But from today the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God." Then they all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?" And He answered, "Yes, I am." Then they said, "What more evidence do we need? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth!"

Simon Peter and another disciple followed on after Jesus. And that other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, and so went on with Jesus into the high priest's courtyard, but Peter stood outside before the door. So this other disciple, who was acquainted with the high priest, stepped out and spoke to the woman doorkeeper and brought Peter in. Then the servant girl at the door said to Peter, "You too are not one of this man's disciples, are you?" He answered, "No, I am not." read more.
Because it was cold, the slaves and attendants had made a charcoal fire and were standing about it warming themselves; so Peter too was standing among them warming himself. Then the high priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and His teaching. Jesus answered him, "I have spoken publicly to the world; I have always taught in the synagogues and in the temple where all the Jews are in the habit of meeting, and I have not spoken anything in secret. So why are you questioning me? Ask those who heard what I told them. Of course, they know what I said." After He had said this, one of the attendants standing by slapped Jesus in the face, and said, "Is this the way you answer the high priest?" Jesus answered him, "If I have said anything wrong, on oath tell what it is, but if what I have said is true, why do you slap me?" So Annas sent Him over, still in handcuffs, to Caiaphas the high priest. But Simon Peter still stood warming himself. So they said to him, "You too are not one of His disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "No, I am not." One of the high priest's slaves, who was a kinsman of the one whose ear Peter had cut off, said, "Did I not see you in the garden with Him?" Then Peter again denied it, and at that moment a cock crowed. Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to the governor's palace. It was early in the morning, and they would not go into the governor's palace themselves, in order not to be defiled, so as to be unfit to eat the Passover supper. So Pilate came outside and asked, "What is the charge you bring against this man?" They retorted, "If He were not a criminal, we would not have turned Him over to you." Pilate said to them, "Take Him yourselves, and try Him in accordance with your own law." Then the Jews said to him, "It is not lawful for us to execute the death penalty on anyone." This made it possible for the word of Jesus to be fulfilled which He spoke to indicate what sort of death He was to die.

Even while He was still speaking, here came Judas, one of the Twelve, and with him a crowd, with swords and clubs, from the high priests and the elders of the people. Now His betrayer had given them a signal by saying, "The one I kiss is He. Seize Him!" And he went straight up to Jesus and said, "Good evening, Rabbi," and affectionately kissed Him. read more.
Jesus said to him, "My friend, do what you came for." Then they came up, laid hands on Jesus, and arrested Him. One of the men with Jesus put out his hand and drew his sword, and with a thrust at the high priest's slave cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back where it belongs, for all who wield the sword will die by the sword. Do you suppose that I am unable to appeal to my Father and have Him furnish me on the spot one hundred thousand angels? How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, for they say this is the way it must be?" At that time Jesus said to the crowds: "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me, as though I were a robber? Day after day I used to sit teaching in the temple, and you never laid hands on me. But this has all taken place so that the writings of the prophets may be fulfilled." Then the disciples all forsook Him and made their escape. The men who had laid hands on Jesus took Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, at whose home the scribes and elders had met. And Peter followed Him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest's home; he even went inside and was sitting among the attendants to see how it would end. Now the high priests and the whole council were trying to get false testimony against Jesus, to have Him put to death; but they could not, although many false witnesses came forward to testify. At last two men came forward and said, "This man said, 'I can tear down the temple of God, and build it again in three days.'" Then the high priest arose and said to Him, "Have you no answer to make? What do you say to the evidence that they bring against you?" But Jesus kept silent. So the high priest said to Him, "I charge you, on your oath, in the name of the living God, tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus answered him, "Yes, I am. But I tell you, you will all soon see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Almighty, and coming on the clouds of the sky." Then the high priest tore his clothes, and said, "He has uttered blasphemy, What more evidence do we need? You have just heard His blasphemy. What do you think now?" Then they answered, "He deserves to die." After that they spit in His face and hit Him with their fists, and others boxed His ears, saying, "Play the prophet, you Christ, and tell us who struck you." Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a waiting girl came up to him, and said, "You, too, were with Jesus the Galilean." But he denied it before them all, and said, "I do not understand what you mean." Then he went out into the gateway, and another waiting girl saw him, and said to those there, "This fellow was with Jesus the Nazarene." Again he denied it, and even swore, "I do not know the man!" A few minutes afterward the bystanders came up to Peter and said, "You are surely one of them, too, for your accent gives you away." Then he commenced cursing and swearing, "I do not know the man!" And at once a cock crowed. Then Peter remembered Jesus' words, "Before a cock crows, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly.

At that very moment, while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, came up, and with him a crowd of men with swords and clubs, from the high priests, scribes, and elders. Now His betrayer had given them a signal, saying, "The one I kiss is He; seize Him and lead Him safely away." So when he came he went straight up to Jesus, and said, "Rabbi," and with much affection kissed Him. read more.
Then they laid hands on Him and arrested Him. But one of the bystanders drew his sword and struck at the high priest's slave and cut his ear off. And Jesus spoke and said to them, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me, as though I were a robber? Day after day I used to be with you teaching in the temple, and you never laid hands on me. But this is so to fulfill the Scriptures." Then all His disciples forsook Him and made their escape. And a young man was following Him, with only a linen sheet thrown about his body; and they seized him, but he left the linen sheet behind and fled away naked. They took Jesus away to the high priest, and all the high priests, elders, and scribes met there. And Peter followed Him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; he was sitting with the attendants and warming himself before the fire. The high priests and the whole council were trying to get evidence against Jesus to put Him to death, but they could find none, for although many men gave false testimony against Him, their testimonies did not agree. Some took the witness stand and gave this false testimony against Him: "We ourselves have heard Him say, 'I will tear down this temple built by men's hands, and in three days I will build another, made without hands.'" But even in this matter their testimony did not agree. Then the high priest arose in the midst and asked Jesus, "Have you no answer to make? What about this testimony they are giving against you?" But He kept silent and made no answer at all. So the high priest again questioned Him in these words, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" Jesus said, "Yes, I am, and you will all see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Almighty and coming in the clouds of the sky!" Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "What more evidence do we need now? Did you hear His own blasphemy? What do you think now?" And they all condemned Him as deserving to die. And some of them started to spit on Him and to blindfold Him and to hit Him with their fists, and say to Him, "Now play the prophet!" Even the attendants took charge of Him with slaps at Him. While Peter was down in the courtyard, one of the high priest's waiting girls came up, and when she saw that Peter was warming himself, she looked at him and said, "You were with Jesus of Nazareth too!" But he denied it, saying, "I do not know or understand what you mean." Then he went out of the courtyard and was in the gateway to it. And the waiting girl saw him there and began again to tell the bystanders, "This fellow is one of them!" But he denied it again. And again a few minutes later the bystanders began to say to Peter, "You are surely one of them, for you are a Galilean too." Then he commenced cursing and swearing, "I do not know this man that you are talking about." At that moment for the second time a Cock crowed. Then Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, "Before the cock crows twice, you will disown me three times!" And when he remembered that, he burst into tears.

While He was still speaking, look! a crowd had come up, and Judas, one of the Twelve, was their guide; and he stepped up to Jesus to kiss Him. Then Jesus said to him, "Judas, will you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?" Those who were about Him saw what was about to take place, and said, "Lord, shall we use our swords now?" read more.
Then one of them struck the high priest's slave and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, "Permit me to go as far as this!" So He touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the high priests, captains of the temple, and elders, who had come to take Him, "Have you come out with swords and clubs as though I were a robber? While I was among you day after day in the temple, you never laid a hand on me! But this is your opportunity, even the power which darkness gives you!" Then they arrested Him and led Him away and brought Him to the house of the high priest. Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had taken their seats together, Peter, too, was sitting among them. A servant girl saw him sitting by the fire and fixed her eyes on him and said, "This fellow was with Him too." But he denied it and said, "I do not know Him, woman." A little later a man looked at him and said, "You are one of them too." But Peter said, "Man, I am not." About an hour later another man emphatically asserted, "He certainly was with Him, for he is a Galilean!" But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you mean." And all at once, while he was still speaking, a cock crowed. Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter, and Peter was reminded of the word that the Lord had spoken to him, "Before a cock crows today, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and burst into bitter tears. Then the men who held Him in custody flogged Him and made sport of Him, and after blindfolding Him they asked Him, "Play the prophet and tell us who it is that struck you!" And they continued to say many other abusive things to Him. As soon as day came, the elders of the people, the high priests, and the scribes assembled, and brought Him back before their council, and said, "Tell us, if you are the Christ." But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I ask you a question, you will not answer me. But from today the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God." Then they all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?" And He answered, "Yes, I am." Then they said, "What more evidence do we need? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth!"

So Judas got together the Roman garrison and some attendants from the high priests and Pharisees, and went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, as He knew everything that was going to befall Him, came forward and asked them, "Who is it that you are looking for?" They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth." He said to them, "I am He." And Judas who betrayed Him was standing among them. read more.
So when He said to them, "I am He," they took a lurch backward and fell to the ground. So once more He asked them, "Who is it that you are looking for?" They said, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus answered, "I have already told you that I am He; so if you are really looking for me, let these men go." He said this that the statement He had just made might be fulfilled, "I have not lost one of those whom you have given me." So Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's slave and cut off his right ear. The slave's name was Malchus. Then Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword back into the sheath. Must I not drink the cup which the Father has handed me?" So the garrison and its commander and the attendants of the Jews arrested Jesus and put handcuffs on Him, and took Him first to Annas. For he was father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. Now it was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it was for their welfare that one should die for the people. Simon Peter and another disciple followed on after Jesus. And that other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, and so went on with Jesus into the high priest's courtyard, but Peter stood outside before the door. So this other disciple, who was acquainted with the high priest, stepped out and spoke to the woman doorkeeper and brought Peter in. Then the servant girl at the door said to Peter, "You too are not one of this man's disciples, are you?" He answered, "No, I am not." Because it was cold, the slaves and attendants had made a charcoal fire and were standing about it warming themselves; so Peter too was standing among them warming himself. Then the high priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and His teaching. Jesus answered him, "I have spoken publicly to the world; I have always taught in the synagogues and in the temple where all the Jews are in the habit of meeting, and I have not spoken anything in secret. So why are you questioning me? Ask those who heard what I told them. Of course, they know what I said." After He had said this, one of the attendants standing by slapped Jesus in the face, and said, "Is this the way you answer the high priest?" Jesus answered him, "If I have said anything wrong, on oath tell what it is, but if what I have said is true, why do you slap me?" So Annas sent Him over, still in handcuffs, to Caiaphas the high priest. But Simon Peter still stood warming himself. So they said to him, "You too are not one of His disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "No, I am not." One of the high priest's slaves, who was a kinsman of the one whose ear Peter had cut off, said, "Did I not see you in the garden with Him?" Then Peter again denied it, and at that moment a cock crowed. Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to the governor's palace. It was early in the morning, and they would not go into the governor's palace themselves, in order not to be defiled, so as to be unfit to eat the Passover supper. So Pilate came outside and asked, "What is the charge you bring against this man?" They retorted, "If He were not a criminal, we would not have turned Him over to you." Pilate said to them, "Take Him yourselves, and try Him in accordance with your own law." Then the Jews said to him, "It is not lawful for us to execute the death penalty on anyone." This made it possible for the word of Jesus to be fulfilled which He spoke to indicate what sort of death He was to die. So Pilate went back into the governor's palace and called Jesus and asked Him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus answered him, "Do you ask me this on your own initiative, or have others suggested it to you about me?" Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own people and their high priests have turned you over to me. What have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would have been fighting to keep me from being turned over to the Jews. But as a matter of fact, my kingdom does not come from such a source." Then Pilate said to Him, "So you are a king then?" Jesus answered, "Certainly I am a king. For this very purpose I was born, for this very purpose I have come into the world, to testify for truth. Everybody who is a friend of truth listens to my voice." Pilate asked Him, "What is truth?" On saying this he went outside again to the Jews, and said to them, "As far as I can see, I can find no ground for a charge against Him. Now you have a custom to have me set one man free at your Passover time. So do you wish me to set the king of the Jews free?" Then they all shouted back, "No! Not Him, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a robber.

Jesus answered them, "Destroy this sanctuary, and I will raise it in three days." Verse ConceptsRiddlesProphecies Said By JesusDestruction Of The TempleRebuilding The TempleThe First Templerebuilding

and saying, "You who would tear down the temple and build another in three days, save yourself! If you are really the Son of God, come down from the cross." Verse ConceptsThe If's Of SatanAccusation, Satan's RoleThe Perfect TempleDestruction Of The TempleChrist Going DownWho Is Jesus?Saving OneselfRebuilding The TempleSatan Opposing God's Word

and said, "This man said, 'I can tear down the temple of God, and build it again in three days.'" Verse ConceptsAbolitionThe Perfect TempleDestruction Of The TempleRebuilding The Temple

as they kept shouting, "Men of Israel, help! help! This is the man who teaches everybody everywhere against our people and the law and this place; yea, more than that, he has actually brought Greeks into the temple and desecrated this sacred place." Verse ConceptsHoliness,  Worldly SeparationHoliness, As Set Apart For GodShoutingFalse Accusations, Examples OfMisteachingForeigners In The Holy PlacesGroups HelpingIsrael HardenedPolluting Holy Places

Then they put up false witnesses who said, "This man never stops saying things against this holy place and against the law, Verse ConceptsCrimesHoliness, As Set Apart For GodJudaism

and said, "This man said, 'I can tear down the temple of God, and build it again in three days.'" Verse ConceptsAbolitionThe Perfect TempleDestruction Of The TempleRebuilding The Temple