Mar 14:55 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Mark 14:55-59: 14:55-59 The trial took place before the entire high council (Greek Sanhedrin ), which had seventy members and was led by the high priest. The Gospels portray a formal trial: There was a search for witnesses (14:55 ), eyewitness testimony (14:56-59 ), Jesus being placed under oath (Matt 26:63 ), Jesus being allowed to defend himself (Mark 14:60 ), the high priest tearing his robe (14:63 ), and the concluding verdict by the Sanhedrin (14:64 ). This does not mean that it was a fair trial—the decision to put Jesus to death had already been made. Evidence was not sought to determine the truth, but to obtain a guilty verdict and death sentence. • False witnesses giving false testimony misrepresented what Jesus said about the destruction and rebuilding of the Temple (see 15:29 ; John 2:19 ; Acts 6:14 ). Because the false witnesses contradicted each other , their testimony was unacceptable (Num 35:30 ; Deut 17:6 ; 19:15 ).

a14:55-59►

b14:55►

c14:56-59►

dMatt 26:63►

eMark 14:60►

f14:63►

g14:64►

h15:29►

iJohn 2:19►

jActs 6:14►

kNum 35:30►

lDeut 17:6►

m19:15►

‏ Mark 14:55

Summary for Mark 14:55-59: 14:55-59 ^a The trial took place before the entire high council (Greek Sanhedrin), which had seventy members and was led by the high priest. The Gospels portray a formal trial: There was a search for witnesses (14:55 ^b), eyewitness testimony (14:56-59 ^c), Jesus being placed under oath (Matt 26:63 ^d), Jesus being allowed to defend himself (Mark 14:60 ^e), the high priest tearing his robe (14:63 ^f), and the concluding verdict by the Sanhedrin (14:64 ^g). This does not mean that it was a fair trial—the decision to put Jesus to death had already been made. Evidence was not sought to determine the truth, but to obtain a guilty verdict and death sentence.

• False witnesses giving false testimony misrepresented what Jesus said about the destruction and rebuilding of the Temple (see 15:29 ^h; John 2:19 ⁱ; Acts 6:14 ^j). Because the false witnesses contradicted each other, their testimony was unacceptable (Num 35:30 ^k; Deut 17:6 ^l; 19:15 ^m).