His disciples run away as prophesied in Isaiah (salvation of Jehova). John says that Jesus is escorted to Anas/Ananias (yah has been gracious), father-in-law of Caiphas (depression) the current high priest. Matthew, Mark, and Luke say that he is brought to the high priest (Isaiah 53:6; Matthew 26:56,57; Mark 14:50-53; Luke 22:54; John 18:12,13).
…ISAIAH…53: 6…All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned his own way……JOHN18:12,13…So the Roman cohort and the commander, and the officer of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him, and led Him to Annas first; for he was father-in-law of Caiphas, who was high priest that year.
I choose John’s account. Not only because he was there, but because it makes sense that, in deference to his father-inlaw, Caiphas would let him interrogate Jesus first.
He is questioned by Anas. Jesus is struck the first time for his insolence, and then sent to Caiphas (John 18:1924). …JOHN 18:19,21-24…The high priest therefore questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching…”Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I have spoke to them; behold, these know what I said.” And when He had said this, one of the officers standing by gave Jesus a blow, saying, “Is that the way You answer the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, bear witness of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?” Annas therefore sent him bound to Caiphas the high priest.
A word about the priests of the temple. Their duties are to minister the sanctuary, by conducting the ceremonies and the sacrifices. During the time of Jesus, the “chief priests” are the present “high” priest (leader over all priests and their activities), former “high” priests, and male members of the families of “high” priests. The ruler of Judea selects the high priests. Caiphas was selected by Pontius Pilate’s predecessor, Valerius Gratus (B-15-134). Peter denies Jesus three times. Luke says Jesus sees Peter, just after the first cock-crow. John says that another disciple, probably John but not stated, accompanies Peter. At any rate, whoever the disciple is, he is known by the high priest, because he is allowed into the court of the high priest, where the interrogation takes place (Matthew 26:58,69-75;Mark 14:54,66-72;Luke 22:54-62;John 18:15-17,25-27).
…MARK…14:54,66-72…And Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the officers and warming himself by the fire…And as Peter was in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came, and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him, and said, “You, too, were with Jesus the Nazarene.” But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are talking about.” And he went out onto the porch. And the maid saw him, and began to say once more to the bystanders, “This is one of them!” But again he was denying it. And after a little while the bystanders were again saying to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean too.” But he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this fellow you are talking about!” And immediately a cock crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had made the remark to him, ‘Before a cock crows twice, you will deny Me three times.’ And he began to weep.
I can’t help but feel that what Peter does is all too human. In order to realize why he did what he did, you have to put yourself in his sandals. He is surrounded by officers and the air is charged with excitement. A “dangerous criminal” has been captured. They are looking for blood and would no doubt seize anyone connected with this “criminal”. Besides, it takes the grace of God to face danger, heroically; and Jesus told Peter that he would deny him…Peter has no choice but do do so.
I think that it’s interesting too, that Peter resorts to curses and swearing in order to disassociate himself from Jesus. As a fisherman, he probably has occasion to swear and curse on a recurring basis, dealing with the sea and the elements. He probably is capable of “swearing like a sailor”.
There is another thing to consider. True, Peter denies Jesus, but at least he follows him. The others, with the exception of one unnamed disciple (John?), run away.
Apparently there is something about “Galileans” that make them different from others, because the bystanders recognize Peter as a Galilean. Maybe it is the way they dress, or their manner…Matthew says it is the way they talk (Matthew 26:73).
…MATTHEW 26:73…And a little later the bystander came up and said to Peter, “Surely you too are one of them; for the way you talk gives you away.”
It is the evening of the third day of Passover week. The chief priests and elders, including members of the Sanhedrin, overseen by Caiphas, interrogate Jesus in Caiphas’ home. They attempt to get Jesus to say something that will condemn him…false witnesses testify. He is beaten (Matthew 26:59-62; Mark 14:55-59; Luke 22:63).
…MARK 14:55,56…Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus to put Him to death; and they were finding none. For many were giving false testimony against Him, and yet their testimony was not consistent.
…LUKE 22:63…And the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking Him, and beating Him.Jesus remains silent until he is asked if he is the Christ, the son of God. When he answers in the affirmative, Caiphas tears his garments and accuses him of blasphemy. All condemn Jesus to death. They mock him, and beat him again, with their fists and rods (Matthew 26:63-68; Mark 14:61-65).
…MARK 14:61-65…But He kept silent, and made no answer. Again the high priest was questioning him, and saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” And Jesus said, “I am; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” And tearing the clothes, the high priest said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy; how does it seem to you?” And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death. And some began to spit at Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him, with their fists, and to say to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers received Him with slaps in the face.
The interrogation at the house of Caiphas, before the “law keepers”, lasts throughout the hours of darkness. At dawn of the second day, they decide to send Jesus to Pontious Pilate (marine armed with a javelin) .
But first they take Jesus to the Sanhedrin (to the meeting place where they assemble), where they seek to confirm Jesus’ blasphemy before all of its members. Again he is challenged to confirm whether he is the Son of God, and he answers the challenge (Matthew 27:1; Mark 15:1; Luke 22:66-71).
…LUKE 22:66-68,70,71…And when it was day, the Council of the Elders of the people (Sanhedrin) assembled, both chief priests and scribes, and they led Him away to their council chambers, saying, “If You are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe; and if I ask a question, you will not answer”…”And they all said, “Are You the Son of God, then?” And He said to them, “Yes, I am.” And they said, “What further need do we have of testimony? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth.
It is generally believed that the Sanhedrin meets in council to try people in the court of the Temple, itself. Where is not known, but it would not be in the sanctuary. It is not conducted out of doors, so that the trial can be controlled without outside interference. It is probably conducted in one of the Temple’s inner rooms…”council chambers”.
Josephus refers to council meetings held outside the Temple area, between the west wall of the Temple mount and the inner wall of Jerusalem (B-11-552). But at that time the Pharisees had wrested control from the Saducees and may not have allowed secular meetings within the confines of the Temple building itself.
They take him from the Sanhedrin to the Praetorium, which is used as the hall of judgement by Pilate. The “law keepers” do not enter the Praetorium, because they will be defiled if they do (Matthew 27:1,2; Mark 15:1; Luke 23:1; John 18:28).
…John 18:28…They led Jesus therefore from Caiphas into the Praetorium; and it was early; and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium in order that they might not be defiled, but might eat the Passover.
We read of Judas’ reaction to having betrayed Jesus. He throws away the thirty pieces of silver and hangs himself on a tree. The priests purchase “potter’s field” with the “thirty pieces of silver”. It is also emphasized that this occurs so “that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled” (Matthew 27:3-10).
…MATTHEW 27:3-7, 9, 10…Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He was condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to that yourself!” And he threw the pieces of silver into the sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself. And the chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the temple treasury, since it is the price of blood.” And they counseled together and with the money bought the Potter’s Field as a burial place for strangers”…”Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying, ‘AND THEY TOOK THE THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER, THE PRICE OF THE ONE WHOSE PRICE HAD BEEN SENT BY THE SONS OF ISRAEL; AND THEY GAVE THEM FOR THE POTTER’S FIELD, AS THE LORD DIRECTED ME”.
(Note: Matthew may have quoted what Jeremiah may have “spoken”, but it’s not in the Book of Jeremiah currently in the Bible. The only mention of “shekels” in Jeremiah is found in Jeremiah 32:9…and has nothing to do with this” I weighed out the silver for him, seventeen shekels of silver”. The closest “quote” related to this (Zechariah 11:12,13.)
…ZECHARIAH 11:12,13…And I said to them, “If it is good in your sight, give me my wages; but if not never mind!” So they weighed out thirty shekels of silver as my wages. Then the Lord said to me, “Throw to the potter, that magnificent price at which I was valued by them.” So I took the thirty shekels of silver and threw them to the potter in the house of the Lord.
The reason for Judas becoming remorseful puzzles me. He has to know that Jesus will be comdemned, and that the chief priests and elders will do anything to ensure this. If, on the other hand, Judas’ reason for betrayal is to force Jesus’ hand, and declare himself king; then his reason for remorse is clear. There’s another possibility, as well, that Jesus and Judas are in cahoots. They plan together how Jesus can be captured. He could easily turn himself in, but then that wouldn’t “fulfill the prophecies”(there it is again). Another interpretation of Judas’ role in this, found in Mark 14:44 (B3-130), is that Judas “had given him up”. Now, that’s far different than “betraying him”. But in “giving him up”, in the original plan, maybe Jesus didn’t reveal everything. Or maybe Judas knows what’s to come, but kills himself anyway, because of the unyielding remorse over the part he is forced to play.
According to Matthew 26:24, mentioned earlier during the “last supper”, he said “It would have been good for that man if he had not been born” which could have foretold the reason for taking his life.
In any event, we know that he didn’t do it for the money. I can “see” Judas taking the 30 pieces of silver and flinging it into the Temple sanctuary, scattering the coins all over in a fit of remorse and rage. There are some who believe that the tree on which Judas hangs himself is in “potter’s field”. I include myself in this group.
All four gospels are reconciled once again, when Jesus is questioned by Pilate. When Pilate asks why the priests don’t judge him themselves, they say they are unable to “put him to death”. Pilate questions him about being King of the Jews and Jesus tells him that he is. Pilate seems uncertain about Jesus’ guilt and even comes to admire him. The “law keepers” keep pressing him to do “something” about Jesus. keepers” keep pressing him to do “something” about Jesus. 38).
…LUKE 23:2-5…And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ, and king” and Pilate asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” and He answered him and said, “It is as you say.” And Pilate said to the chief priest and the multitudes, “I find no guilt in this man.” But they kept on insisting, “he stirs up the people, teaching all over Judea, starting from Galilee, even as far as this place.”
We see that the “law keepers” are not above lying in order to accomplish their purpose, when they state that Jesus is forbidding the people to pay taxes to Caesar. He said that taxes should be paid. (Matthew 22:19-21).
…MATTHEW 22:19-21…”Show Me the coin used for the poll tax.” And they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; And to God the things that are God’s.”
Luke tells us that Pilate sends Jesus to Herod to be disposed of when he hears that Jesus is from Galilee. Herod is in Jerusalem for the feast and Jesus comes under his jurisdiction. Herod is pleased that Pilate thinks of him and he is also pleased to be able to question Jesus, at long last. He questions him for some length, but despite questioning and abuses by his accusers, Jesus chooses to remain silent. He is mocked and ridiculed and a royal robe (purple) is placed over him…evidently intended to mock his claim as “king”. Jesus is returned to Pilate for disposition. The other gospels omit any reference to this interrogation by Herod (Luke 23:6-11).
…LUKE 23:6-11…But when Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself was also in Jerusalem at that time. Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some sign performed by Him. And he questioned Him at some length; but He answered him nothing. And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, accusing Him vehemently. And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate.”
(Note: Herod’s reason for wanting to see Jesus appears to be that he expects Jesus to put on a show for him, “perform signs”. Jesus has too much class to provide a “pup and pony” show for the king.)
After this, Pilate and Herod, who were once enemies, become friends. This, no doubt, is because they show deference to one another as leaders (Luke 23:12).
…LUKE 23:12…Now Herod and Pilate became friends with one another after that day; for before they had been at enmity with each other.
Herod’s palace is just inside the western wall in the upper city. The location of the houses of Anas and Caiphas are not known, but they are probably close to the palace.
The location of where Pilate conducts his questioning is one much debated, but the gospels tell us that the questioning took place in the Praetorium (palace of the Praetor…chief civil magistrate of Roman colony). The problem lies in locating the Praetorium.
Some say it is located in the general vicinity of Herod’s palace in the upper city, perhaps in the Caesarium…the building set aside by Herod for royal visitors. Keep in mind that Herod’s palace is not occupied by him much of the year. His home is in Tiberias, and the palace in Jerusalem is used by him for special state visits to Jerusalem, and annual feasts.
Many favor the Antonia Fortress located north of and abutting the temple mount. Indeed, some of the remains of the foundation of the old Antonia Fortress are to be found in the Ecce Homo Convent on the Via Dolorosa.
During my stay at the Ecce Homo, I was awakened every morning at 4:00 A.M., on the dot, by the call to the faithful, blasting forth from the loudspeakers in the Mosque of Omar (Dome of the Rock), which now occupies the old temple mount. It was here that I met Denny McLouglin, an old soul from the northernmost part of County Donegal, in the Irish Republic; and Father Murphy, the kindly priest who took me with him on his annual walk of the Stations of the Cross
The Ecce Homo Convent is considered to be one of the Stations of the Cross of today, specifically the Lithostrostos (Greek)…Gabbatha (Aramaic)…a slab-stoned, hard-rock floor in the nether regions of the convent, on which it is believed that Jesus was sentenced by Pilate. I visited this place, near an old abandoned pool and saw what appears to be games carved in the stone, but whether they occurred back then or later is not known. It had a forbidding feel to it.
So the interrogations take pace in four locations, beginning on the third day of Passover week…the house of Caiphas, the Sanhedrin, the Praetorium, and Herod’s palace. Oh, we musn’t forget the brief interrogation at the home of Anas, as well…perhaps five locations in all. The distance between locations doesn’t really matter in determining total time spent in interrogation. After all the furthest distance from wall to wall is about 1600 meters. But there are hills to negotiate and winding roads.
We are not told how long it takes for interrogating. We know only that interrogations begin on the third day of Passover week in the evening, at the house of Anas, and continue during the morning hours of the same day at Caiphas’ house. Luke says that Herod questions him at “some length”. Considering that five separate interrogations may have been conducted, it is probable that they are well into the fourth day of Passover Week, when Jesus is questioned the second time by Pilate. Or it might have been the fifth day…and he is sentenced on the sixth day.