Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.
The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.
Finally two came forward and declared, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.'" 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?" But Jesus remained silent.
The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God."
"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?"
"He is worthy of death," they answered.
Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him and said, "Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?"
It was INDEED an interesting trial:
- Such trials were to be held only during daylight. Therefore, it was technically illegal. It should not have been conducted at night.
- The law required two eyewitnesses with collaborating testimony. They had to be interrogated and testify independently before the court. In Jesus' trial there were plenty of witnesses but no agreement.
- Courts and judges are supposed to be impartial. Many of these judges were themselves the accusers. They had already made up their minds. They even introduced false evidence.
- When two witnesses did agree, their testimony was twisted. They quoted Jesus as saying that he would tear down the Temple. Actually he said that he could rebuild the Temple in three days. He was referring to his body which would die and come back to life again. They not only missed his point but added the extra testimony that he was a terrorist plotting destruction of Israel's most holy site.
- Realizing that there wasn't sufficient evidence to convict, the high priest called on Jesus to testify. Jewish law included a provision against self-incrimination much like our constitution's Fifth Amendment. Jesus chose not to respond-he "pleaded the Fifth."
- <>Caiaphas had inside information. Even though Jesus told his disciples to keep quiet about his being the Messiah, Caiaphas somehow knew Jesus' claim. Maybe Judas told him as part of the deal to betray Jesus earlier that same night. Caiaphas directly asked Jesus: "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God."
That was all the evidence they needed.
They accused Jesus of blasphemy. Caiaphas ripped his clothes as a symbol of dismay and disdain. He called for a verdict and frenzy broke out. The courtroom deteriorated into calls for execution, spitting on the prisoner, slapping him around and mocking him with religious taunts.
