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Author: Stephen Weller
550 words, 3 minutes read time

The Beginning of an Illegal Trial

Scripture: Matthew 26:57-58; Mark 14:53, 55-56

With the previous lesson we finished the section that covered Peter’s first denial and the questioning of Jesus by Annas the former high priest. With this lesson we will begin a longer section which covers the trial before Caiaphas and five more times that Peter denies Jesus.

^{Mt 26:57} Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. ^{Mk 14:53} And all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together. ^{Mt 26:58} And Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end.

When Jesus and the disciples were gathered together for their Passover meal, Jesus sent Judas away to allow him to do his evil in assembling those who would arrest Jesus. After the meal, Jesus and the remaining eleven disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane for a time of prayer, waiting for Judas and those who would arrest him. After his arrest Jesus was taken to an unknown location to be interviewed by Annas the previous high priest. Having no success in obtaining any incriminating evidence, those who seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered for an illegal trial.

We find Peter still following Jesus at a distance and enters the courtyard of the high priest and sat with the guards to see what would happen. It appears that Peter, who may have been with John, feels safer now as he sits with the guards there in the courtyard, but this about to change as we will see later.

^{Mk 14:55} Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none. 56 For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree.

The whole council would be all 70 members, but it is assumed that since it was in the middle of the night that there may have been only a quorum (at least 23 members) present. Those assembled for the purpose of finding incriminating evidence, questioned Jesus and others who were brought in to witness against him, but they could find none. They had gathered many who gave false testimony, but their testimony conflicted and as a result a case against Jesus could not be formed.

^{Mt 26:60} At last two came forward and . . .

After listening to false witness give conflicting testimony the likelihood of creating a case against Jesus seems to be diminishing, but then two came forward and said something. We will have to wait until the next lesson to see what they said.

Conclusion

Jesus was led bound to Caiaphas the high priest where the chief priest and at least a quorum of the council was present along with false witnesses, for the purpose of building a case against Jesus so as to have him executed, but with conflicting testimony they were not having success. At last two came forward that might have the information needed. We will see in the next lesson.