53And they led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes assembled together. [14:54] And Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest, and he was sitting with the attendants and warming himself at the fire. [14:55] Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, and they were not finding any. [14:56] For many were giving false testimony against him, but their testimonies were not consistent. [14:57] And some stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying, [14:58] "We ourselves heard him say, 'I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another not made with hands.'" [14:59] And even so their testimony was not consistent. [14:60] And the high priest stood up in the midst and questioned Jesus, saying, "Have you no answer? What is it these men testify against you?" [14:61] But he was silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest questioned him and said to him, "Are you the Anointed, the Son of the Blessed One?" [14:62] And Jesus said, "I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven." [14:63] And the high priest tore his inner tunic and said, "What further need do we have of witnesses? [14:64] You have heard the blasphemy. What does it appear to you?" And they all condemned him as deserving death. [14:65] And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him with their fists, saying to him, "Prophesy!" And the attendants received him with slaps across the face.
MRK 14:53-65
Jesus before the Sanhedrin
In the world it was spoken into
In this scene, Jesus is brought before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council composed of chief priests, elders, and scribes. The Sanhedrin held significant religious and political authority under Roman oversight, particularly in matters of Jewish law. Their gathering in the high priest’s courtyard reflects their role as custodians of Temple purity and Jewish tradition. The presence of (servants or officers) underscores the hierarchical structure of the proceedings, with these subordinates maintaining order and enforcing the council’s decisions. The false testimonies against Jesus highlight the tension between his claims and the Sanhedrin’s authority, as they seek to convict him of blasphemy, a capital offense under Jewish law. The tearing of the high priest’s (tunic) is a dramatic gesture, symbolizing grief or outrage, while the (slaps) inflicted on Jesus are acts of public humiliation, reinforcing his degradation in the eyes of the council. This trial reflects the collision of Jesus’ messianic claims with the institutional power of the Temple elite.
›See the receipts
How other translations render this
MRK 14:53
- KJV
- And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes.
- BSB
- They led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests, elders, and scribes assembled.
- Koinōnos
- And they led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes assembled together.
MRK 14:54
- KJV
- And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.
- BSB
- Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he sat with the officers and warmed himself by the fire.
- Koinōnos
- And Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest, and he was sitting with the attendants and warming himself at the fire.
MRK 14:55
- KJV
- And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none.
- BSB
- Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but they did not find any.
- Koinōnos
- Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, and they were not finding any.
MRK 14:56
- KJV
- For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.
- BSB
- For many bore false witness against Jesus, but their testimony was inconsistent.
- Koinōnos
- For many were giving false testimony against him, but their testimonies were not consistent.
MRK 14:57
- KJV
- And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying,
- BSB
- Then some men stood up and testified falsely against Him:
- Koinōnos
- And some stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying,
MRK 14:58
- KJV
- We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.
- BSB
- “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this man-made temple, and in three days I will build another that is made without hands.’”
- Koinōnos
- We ourselves heard him say, 'I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another not made with hands.'
MRK 14:59
- KJV
- But neither so did their witness agree together.
- BSB
- But even their testimony was inconsistent.
- Koinōnos
- And even so their testimony was not consistent.
MRK 14:60
- KJV
- And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
- BSB
- So the high priest stood up before them and questioned Jesus, “Have You no answer? What are these men testifying against You?”
- Koinōnos
- And the high priest stood up in the midst and questioned Jesus, saying, "Have you no answer? What is it these men testify against you?
MRK 14:61
- KJV
- But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?
- BSB
- But Jesus remained silent and made no reply. Again the high priest questioned Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”
- Koinōnos
- But he was silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest questioned him and said to him, "Are you the Anointed, the Son of the Blessed One?
MRK 14:62
- KJV
- And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
- BSB
- “I am,” said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
- Koinōnos
- And Jesus said, "I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.
MRK 14:63
- KJV
- Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses?
- BSB
- At this, the high priest tore his clothes and declared, “Why do we need any more witnesses?
- Koinōnos
- And the high priest tore his inner tunic and said, "What further need do we have of witnesses?
MRK 14:64
- KJV
- Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.
- BSB
- You have heard the blasphemy. What is your verdict?” And they all condemned Him as deserving of death.
- Koinōnos
- You have heard the blasphemy. What does it appear to you?" And they all condemned him as deserving death.
MRK 14:65
- KJV
- And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.
- BSB
- Then some of them began to spit on Him. They blindfolded Him, struck Him with their fists, and said to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers received Him with slaps in His face.
- Koinōnos
- And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him with their fists, saying to him, "Prophesy!" And the attendants received him with slaps across the face.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Where the historical framing draws from
- Josephus, AntiquitiesAntiquities 18.3.3
›Josephus, Antiquities Antiquities 18.3.3
“And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him”
Cited to ground: Jesus is brought before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council composed of chief priests, elders, and scribes.
Translator's notes
MRK 14:54
- officers:The word translated 'officers' refers to servants or attendants, often those who served in a public capacity or as assistants to magistrates, rather than military or police officers.
MRK 14:58
- made with hands:The phrase 'made with hands' emphasizes something constructed by human effort, in contrast to something natural or divinely created, highlighting its earthly origin.
MRK 14:63
- garments:The word translated 'garments' specifically refers to the inner tunic, worn next to the skin, which was a fundamental piece of clothing in that culture.
MRK 14:65
- with the palms:The term used here for 'with the palms' specifically denotes a slap on the face, indicating a direct and insulting physical assault.