¹³ and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas,^(A) the high priest that year. ¹⁴ Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.^(B)

Peter’s First Denial^(C)

¹⁵ Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest,^(D) he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard,^{(E) 16} but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in.

¹⁸ It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire^(A) they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.^(B)

Peter Disowns Jesus^(A)

⁶⁶ While Peter was below in the courtyard,^(B) one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. ⁶⁷ When she saw Peter warming himself,^(C) she looked closely at him.

“You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,”^(D) she said.

⁶⁸ But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,”^(E) he said, and went out into the entryway.^[a]

The High Priest Questions Jesus^(A)

¹⁹ Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.

²⁰ “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues^(B) or at the temple,^(C) where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.^{(D) 21} Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”

²² When Jesus said this, one of the officials^(E) nearby slapped him in the face.^(F) “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.

²³ “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?”^(G)

⁷¹ Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

⁷² He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”

Jesus Before the Sanhedrin^(A)(B)

⁵³ They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together.

⁵⁵ The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin^(A) were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. ⁵⁶ Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.

⁵⁷ Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: ⁵⁸ “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another,^(B) not made with hands.’” ⁵⁹ Yet even then their testimony did not agree.

⁶² 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?” ⁶³ But Jesus remained silent.^(A)

The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath^(B) by the living God:^(C) Tell us if you are the Messiah,^(D) the Son of God.”^(E)

⁶⁴ “You have said so,”^(F) Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One^(G) and coming on the clouds of heaven.”^[a](H)

⁶⁵ Then the high priest tore his clothes^(I) and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. ⁶⁶ What do you think?”

“He is worthy of death,”^(J) they answered.

The Guards Mock Jesus^(A)

⁶³ The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. ⁶⁴ They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” ⁶⁵ And they said many other insulting things to him.^(B)