Jesus is Tried before the High Priest^(A)

⁵³ Then they took Jesus to the high priest. All the high priests, elders, and scribes had gathered together. ⁵⁴ Peter followed Jesus^[a] at a distance as far as the high priest’s courtyard. He was sitting with the servants and warming himself at the fire. ⁵⁵ Meanwhile, the high priests and the whole Council^[b] were looking for some testimony against Jesus in order to have him put to death, but they couldn’t find any. ⁵⁶ Although many people gave false testimony against him, their testimony didn’t agree.

⁵⁷ Then some men stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying, ⁵⁸ “We ourselves heard him say, ‘I will destroy this sanctuary made by human^[c] hands, and in three days I will build another one not made by human^[d] hands.’” ⁵⁹ But even on this point their testimony didn’t agree.

⁶⁰ Then the high priest stood up before them^[e] and asked Jesus, “Don’t you have any answer to what these men are testifying against you?” ⁶¹ But he kept silent and didn’t answer at all. The high priest asked him again, “Are you the Messiah,^[f] the Son of the Blessed One?”

⁶² Jesus said, “I AM, and

⁶³ Then the high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we still need witnesses?” he asked. ⁶⁴ “You have heard his blasphemy! What is your verdict?” All of them condemned him as deserving death.

⁶⁵ Some of them began to spit on him. They blindfolded him and kept hitting him with their fists and telling him, “Prophesy!” Even the servants took him and slapped him around.

Peter Denies Jesus^(A)

⁵⁴ Then they arrested him, led him away, and brought him to the high priest’s house. But Peter was following at a distance. ⁵⁵ When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had taken their seats, Peter, too, sat down among them.

Jesus is Insulted and Beaten^(A)

⁶³ Then the men who were holding Jesus in custody began to make fun of him while they beat him. ⁶⁴ They blindfolded him and asked him over and over again, “Prophesy! Who is the one who hit you?” ⁶⁵ And they kept insulting^[a] him in many other ways.

⁶⁶ As soon as day came, the elders of the people, the high priests, and the scribes assembled and brought him before their Council.^{[b] 67} They said, “If you are the Messiah,^[c] tell us.”

But he told them, “If I tell you, you won’t believe me, ⁶⁸ and if I ask you a question, you won’t answer me. ⁶⁹ But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”^[d]

⁷⁰ Then they all asked, “Are you, then, the Son of God?”

He answered them, “You said it—I AM.”

⁷¹ “Why do we need any more testimony?” they asked. “We have heard it ourselves from his own mouth!”

¹³ First they brought him to Annas, because he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. ¹⁴ Caiaphas was the person who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one man die for the people.

The High Priest Questions Jesus^(A)

¹⁹ Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his own teaching. ²⁰ Jesus answered him, “I have spoken publicly to the world. I have always taught in the synagogue or in the Temple, where all Jews meet together, and I have said nothing in secret. ²¹ Why do you question me? Question those who heard what I said. These are the people who know what I said.”

²² When he said this, one of the officers standing nearby slapped Jesus on the face and demanded, “Is that any way to answer the high priest?”

²³ Jesus answered him, “If I have said anything wrong, tell me what it was.^[a] But if I have told the truth, why do you hit me?” ²⁴ Then Annas sent him, with his hands tied, to Caiaphas the high priest.