Jesus before His Accusers

53 aThey led Jesus away to the high priest; and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes * gathered together.

54 Peter had followed Him at a distance, aright into bthe courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the 1officers and cwarming himself at the 2fire.

55 Now the chief priests and the whole 1aCouncil kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, and they were not finding any.

56 For many were giving false testimony against Him, but their testimony was not consistent.

57 Some stood up and began to give false testimony against Him, saying,

58 “We heard Him say, ‘aI will destroy this 1temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.’ ”

59 Not even in this respect was their testimony consistent.

60 The high priest stood up and came forward and questioned Jesus, saying, “Do You not answer? 1What is it that these men are testifying against You?”

61 aBut He kept silent and did not answer. bAgain the high priest was questioning Him, and 1saying to Him, “Are You 2the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”

62 And Jesus said, “I am; and you shall see athe Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and bcoming with the clouds of heaven.”

63 aTearing his clothes, the high priest * said, “What further need do we have of witnesses?

64 “You have heard the ablasphemy; how does it seem to you?” And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.

65 Some began to aspit at Him, and 1bto blindfold Him, and to beat Him with their fists, and to say to Him, “cProphesy!” And the officers 2received Him with 3slaps in the face.

Peter’s Denials

66 aAs Peter was below in bthe courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest * came,

67 and seeing Peter awarming himself, she looked at him and * said, “You also were with Jesus the bNazarene.”

68 But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are talking about.” And he awent out onto the 1porch.2

69 The servant-girl saw him, and began once more to say to the bystanders, “This is one of them!”

70 But again ahe denied it. And after a little while the bystanders were again saying to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, bfor you are a Galilean too.”

71 But he began to 1curse and swear, “I do not know this man you are talking about!”

72 Immediately a rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had made the remark to him, “Before aa rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” 1And he began to weep.

Chapter 15

Jesus before Pilate

1 aEarly in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes and the whole 1bCouncil, immediately held a consultation; and binding Jesus, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate.

2 aPilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He * answered him, “It is as you say.”

3 The chief priests began to accuse Him 1harshly.

4 Then Pilate questioned Him again, saying, “Do You not answer? See how many charges they bring against You!”

5 But Jesus amade no further answer; so Pilate was amazed.

6 aNow at the feast he used to release for them any one prisoner whom they requested.

7 The man named Barabbas had been imprisoned with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the insurrection.

8 The crowd went up and began asking him to do as he had been accustomed to do for them.

9 Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?”

10 For he was aware that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.

11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd ato ask him to release Barabbas for them instead.

12 Answering again, Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?”

13 They shouted 1back, “Crucify Him!”

14 But Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify Him!”

15 Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus ascourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.

Jesus Is Mocked

16 aThe soldiers took Him away into bthe 1palace (that is, the Praetorium), and they * called together the whole Roman 2ccohort.

17 They * dressed Him up in purple, and after twisting a crown of thorns, they put it on Him;

18 and they began to acclaim Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!”

19 They kept beating His head with a 1reed, and spitting on Him, and kneeling and bowing before Him.

20 After they had mocked Him, they took the purple robe off Him and put His own garments on Him. And they * led Him out to crucify Him.