Matthew 26:57–68

Jesus before the High Priest

⁵⁷Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. ⁵⁸But Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards in order to see how this would end.^{* 59}Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death, ⁶⁰but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward^{* 61}and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’ ”^{* 62}The high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?” ⁶³But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I put you under oath before the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah,^f the Son of God.”^{* 64}Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you,

From now on you will see the Son of Man

seated at the right hand of Power

and coming on the clouds of heaven.”^*

⁶⁵Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy.^{* 66}What do you think?” They answered, “He deserves death.”^{* 67}Then they spat in his face and struck him, and some slapped him,^{* 68}saying, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah!^g Who is it that struck you?”