⁵⁹ The chief priests and the whole Council tried to find some false evidence against Jesus to put him to death; ⁶⁰ but they could not find any, even though many people came forward and told lies about him. Finally two men stepped up ^61 (A)and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to tear down God's Temple and three days later build it back up.’”

⁶² The High Priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Have you no answer to give to this accusation against you?” ⁶³ But Jesus kept quiet. Again the High Priest spoke to him, “In the name of the living God I now put you under oath: tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”

^64 (B)Jesus answered him, “So you say. But I tell all of you: from this time on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right side of the Almighty and coming on the clouds of heaven!”

^65 (C)At this the High Priest tore his clothes and said, “Blasphemy! We don't need any more witnesses! You have just heard his blasphemy! ⁶⁶ What do you think?”

They answered, “He is guilty and must die.”

⁵⁵ The chief priests and the whole Council tried to find some evidence against Jesus in order to put him to death, but they could not find any. ⁵⁶ Many witnesses told lies against Jesus, but their stories did not agree.

⁵⁷ Then some men stood up and told this lie against Jesus: ^58 (A)“We heard him say, ‘I will tear down this Temple which men have made, and after three days I will build one that is not made by men.’” ⁵⁹ Not even they, however, could make their stories agree.

⁶⁰ The High Priest stood up in front of them all and questioned Jesus, “Have you no answer to the accusation they bring against you?”

⁶¹ But Jesus kept quiet and would not say a word. Again the High Priest questioned him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed God?”

^62 (B)“I am,” answered Jesus, “and you will all see the Son of Man seated at the right side of the Almighty and coming with the clouds of heaven!”

⁶³ The High Priest tore his robes and said, “We don't need any more witnesses! ^64 (C)You heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?”

They all voted against him: he was guilty and should be put to death.

Jesus before the Council^(A)

⁶⁶ When day came, the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the Law met together, and Jesus was brought before the Council. ⁶⁷ “Tell us,” they said, “are you the Messiah?”

He answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me; ⁶⁸ and if I ask you a question, you will not answer. ⁶⁹ But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right side of Almighty God.”

⁷⁰ They all said, “Are you, then, the Son of God?”

He answered them, “You say that I am.”

⁷¹ And they said, “We don't need any witnesses! We ourselves have heard what he said!”