⁵⁹ The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin^(A) were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. ⁶⁰ But they did not find any, though many false witnesses^(B) came forward.

Finally two^(C) came forward ⁶¹ and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”^(D)

⁶² Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” ⁶³ But Jesus remained silent.^(E)

The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath^(F) by the living God:^(G) Tell us if you are the Messiah,^(H) the Son of God.”^(I)

⁶⁴ “You have said so,”^(J) Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One^(K) and coming on the clouds of heaven.”^[a](L)

⁶⁵ Then the high priest tore his clothes^(M) and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. ⁶⁶ What do you think?”

“He is worthy of death,”^(N) they answered.

⁶⁷ Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists.^(O) Others slapped him ⁶⁸ and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”^(P)

⁵⁵ The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin^(A) were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. ⁵⁶ Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.

⁵⁷ Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: ⁵⁸ “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another,^(B) not made with hands.’” ⁵⁹ Yet even then their testimony did not agree.

⁶⁰ Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” ⁶¹ But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.^(C)

Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”^(D)

⁶² “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”^(E)

⁶³ The high priest tore his clothes.^(F) “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. ⁶⁴ “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”

They all condemned him as worthy of death.^{(G) 65} Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.^(H)

The Guards Mock Jesus^(A)

⁶³ The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. ⁶⁴ They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” ⁶⁵ And they said many other insulting things to him.^(B)

Jesus Before Pilate and Herod^(C)(D)(E)

⁶⁶ At daybreak the council^(F) of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together,^(G) and Jesus was led before them. ⁶⁷ “If you are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us.”

Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, ⁶⁸ and if I asked you, you would not answer.^{(H) 69} But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”^(I)

⁷⁰ They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?”^(J)

He replied, “You say that I am.”^(K)

⁷¹ Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.”

The High Priest Questions Jesus^(A)

¹⁹ Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.

²⁰ “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues^(B) or at the temple,^(C) where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.^{(D) 21} Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”

²² When Jesus said this, one of the officials^(E) nearby slapped him in the face.^(F) “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.

²³ “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?”^{(G) 24} Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas^(H) the high priest.

Peter’s Second and Third Denials^(I)

²⁵ Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself.^(J) So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?”

He denied it, saying, “I am not.”^(K)

²⁶ One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off,^(L) challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?”^{(M) 27} Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.^(N)

Jesus Before Pilate^(O)

²⁸ Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor.^(P) By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace,^(Q) because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover.^{(R) 29} So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?”

³⁰ “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.”

³¹ Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.”

“But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. ³² This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die.^(S)

³³ Pilate then went back inside the palace,^(T) summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”^(U)

³⁴ “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”

³⁵ “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”

³⁶ Jesus said, “My kingdom^(V) is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders.^(W) But now my kingdom is from another place.”^(X)

³⁷ “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth.^(Y) Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”^(Z)

³⁸ “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.^{(AA) 39} But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?”

⁴⁰ They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising.^(AB)