Matthew 26:57-68

Expanded Bible

Jesus Before the Leaders^(A)

⁵⁷ Those people who ·arrested [seized] Jesus led him to the house of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the ·teachers of the law [scribes] and the elders were gathered. ⁵⁸ Peter followed far behind to the courtyard of the high priest’s house, and he sat down with the guards to see ·what would happen to Jesus [^Lthe end/outcome].

⁵⁹ The ·leading [^Tchief] priests and the whole ·Jewish council [Sanhedrin; ^Cthe highest Jewish court] tried to find ·something false [false evidence/testimony] against Jesus so they could ·kill [execute] him. ⁶⁰ Many people came and ·told lies about him [testified falsely], but the council could find no real reason to kill him. ·Then [Finally] two people came and said, ⁶¹ “This man said, ‘I can destroy the Temple of God and build it again in three days.’”

⁶² Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Aren’t you going to answer? ·Don’t you have something to say about their [or What about these] ·charges [testimony] against you?” ⁶³ But Jesus ·said nothing [was silent; Is. 53:7].

Again the high priest said to Jesus, “I ·command you by the power of [demand in the name of; put you under oath by] the living God: Tell us if you are the ·Christ [Messiah], the Son of God.”

⁶⁴ Jesus answered, “·Those are your words [^LYou have said it/so; ^Can indirect affirmation]. But I tell you, ·in the future [^Lfrom now on] you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of God, the ·Powerful One [or the place of power; ^Lpower], and coming on ·clouds in the sky [the clouds of heaven; Ps. 110:1; Dan. 7:13–14].”

⁶⁵ When the high priest heard this, he tore his clothes [^Ca sign of sorrow or outrage] and said, “This man has ·said things that are against God [blasphemed]! ·We don’t [Why should we…?] need any more witnesses; you all heard ·him say these things against God [the blasphemy]. ⁶⁶ What ·do you think [is your verdict]?”

The people answered, “He ·should [deserves to; is guilty and should] die.”

⁶⁷ Then the people there spat in Jesus’ face and beat him with their fists. Others slapped him. ⁶⁸ They said, “·Prove to us that you are a prophet [^LProphesy to/for us], you ·Christ [Messiah]! Tell us who hit you!”