Jesus Before the Council

^53 (A)And ^(B)they led Jesus to the high priest. And all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together. ^54 (C)And ^(D)Peter had followed him at a distance, ^(E)right into ^(F)the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting with ^(G)the guards and ^(H)warming himself at the fire. ⁵⁵ Now the chief priests and the whole council^[a] were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none. ^56 (I)For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony ^(J)did not agree. ⁵⁷ And some stood up and bore false witness against him, saying, ^58 (K)“We heard him say, ^(L)‘I will destroy this temple ^(M)that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, ^(N)not made with hands.’” ⁵⁹ Yet even about this their testimony did not agree. ⁶⁰ And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?”^{[b] 61} But ^(O)he remained silent and made no answer. ^(P)Again the high priest asked him, “Are you ^(Q)the Christ, the Son of ^(R)the Blessed?” ⁶² And Jesus said, “I am, and ^(S)you will see the Son of Man ^(T)seated at the right hand of Power, and ^(U)coming with the clouds of heaven.” ⁶³ And the high priest ^(V)tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? ⁶⁴ You have heard ^(W)his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they ^(X)all condemned him as ^(Y)deserving death. ^65 (Z)And some began ^(AA)to spit on him and ^(AB)to cover his face and to strike him, saying to him, “Prophesy!” And the guards received him ^(AC)with blows.