What does Luke 22:54 mean?
This trial occurs at the home of Caiaphas, the high priest. Only John records that before this, the mob took him to Annas, former high priest and Caiaphas's father-in-law. Annas retains so much power that he gets to question Jesus first. John's account is short. Jesus points out that His teaching has been public, so there's no need for them to question Him. A guard strikes Him, not in punishment but because the guard felt Jesus insulted Annas (John 18:13–14, 19–24).Caiaphas is the high priest. When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead and the people flocked to Him, the religious leaders grew afraid that Jesus was building an army to fight the Romans. They feared He would lose and the Romans would take away the rights and authority of the Sanhedrin. So, they gathered to determine what they should do. Caiaphas said, "You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish" (John 11:49–50). He meant that they would be justified in killing Jesus so the Romans wouldn't destroy the Jews. The Holy Spirit meant Jesus needed to die for the salvation and the reconciliation of the Jews. Fittingly, this gave the Sanhedrin the impetus they needed to find a way to kill Jesus (John 11:45–53).
Luke says nothing about the trial at Annas's home and little about the trial at Caiaphas's. His focus is on Peter's disloyalty. The chief priests, elders, and teachers of the law have a difficult time finding witnesses who can affirm Jesus has done anything wrong (Matthew 26:57–61). Two finally say that He said He would tear down the temple and rebuild it in three days (Mark 14:55–58), a claim He made early in His ministry (John 2:19). But even the two witnesses can't agree and, of course, Jesus was talking about His body that laid in the tomb for three days (Mark 14:59).
Having a trial at night is illegal. Caiaphas is trying to find a charge to bring against Jesus so he can formally convict Him in the morning before the Sanhedrin (Luke 22:66–71) and justify their demand that Pilate crucify Him (Luke 23:1–5).
