Matthew 26:57–75

Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin

⁵⁷Those ⁿwho had arrested Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas ^othe high priest, where the scribes and the elders had convened. ⁵⁸Meanwhile, Peter was following Him at a distance right to the high priest’s courtyard. ^pHe went in and was sitting with the temple police ^qto see the outcome. ^rs

⁵⁹The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony against Jesus so they could put Him to death. ^t60But they could not find any, even though many false witnesses ^ucame forward. ^vFinally, two ^wwho came forward ⁶¹stated, “This man said, ‘I can demolish God’s sanctuary ^xand rebuild it in three days.’ ”

⁶²The high priest then stood up and said to Him, “Don’t You have an answer to what these men are testifying against You?” ⁶³But ^yJesus kept silent. ^zThen the high priest said to Him, “By the living God I place You under oath: ^atell us if You are the Messiah, the Son of God!” ^b

⁶⁴“You have said it,” ^cJesus told him. “But I tell you, in the future ^dyou will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” ^ef

⁶⁵Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! ^gWhy do we still need witnesses? Look, now you’ve heard the blasphemy! ^h66What is your decision?” ⁱ

They answered, “He deserves death!” ^j67Then they spit in His face ^kand beat Him; others slapped Him ⁶⁸and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah! Who hit You?” ^l

Peter Denies His Lord

⁶⁹Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. ^mA servant approached him and she said, “You were with Jesus the Galilean too.”

⁷⁰But he denied it in front of everyone: “I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

⁷¹When he had gone out to the gateway, another woman saw him and told those who were there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene!” ⁿ

⁷²And again he denied it with an oath, ^o“I don’t know the man!”

⁷³After a little while those standing there approached and said to Peter, “You certainly are one of them, since even your accent ^pgives you away.”

⁷⁴Then he started to curse ^qand to swear with an oath, “I do not know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed, ⁷⁵and Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” ^rAnd he went outside and wept bitterly.