Section 155
Second Jewish phase, before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin
Jerusalem, house of Caiaphas
| Matthew 26:57, 59-68 | Mark 14:53, 55-65 | Luke 22:54a, 63-65 | John 18:24 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 57Now those who had arrested Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. | 53Then they led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes were assembled together with him. | 54aThen they arrested him, led him away, and brought him to the house of the high priest, | 24Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. |
| 59Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking false testimony against Jesus, so that they could put him to death, 60but they did not find any. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they did not find any. 61But at last two false witnesses came forward and declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’ ” | 55Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. 56For many were giving false testimony against him, but their testimonies did not agree. 57Then some stood up and gave false testimony against him, declaring, 58“We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another that is not made with hands.’ ” 59Yet even then their testimony did not agree. | ||
| 62So the high priest stood up and said to him, “Do you make no answer? What are these men testifying against you?” 63But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God to tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself. Nevertheless I say to you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” [*] | 60Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Do you make no answer? What are these men testifying against you?” 61But he was silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” 62Jesus 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.” [*] | ||
| 65Then the high priest tore his garments and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard his blasphemy. 66What do you think?” They answered, “He deserves death.” | 63Then the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? 64You have heard his blasphemy. What seems right to you?” And they all condemned him as deserving death. | ||
| 67Then they spit in his face and struck him. Others slapped him, 68saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?” | 65Then some began to spit on him, to blindfold him, and to beat him, saying to him, “Prophesy!” And the officers kept striking him with the palms of their hands. | 63Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody began mocking him and beating him. 64They also blindfolded him and kept striking his face, saying to him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” 65And they said many other things against him, reviling him. |
Notes
The House of Caiaphas
The St. Peter in Gallicantu (cock crow) Church commemorates Peter’s three denials of Jesus and his repentance. It lies on the eastern slope of present-day Mount Zion. This site also commemorates the illegal trial of Jesus staged by Caiaphas and Annas, and the imprisonment of Jesus. Outside the existing church is an ancient stairway which is actually a main walkway up the side of Mount Zion. It is very likely that Jesus, after being taken prisoner in Gethsemane, was led up these stairs to the house of Caiaphas. These stairs were in existence in Jesus’ day.
This location for Caiaphas was determined by reports from Christian pilgrims from the 3rd century A.D. Their reports say this site “was known by all.” About 460 A.D. the Empress Eudoxia built a church on the ruins of Caiaphas’ house to commemorate Peter’s denial and repentance. The present day church was built over the remains of a basilica destroyed on this site by the Persians in 614 A.D. Some archaeologists believe that the house of Caiaphas was located higher up on the summit of Mount Zion in the present day Jewish quarter.
Photos
Videos
Video 31: Events of Passion Week (Mount of Olives)
Jerusalem, house of Caiaphas
Footnotes
Matthew 26,64 | Mark 14,62
Psalms 110:1; Daniel 7:13