Jesus before His Accusers

^53 (A)They led Jesus away to the high priest; and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes *gathered together. ⁵⁴ Peter had followed Him at a distance, ^(B)right into ^(C)the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the ^[a]officers and ^(D)warming himself at the ^[b]fire. ⁵⁵ Now the chief priests and the whole ^[c](E)Council kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, and they were not finding any. ⁵⁶ For many were giving false testimony against Him, but their testimony was not consistent. ⁵⁷ Some stood up and began to give false testimony against Him, saying, ⁵⁸ “We heard Him say, ‘^(F)I will destroy this ^[d]temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.’” ⁵⁹ Not even in this respect was their testimony consistent. ⁶⁰ The high priest stood up and came forward and questioned Jesus, saying, “Do You not answer? ^[e]What is it that these men are testifying against You?” ^61 (G)But He kept silent and did not answer. ^(H)Again the high priest was questioning Him, and ^[f]saying to Him, “Are You ^[g]the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” ⁶² And Jesus said, “I am; and you shall see ^(I)the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and ^(J)coming with the clouds of heaven.” ^63 (K)Tearing his clothes, the high priest *said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? ⁶⁴ You have heard the ^(L)blasphemy; how does it seem to you?” And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death. ⁶⁵ Some began to ^(M)spit at Him, and ^[h](N)to blindfold Him, and to beat Him with their fists, and to say to Him, “^(O)Prophesy!” And the officers ^[i]received Him with ^[j]slaps in the face.