Matthew 26:57-68
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Jesus before the High Priest
57 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. 58 But Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards in order to see how this would end.(A) 59 Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death, 60 but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward(B) 61 and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’ ”(C) 62 The high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?” 63 But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I put you under oath before the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah,[a] the Son of God.”(D) 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you,
From now on you will see the Son of Man
seated at the right hand of Power
and coming on the clouds of heaven.”(E)
65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy.(F) 66 What do you think?” They answered, “He deserves death.”(G) 67 Then they spat in his face and struck him, and some slapped him,(H) 68 saying, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah![b] Who is it that struck you?”
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Matthew 26:57-68
New English Translation
Condemned by the Sanhedrin
57 Now the ones who had arrested Jesus led him to Caiaphas, the high priest, in whose house[a] the experts in the law[b] and the elders had gathered. 58 But Peter was following him from a distance, all the way to the high priest’s courtyard. After[c] going in, he sat with the guards[d] to see the outcome. 59 The[e] chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were trying to find false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60 But they did not find anything, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally[f] two came forward 61 and declared, “This man[g] said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’” 62 So[h] the high priest stood up and said to him, “Have you no answer? What is this that they are testifying against you?” 63 But Jesus was silent. The[i] high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ,[j] the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand[k] of the Power[l] and coming on the clouds of heaven.”[m] 65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and declared,[n] “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? Now[o] you have heard the blasphemy! 66 What is your verdict?”[p] They[q] answered, “He is guilty and deserves[r] death.” 67 Then they spat in his face and struck him with their fists. And some slapped him, 68 saying, “Prophesy for us, you Christ![s] Who hit you?”[t]
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- Matthew 26:57 tn Grk “where.”
- Matthew 26:57 tn Or “where the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 2:4.
- Matthew 26:58 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.
- Matthew 26:58 sn The guards would have been the guards of the chief priests who had accompanied Judas to arrest Jesus.
- Matthew 26:59 tn Grk “Now the.” Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
- Matthew 26:60 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
- Matthew 26:61 tn Grk “This one.”
- Matthew 26:62 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the false testimony.
- Matthew 26:63 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.
- Matthew 26:63 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”sn See the note on Christ in 1:16.
- Matthew 26:64 sn An allusion to Ps 110:1. This is a claim that Jesus shares authority with God in heaven. Those present may have thought they were his judges, but, in fact, the reverse was true.
- Matthew 26:64 sn The expression the Power is a circumlocution for referring to God. Such indirect references to God were common in 1st century Judaism out of reverence for the divine name.
- Matthew 26:64 sn An allusion to Dan 7:13 (see also Matt 24:30).
- Matthew 26:65 tn Grk “the high priest tore his clothes, saying.”
- Matthew 26:65 tn Grk “Behold now.” The Greek word ἰδού (idou) has not been translated because it has no exact English equivalent here, but adds interest and emphasis (BDAG 468 s.v. 1).
- Matthew 26:66 tn Grk “What do you think?”
- Matthew 26:66 tn Grk “answering, they said.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation. Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
- Matthew 26:66 tn Grk “he is guilty of death.” L&N 88.313 states, “pertaining to being guilty and thus deserving some particular penalty—‘guilty and deserving, guilty and punishable by.’ οἱ δὲ ἀποκριθέντες εἶπαν, ᾿Ενοχος θανάτου ἐστίν ‘they answered, He is guilty and deserves death’ Mt 26:66.”
- Matthew 26:68 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”sn See the note on Christ in 1:16.
- Matthew 26:68 tn Grk “Who is the one who hit you?”sn Who hit you? This is a variation of one of three ancient games that involved blindfolds.
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