Mat 26:57-68 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Matt 26:57-27:26: 26:57–27:26 The Gospels record Jesus as undergoing five hearings: (1) an informal hearing before Annas (John 18:13-24 ); (2) a night hearing before the Sanhedrin (Matt 26:59-66 ); (3) a morning hearing before the Sanhedrin (27:1-2 ); (4) a hearing before Herod Antipas (Luke 23:6-12 ); and (5) a two-stage trial before Pilate (Matt 27:11-31 ; see Luke 23:6-12 ). It all amounts to two trials, a Jewish trial and a Roman trial. Summary for Matt 26:57-68: 26:57-68 This hearing might have been little more than an unofficial preliminary hearing designed to establish consensus on the terms of the charges. The Jewish leaders were under considerable pressure to keep this incident secret, lest their actions cause a riot (see 21:26 , 46 ; 26:5 , 55 ; John 11:45-53 ).

Summary for Matt 26:57-27:26: 26:57–27:26 ^a The Gospels record Jesus as undergoing five hearings: (1) an informal hearing before Annas (John 18:13-24 ^b); (2) a night hearing before the Sanhedrin (Matt 26:59-66 ^c); (3) a morning hearing before the Sanhedrin (27:1-2 ^d); (4) a hearing before Herod Antipas (Luke 23:6-12 ^e); and (5) a two-stage trial before Pilate (Matt 27:11-31 ^f; see Luke 23:6-12 ^g). It all amounts to two trials, a Jewish trial and a Roman trial.
Summary for Matt 26:57-68: 26:57-68 ^h This hearing might have been little more than an unofficial preliminary hearing designed to establish consensus on the terms of the charges. The Jewish leaders were under considerable pressure to keep this incident secret, lest their actions cause a riot (see 21:26 ⁱ, 46 ^j; 26:5 ^k, 55 ^l; John 11:45-53 ^m).
26:58 ⁿ the high priest’s courtyard: This location suggests an ad hoc meeting of the Sanhedrin at the palace of the high priest (26:3 ^o).
26:59 ^p were trying to find witnesses: The verb tense suggests an extended, perhaps desperate, attempt to find any testimony that could lead to a formal accusation (see Mark 14:55-56 ^q).
26:60 ^r could not use anyone’s testimony: The evidence was too insubstantial or inconsistent to meet their goal of a death sentence until two men came forward (Deut 17:6 ^s; 19:15 ^t) with testimonies that did not conflict.
26:61 ^u The charge is either a misunderstanding or a deliberate distortion of Jesus’ prediction of his death and resurrection (see John 2:19-21 ^v).
26:63 ^w if you are the Messiah: This question from the high priest was prompted by Zech 6:12 ^x, which had predicted that the Messiah would rebuild the Temple (cp. Matt 26:61 ^y).
26:64 ^z You have said it: This purposefully enigmatic response is essentially an affirmative answer (see 26:25 ^aa; 27:11 ^ab); Mark has “I Am” (Mark 14:62 ^ac).

• you will see: By quoting Dan 7:13 ^ad, Jesus affirmed that he was the Son of Man who would be vindicated and exalted by God.

• seated in the place of power at God’s right hand: Literally seated at the right hand of the power; see Ps 110:1 ^ae. Jews were reluctant to name God directly (see study note on Matt 5:4).

• The expression coming on the clouds of heaven could refer either to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 or to Jesus’ second coming at the end of history.
26:65 ^af Blasphemy! Caiaphas evidently understood Jesus’ claim to be the exalted Son of Man as a blasphemy against God’s majesty. The Son of Man (Dan 7:13-14 ^ag) was closely associated with this majesty.
Summary for Matt 26:67-68: 26:67-68 ^ah Such abuse fulfills Isa 50:6 ^ai; 53:4-9 ^aj and Jesus’ own predictions (Matt 16:21 ^ak; 17:22-23 ^al; 20:18-19 ^am; 26:2 ^an; see also Mark 14:65 ^ao).