Matthew 26:57 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered.

NIV: Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled.

NASB: Those who had arrested Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.

CSB: Those who had arrested Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had convened.

NLT: Then the people who had arrested Jesus led him to the home of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of religious law and the elders had gathered.

KJV: And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.

NKJV: And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.

Led by Judas (Matthew 26:25), the betrayer (Matthew 26:48), a group of Roman soldiers and Jewish temple guards have seized Jesus and bound Him (John 18:12). They now bring Jesus to the home of the high priest Caiaphas. At the same time, the members of the Jewish ruling body, the Sanhedrin, are being gathered in another part of Caiaphas' mansion to meet about Jesus.

Matthew does not record Jesus' first interview with Annas, the former high priest before Caiaphas. Annas was Caiaphas's father-in-law. He had been removed from his position by secular authorities, and many of the Jewish people still considered him the "true" high priest. Jesus was taken to both men, likely to get a guilty verdict from everyone with any authority before the people could object to Jesus' arrest and trials.

John records Jesus' brief first interview with Annas before He was sent to Caiaphas. Annas questions Jesus about His teaching. Jesus responds that He has taught openly and in public for all to hear, suggesting that Annas ask others what they heard Him say. One of the officers strikes Jesus for this supposed disrespect. Jesus challenges the man, and Annas sends Jesus to appear before Roman-appointed Caiaphas (John 18:19–24).

Matthew 26:57–68 describes Jesus' sham trial before members of the Jewish ruling body. False witnesses accuse Jesus of crimes worthy of a death sentence; their attempts are so transparently false that the effort fails. Finally, the high priest challenges Jesus to state that He is the Messiah and the Son of God. Jesus agrees, and even adds to the declaration. The high priest and council agree Jesus is guilty of blasphemy and condemn Him to death. Mark 14:53–65, Luke 22:63–71, John 18:12–14, and John 18:19–24 explain different perspectives on the same events.

The Jewish religious leaders further their plots to arrest and kill Jesus, finding a willing traitor in Judas Iscariot. A woman anoints Christ with oil during a dinner at Bethany. Next, Jesus and the disciples hold the Passover meal in an upper room where Jesus predicts His arrests and introduces the sacrament of communion. Then Jesus prays in unimaginable agony in the garden of Gethsemane before being betrayed by Judas and captured. The disciples scatter. Before the high priest, Jesus explicitly claims to be divine. They convict Him of blasphemy and sentence Him to death. As this happens, Peter denies knowing Jesus and runs away in shame.

After a long series of teaching (Matthew 24—25), Matthew 26 begins with Jesus saying He will be delivered up for death. Christ is anointed at a dinner in Bethany and Judas agrees to turn Him over to the chief priests. Jesus holds a Passover meal with the disciples, predicts an act of treachery, and introduces the sacrament of communion. He tells the disciples they will run in fear and that Peter will deny Him, which happens just as prophesied. Christ prays in great sorrow in a garden and is then arrested and taken away and unfairly sentenced to death. After this, Jesus will be taken to the Roman governor, where Jewish leadership will press for Him to be executed as an insurgent.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.