Jesus before His Accusers

^53 (A)They led Jesus away to the high priest; and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes *gathered together. ⁵⁴ And 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 entire ^[c](E)Council were trying to obtain testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, and they were not finding any. ⁵⁶ For many people were giving false testimony against Him, and so their testimonies were not consistent. ⁵⁷ And then some stood up and began giving false testimony against Him, saying, ⁵⁸ “We heard Him say, ‘^(F)I will destroy this ^[d]temple that was made by hands, and in three days I will build another, made without hands.’” ⁵⁹ And not even in this respect was their testimony consistent. ⁶⁰ And then the high priest stood up and came forward and questioned Jesus, saying, “Do You not offer any answer for what these men are testifying against You?” ^61 (G)But He kept silent and did not offer any answer. ^(H)Again the high priest was questioning Him, and *said to Him, “Are You the ^[e]Christ, the Son of ^[f]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 as deserving of death. ⁶⁵ And some began to ^(M)spit on Him, and ^[g](N)to blindfold Him, and to beat Him with their fists and say to Him, “^(O)Prophesy!” Then the officers took custody of Him ^[h]and slapped Him in the face.