Gospels (75) - Matthew 26:57-68, Mark 14:53-65, Luke 22:54 & John 18:12-24

Teacher: Rusty Kennedy
​Series: Gospels

Rusty's Notes

John 18:12-14
JESUS ARRESTED AND TAKEN TO ANNAS
12 Then the company of soldiers, the commander, and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus and tied him up.

• It is currently 30 AD

How many high priests are there at a time? One
 
Annas (Father-in-law of Caiaphas)

• Quirinius (Governor of Syria) – 7 AD – Appointed as High Priest.
• He was deposed in 15 AD by a Roman procurator, Valerius Gratus.
• 4-5 of his sons served as High Priest after he was deposed.

 
Caiaphas

• 25-36 AD – appointed High Priest by the Romans.
• In the mind of the Romans… in 30 AD… Annas was not the High Priest… Caiaphas was.
• In the mind of the Jews… in 30 AD… Annas was considered the High Priest until death.
• Acts 4 – Annas was considered High Priest.
  6 with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all the members of the high-priestly family.[1]
• In the temple that Jesus cleansed, Annas’ sons were the high priests who were charging absorbent prices for “perfect” sacrifices.

 
13 First they led him to Annas, since he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be better for one man to die for the people.[2]

• Let’s go back… After Jesus had just raised Lazarus from the dead.

John 11:49-52
49 One of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all! 50 You’re not considering that it is to your advantage that one man should die for the people rather than the whole nation perish.”

• Caiaphas sentenced Jesus to death.

51 He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to unite the scattered children of God. 53 So from that day on they plotted to kill him.[3]
 
John 18:19-24
JESUS BEFORE ANNAS
19 The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching.

• 4) There were to be no trials before the morning sacrifice.

20 “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus answered him. “I have always taught in the synagogue and in the temple, where all the Jews congregate, and I haven’t spoken anything in secret.

• Jesus never did anything in secret… why are you doing this in secret?
• 5) There were to be no secret trial, only a public trial

21 Why do you question me? Question those who heard what I told them. Look, they know what I said.”

• 8)
• There was to be no allowance for the accused to testify against himself.
• Annas asked Jesus to speak.

22 When he had said these things, one of the officials standing by slapped Jesus, saying, “Is this the way you answer the high priest?”
23 “If I have spoken wrongly,” Jesus answered him, “give evidence about the wrong; but if rightly, why do you hit me?”

• You’ve already broken your own rules, prove that I am wrong.

24 Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. [4]
 
Matthew 26:57, 59-68
JESUS FACES THE SANHEDRIN

• 24 Chief Priests
• 24 Elders
• 22 Elders
• 1 High Priest
• 71 = Total
• In capital cases – 23 members of the Sanhedrin had to be present.
• 2 individual members of the Sanhedrin would not be present… Joseph of Arimatheus & Nicodemus.

 

• April 7, 30 AD

 
57 Those who had arrested Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had convened.

• This confirms this was the Sanhedrin.
• 20) The only place a Sanhedrin trial could take place was in the Hall of Judgment of the Temple Compound (Babylonian Talmud)
• 22) No trials were on the eve of the Sabbath or on the eve of a feast day (Mishnah)
• 7) The procedure was to be first the defense and then the accusation: (Mishnah - p. 386, CAPITAL CASES MUST BEGIN WITH REASONS FOR ACQUITTAL AND MAY NOT BEGIN WITH REASON FOR CONVICTION.)

58 Peter was following him at a distance right to the high priest’s courtyard. He went in and was sitting with the servants to see the outcome.
59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death,

• 9) All may argue in favor of acquittal, but all may in argue in favor of conviction: (Mishnah – p. 387, IN CAPITAL CHARGES ALL MAY ARGUE IN FAVOR OF ACQUITTAL BUT NOT IN FAVOR OF CONVICTION)

60 but they could not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. Finally, two who came forward 61 stated, “This man said, ‘I (am able) can (refer to Mark 14:55-59) destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”

• Jesus was referring to His physical body.

62 The high priest stood up and said to him, “Don’t you have an answer to what these men are testifying against you?”

• 8) There was to be no allowance for the accused to testify against himself.

63 But Jesus kept silent.

• “You just broke your own law.”
• Almost comical… Kangaroo court.

The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
64 “You have said it,” (refer to Mark 14:60-62) Jesus told him. “But I tell you, in the future you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Daniel 7:13)
65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed!

• 13) The high priest was forbidden to tear his garments (Leviticus 21:10)
• 15) Charges could not originate with the judges; they could only investigate charges brought to them.
• 6) There were to be two to three witnesses, and their testimony had to agree in every detail (Deuteronomy 19:15)
• 10) The accusation of blasphemy was only valid if the name of God itself was pronounced: (Mishnah – p. 382, HE THAT HATH BROUGHT AN EVIL NAME (MUST BE JUDGED) BY THREE AND TWENTY, FOR THERE MAY ARISE THEREFROM A CAPITAL CASE. Mishna – p. 392, “THE BLASPHEMER” IS NOT CULPABLE UNLESS HE PRONOUNCES THE NAME ITSELF)
• Jesus cannot commit blasphemy by saying His own name… Jehovah…
• But the Pharisees had committed blasphemy in Matthew 12 (Said Jesus did miracles under power of Beelzebub).

Why do we still need witnesses? See, now you’ve heard the blasphemy. 66 What is your decision?”
They answered, “He deserves death!” (refer to Mark 14:64) 67 Then they spat in his face and beat him; others slapped him (refer to Mark 14:65) 68 and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah! Who was it that hit you?”[5]
 
Mark 14:53, 55-65
JESUS FACES THE SANHEDRIN
53 They led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes assembled. 54 Peter followed him at a distance, right into the high priest’s courtyard. He was sitting with the servants, warming himself by the fire.
55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they could not find any. 56 For many were giving false testimony against him, and the testimonies did not agree. 57 Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, stating, 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will (inconsistent testimony) destroy this temple made with human hands, and in three days I will build another not made by hands.’” 59 Yet their testimony did not agree even on this.

• 6) There were to be two to three witnesses, and their testimony had to agree in every detail (Deuteronomy 19:15)

 
60 Then the high priest stood up before them all and questioned Jesus, “Don’t you have an answer to what these men are testifying against you?” 61 But he kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest questioned him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”
62 “I am,” (not, “I am Jehovah” – Did not commit blasphemy) said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
63 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses? 64 You have heard the blasphemy. What is your decision?” They all condemned him as deserving death.

• 18) A person could not be condemned on the basis of his own words alone.
• 12) The verdict could not be announced at night, only in the daytime: (Mishnah – p. 387, IN CAPITAL CASES… “THE VERDICT ALSO MUST BE REACHED DURING THE DAYTIME.)
• 14) In cases of capital punishment, the trial and guilty verdict could not occur at the same time but had to be separated by at least 24 hours: (Mishnah – p. 387, IN CAPITAL CASES A VERDICT OF ACQUITTAL MAY BE REACHED ON THE SAME DAY, BUT A VERDICT OF CONVICTION NOT UNTIL THE FOLLOWING DAY. Mishnah – P. 389, IF THEY FOUND HIM INNOCENT THEY SET HIM FREE; OTHERWISE THEY LEAVE HIS SENTENCE OVER UNTUL THE MORROW.
• 16) A unanimous decision for guilt shows innocence since it is impossible for 23-71 men to agree without plotting.
• 19) Voting for the death penalty had to be done by individual count beginning with the youngest so the young would not be influenced by the elders. (Mishnah – p. 387, IN CAPITAL CASES THEY BEGIN FROM [THEM THAT SIT AT] THE SIDE.
• 21) The sentence and the guilty verdict could not be announced on the same day, in fact, had to be separated by three days.

65 Then some began to spit on him, to blindfold him, and to beat him, saying, “Prophesy!” The temple servants also took him and slapped him. [6]

• 17) Judges were to be humane and kind.
• 11)  A person condemned to death was not to be scourged or beaten beforehand: (Babylonian Talmud – FLOGGING IS CONSIDERED A SUBSTITUTE FOR DEATH, SO A PERSON WHO WAS TO DIE WAS NOT TO BE BEATEN OR SCOURGED BEFOREHAND.)
• Strike with a fist was a fine of 4 denarii.
• Strike with an open hand was a fine of 200 denarii.
• Spit in the face was a fine of 400 denarii (year’s wages)

 
Luke 22:54a
PETER DENIES HIS LORD
54 They seized him, led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house.

[1] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ac 4:6). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Jn 18:12–14). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Jn 11:49–53). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Jn 18:19–24). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mt 26:57–68). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mk 14:53–65). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.