Mark 14:53–72

Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin

⁵³They ⁱled Jesus away to the high priest, ^jand all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes ^kconvened. ^l54Peter ^mfollowed Him at a distance, right into the high priest’s courtyard. He was sitting with the temple police, ^nowarming himself by the fire. ^p

⁵⁵The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin ^qwere looking for testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, ^rbut they could find none. ⁵⁶For many were giving false testimony ^sagainst Him, but the testimonies did not agree. ⁵⁷Some stood up and were giving false testimony against Him, stating, ⁵⁸“We heard Him say, ‘I will demolish this sanctuary made by human hands, ^tand in three days I will build another not made by hands.’ ” ⁵⁹Yet their testimony did not agree ^ueven on this.

⁶⁰Then 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?” ⁶¹But He kept silent and did not answer anything. ^vAgain the high priest questioned Him, “Are You the Messiah, ^wthe Son ^xof the Blessed ^yOne?”

⁶²“I am,” ^zsaid Jesus, “and all of you ^awill see the Son of Man ^bseated at the right hand ^cof the Power and coming with the clouds ^dof heaven.” ^ef

⁶³Then the high priest ^gtore his robes ^hand said, “Why do we still need witnesses? ⁱ⁶⁴You have heard the blasphemy! ^jWhat is your decision?” ^k

And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death. ^l65Then some began to spit on Him, to blindfold Him, and to beat Him, saying, “Prophesy!” ^mThe temple police ⁿalso took Him and slapped Him.

Peter Denies His Lord

⁶⁶While ^oPeter ^pwas in the courtyard below, one of the high priest’s servants came. ⁶⁷When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with that Nazarene, ^qJesus.”

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

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

⁷⁰But 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!” ^st

⁷¹Then he started to curse ^uand to swear with an oath, ^v“I don’t know this man you’re talking about!”

⁷²Immediately a rooster crowed a second time, ^wand Peter remembered when Jesus had spoken the word to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” When he thought about it, he began to weep. ^x