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Jesus Before the Leaders

53 The people who arrested Jesus led him to the house of the high priest. All the leading priests, the Jewish elders, and the teachers of the law were gathered there. 54 Peter followed far behind and entered the courtyard of the high priest’s house. There he sat with the guards, warming himself by the fire.

55 The leading priests and all the Jewish council tried to find something that Jesus had done wrong so they could kill him. But the council could find no proof against him. 56 Many people came and told false things about him. But all said different things—none of them agreed.

57 Then some men stood up and lied about Jesus. They said, 58 “We heard this man say, ‘I will destroy this Temple that men made. And three days later, I will build another Temple—a Temple not made by men.’” 59 But even the things these men said did not agree.

60 Then the high priest stood before them and said to Jesus, “Aren’t you going to answer the charges these men bring against you?” 61 But Jesus said nothing. He did not answer.

The high priest asked Jesus another question: “Are you the Christ, the Son of the blessed God?”

62 Jesus answered, “I am. And in the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right side of the Powerful One. And you will see the Son of Man coming on clouds in the sky.”

63 When the high priest heard this, he was very angry. He tore his clothes and said, “We don’t need any more witnesses! 64 You all heard him say these things against God. What do you think?”

They all said that Jesus was guilty and should be killed. 65 Some of the people there spit at Jesus. They covered his eyes and hit him with their fists. They said, “Prove that you are a prophet!” Then the guards led Jesus away and beat him.

Peter Says He Doesn’t Know Jesus

66 Peter was still in the courtyard when a servant girl of the high priest came there. 67 She saw Peter warming himself at the fire. She looked closely at him.

Then the girl said, “You were with Jesus, that man from Nazareth.”

68 But Peter said that he was never with Jesus. He said, “I don’t know or understand what you are talking about.” Then Peter left and went toward the entrance of the courtyard.[a]

69 The servant girl saw Peter there. Again she said to the people who were standing there, “This man is one of those who followed Jesus.” 70 Again Peter said that it was not true.

A short time later, some people were standing near Peter. They said, “We know you are one of those who followed Jesus. You are from Galilee, too.”

71 Then Peter began to curse. He said, “I swear that I don’t know this man you’re talking about!”

72 As soon as Peter said this, the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had told him: “Before the rooster crows twice, you will say three times that you don’t know me.” Then Peter was very sad and began to cry.

Pilate Questions Jesus

15 Very early in the morning, the leading priests, the Jewish elders, the teachers of the law, and all the Jewish council decided what to do with Jesus. They tied him, led him away, and turned him over to Pilate, the governor.

Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

Jesus answered, “Yes, I am.”

The leading priests accused Jesus of many things. So Pilate asked Jesus another question. He said, “You can see that these people are accusing you of many things. Why don’t you answer?”

But Jesus still said nothing. Pilate was very surprised at this.

Pilate Tries to Free Jesus

Every year at the Passover time the governor would free one person from prison. He would free any person the people wanted him to free. At that time, there was a man named Barabbas in prison. He was a rebel and had committed murder during a riot. The crowd came to Pilate and asked him to free a prisoner as he always did.

Pilate asked them, “Do you want me to free the king of the Jews?” 10 Pilate knew that the leading priests had given Jesus to him because they were jealous of Jesus. 11 And the leading priests had persuaded the people to ask Pilate to free Barabbas, not Jesus.

12 Pilate asked the crowd again, “So what should I do with this man you call the king of the Jews?”

13 They shouted, “Kill him on a cross!”

14 Pilate asked, “Why? What wrong has he done?”

But they shouted louder and louder, “Kill him on a cross!”

15 Pilate wanted to please the crowd. So he freed Barabbas for them. And Pilate told the soldiers to beat Jesus with whips. Then he gave Jesus to the soldiers to be killed on a cross.

16 Pilate’s soldiers took Jesus into the governor’s palace (called the Praetorium). They called all the other soldiers together. 17 They put a purple robe on Jesus. Then they used thorny branches to make a crown. They put it on his head. 18 Then they called out to him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 The soldiers beat Jesus on the head many times with a stick. They also spit on him. Then they made fun of him by bowing on their knees and worshiping him. 20 After they finished making fun of him, the soldiers took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led Jesus out of the palace to be killed on a cross.

Footnotes

  1. 14:68 Many Greek copies add: “And the rooster crowed.”

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. 54 Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest.(C) There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.(D)

55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin(E) 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,(F) not made with hands.’” 59 Yet even then their testimony did not agree.

60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.(G)

Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”(H)

62 “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”(I)

63 The high priest tore his clothes.(J) “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. 64 “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”

They all condemned him as worthy of death.(K) 65 Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.(L)

Peter Disowns Jesus(M)

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

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

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

69 When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” 70 Again he denied it.(R)

After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”(S)

71 He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.”(T)

72 Immediately the rooster crowed the second time.[b] Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice[c] you will disown me three times.”(U) And he broke down and wept.

Jesus Before Pilate(V)

15 Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law(W) and the whole Sanhedrin,(X) made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.(Y)

“Are you the king of the Jews?”(Z) asked Pilate.

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

The chief priests accused him of many things. So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.”

But Jesus still made no reply,(AA) and Pilate was amazed.

Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.

“Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?”(AB) asked Pilate, 10 knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas(AC) instead.

12 “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.

13 “Crucify him!” they shouted.

14 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged,(AD) and handed him over to be crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus(AE)

16 The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace(AF) (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. 17 They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. 18 And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!”(AG) 19 Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out(AH) to crucify him.

Footnotes

  1. Mark 14:68 Some early manuscripts entryway and the rooster crowed
  2. Mark 14:72 Some early manuscripts do not have the second time.
  3. Mark 14:72 Some early manuscripts do not have twice.