JESUS FACES THE SANHEDRIN

53 Theyz led Jesus away to the high priest,aa and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribesab assembled.ac 54 Peterad followed him at a distance, right into the high priest’s courtyard. He was sitting with the servants,* ae warming himself by the fire.

55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrinaf were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death,ag but they could not find any. 56 For many were giving false testimonyah against him, and the testimonies did not agree. 57 Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, stating, 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands,ai and in three days I will build another not made by hands.’ ” 59 Yet their testimony did not agreeaj even on this.

60 Then the high priest stood up before them all and questioned Jesus, “Don’t you have an answer to what these men are testifying against you?” 61 But he kept silent and did not answer.ak Again the high priest questioned him, “Are you the Messiah,al the Sonam of the Blessedan One?”

62 “I am,”ao said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Manap seated at the right handaq of Power and coming with the cloudsar of heaven.”E,as

63 Then the high priestat tore his robesau and said, “Why do we still need witnesses?av 64 You have heard the blasphemy.aw What is your decision?” They all condemned him as deserving death.ax

65 Then some began to spit on him, to blindfold him, and to beat him, saying, “Prophesy!”ay The temple servantsaz also took him and slapped him.

PETER DENIES HIS LORD

66 Whileba Peterbb was in the courtyard below, one of the high priest’s maidservants came. 67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.”bc

68 But he denied it: “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about.” Then he went out to the entryway,F and a rooster crowed.G

69 When the maidservant saw him again, she began to tell those standing nearby, “This man is one of them.”

70 But again he denied it. After a little while those standing there said to Peter again, “You certainly are one of them, since you’re also a Galilean.”H,bd

71 Then he started to curse and swear,be “I don’t know this man you’re talking about!”

72 Immediately a rooster crowed a second time,a and Peter remembered when Jesus had spoken the word to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

JESUS FACES PILATE

15 Asb soon as it was morning, having held a meeting with the elders,c scribes,d and the whole Sanhedrin, the chief priestse tied Jesus up, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate.f

2 So Pilate asked him, “Are you the kingg of the Jews?”h

He answered him, “You say so.”

3 And the chief priests accused him of many things. 4 Pilatei questioned him again, “Aren’t you going to answer? Look how many things they are accusing you of!” 5 But Jesus still did not answer, and so Pilate was amazed.

JESUS OR BARABBAS

6 Atj the festivalk Pilatel used to release for the people a prisoner whom they requested. 7 There was one named Barabbas, who was in prison with rebels who had committed murderm during the rebellion.n 8 The crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do for them as was his custom. 9 Pilate answered them, “Do you want me to release the kingo of the Jewsp for you?” 10 For he knew it was because of envyq that the chief priests had handed him over. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd so that he would release Barabbas to them instead. 12 Pilate asked them again, “Then what do you want me to do with the one you call the king of the Jews?”

13 Again they shouted, “Crucify him!”

14 Pilate said to them, “Why? What has he done wrong?”

But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him!”

15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them; and after having Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified.

MOCKED BY THE MILITARY

16 Ther soldiers led him away into the palace (that is, the governor’s residences) and called the whole company together. 17 They dressed him in a purplet robe, twisted together a crownu of thorns, and put it on him. 18 And they began to salute him, “Hail,v kingw of the Jews!” 19 They were hitting him on the head with a stick and spitting on him. Getting down on their knees,x they were paying him homage. 20 After they had mockedy him, they stripped him of the purple robe and put his clothes on him.

CRUCIFIED BETWEEN TWO CRIMINALS

They led him out to crucify him.