Harmony of Jesus' Trials - 7 Phases from Arrest to Sentencing

Turns out if you want to put someone to death legally, you have to jump through quite a few hoops and layers of red tape. And so, as the Jewish leaders put Jesus to death, they go through several phases. Each author, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John chooses which scene to develop in their Gospel. Luke’s is the most full. John picks up a couple things the others do not. Mark’s account is the briefest. And yet the both include the primary sentencing from the religious arm (the Sanhedrin) and the secular arm (Pilate). Along the way they go through six different trials or we could say questionings. 

Of course, if you want to murder Messiah you have to do so according to the Law. Perhaps one of the saddest sentences in this whole Bible is that the Pharisees would not go into Pilate’s house because that would cause them to be unclean. And so the trials literally take all night long as they try to gather the Jewish Senate together to put Jesus to death legally.

1.     Arrest in the Garden

2.     Brief appearance before Annas while the group is getting gathered.

3.     Appearance before Caiaphas.

4.     FORMAL Appearance before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin.

5.     Appearance before Pilate.

6.     Appearance before Herod.

7.     FORMAL Appearance before Pilate for sentencing.

1.     Arrest in the Garden

It starts with a Roman Cohort hired to take Jesus.
Of course, Judas betrays Jesus to this end. Why was Judas needed? He had to find a time and place when the crowd was not around. And so he betrayed Jesus with a kiss in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus knew this already. So He expected Judas and the followers.

At the arrest, Jesus throws the soldiers to the ground. Once they gather their feet again, Peter cuts off one of the high priest servants ear. Jesus says He is ready to go with the soldiers at which point all forsake Jesus and flee. I’m reminded again of Isaiah’s text:

“He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him” (Isaiah 53:3).

“Immediately while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, came up accompanied by a crowd with swords and clubs, who were from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. ⁴⁴Now he who was betraying Him had given them a signal, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him and lead Him away under guard.” ⁴⁵After coming, Judas immediately went to Him, saying, “Rabbi!” and kissed Him. ⁴⁶They laid hands on Him and seized Him.

⁴⁷But one of those who stood by drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. ⁴⁸And Jesus said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me, as you would against a robber? ⁴⁹“Every day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me; but this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures.” ⁵⁰And they all left Him and fled. ⁵¹A young man was following Him, wearing nothing but a linen sheet over his naked body; and they seized him. ⁵²But he pulled free of the linen sheet and escaped naked” (Mark 14:43-52)

2.     Brief appearance before Annas while the group is getting gathered.

Both Luke and John mention this first step to the High Priest area and the first questioning in the religious tribunal. This probably was the same building that the first three sessions/questionings were held. This would have been while getting the Sanhedrin together to officially vote to turn Jesus over to the Roman government for sentencing.

There have been some recent excavations that show that this area was found in the Upper Jerusalem that have shown some palatial houses that would be like where very wealth, connected families lived. Most likely one complex where both Caiaphas and his father-in-Law, Annas lived.

“In this district a team of modern archaeologists have excavated a large palatial type mansion that covered an area of over six hundred square meters laid out with a large, central paved courtyard reaching through a secluded gateway and forecourt. Around the courtyard was a series of living quarters some with second floors, indicating that more than one family occupied the quarters. There was also a large room decorated with elaborate plaster design and an elegantly adorned vaulted ceilings as well as rooms for ritual mikveh baths.” (ZBBC Vol 1 168).

Annas was the High Priest till 15 AD. He was forced to resign by the government, but the priesthood stayed in the family, so he would be very connected. His son in law was now High Priest. However, now they are referring to him.

“So the Roman cohort and the commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him, ¹³and led Him to Annas first; for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. ¹⁴Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people.

¹⁵Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest, ¹⁶but Peter was standing at the door outside. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in. ¹⁷Then the slave-girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” ¹⁸Now the slaves and the officers were standing there, having made a charcoal fire, for it was cold and they were warming themselves; and Peter was also with them, standing and warming himself.

¹⁹The high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching. ²⁰Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret.  ²¹“Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; they know what I said.” ²²When He had said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus, saying, “Is that the way You answer the high priest?” ²³Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?” ²⁴So Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest” (John 18:12–24).

3.     Appearance before Caiaphas.

CAIAPHAS:

Most likely both families lived in the same complex. Now that Annas has made his decision, Caiaphas comes forward to add to the illegal hearing. Now they are sending people out to recover the Sanhedrin body, witnesses that might speak against Jesus. the same huge complex. Matthew, Mark and Luke record this at length.

This second hearing goes through the night Thursday into Friday early morning. By early morning they have enough of the ruling body together to pronounce sentence that would go to Pilate to gain permission to kill Jesus.

“Those who had seized Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.  ⁵⁸But Peter was following Him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and entered in, and sat down with the officers to see the outcome.

⁵⁹Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death. ⁶⁰They did not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. But later on two came forward, ⁶¹and said, “This man stated, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.’ ” ⁶²The high priest stood up and said to Him, “Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?” ⁶³But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, “I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.” ⁶⁴Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” ⁶⁵Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy; ⁶⁶what do you think?” They answered, “He deserves death!” ⁶⁷Then they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him, ⁶⁸and said, “Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?” (Matthew 26:57–68). 

4.     FORMAL Appearance before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin for sentencing.

When it was day, the formal pronouncement was made. At this point, Jesus claimed to be the Son of Man. Making him the Most High. They all condemned Jesus for blasphemy. Though the charges they bring before Pilate are for insurrection (claiming to be King), blaspheme and threatening to tear down the temple.

“When it was day, the Council of elders of the people assembled, both chief priests and scribes, and they led Him away to their council chamber, saying, ⁶⁷“If You are the Christ, tell us.” But He said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe; ⁶⁸and if I ask a question, you will not answer.  ⁶⁹“But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”  ⁷⁰And they all said, “Are You the Son of God, then?” And He said to them, “Yes, I am.”  ⁷¹Then they said, “What further need do we have of testimony? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth” (Luke 22:66–71),

5.     First Appearance before Pilate.

Pilate begins to question Jesus but is warned by his wife not to put him to death because she was warned against it in a dream. Pilate’s primary judgment hall is in Caesarea, but he would be in town for the Passover. He would either be in the Antonia Fortress near the Temple or in Herod’s Palace.

When he did he forwarded him over to Herod. Herod is not in Herod’s palace. That was his dad’s place. This Herod was in charge of Galilee and Perea, not Judea (Pilate). So, he too was at the feast for Passover, probably in the Hasmonian Palace.

¹Then the whole body of them got up and brought Him before Pilate. ²And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.” ³So Pilate asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He answered him and said, “It is as you say.” ⁴Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” ⁵But they kept on insisting, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching all over Judea, starting from Galilee even as far as this place.” ⁶When Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. ⁷And when he learned that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself also was in Jerusalem at that time. ⁸Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some sign performed by Him” (Luke 23:1–8).

6.     Appearance before Herod.

⁸Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some sign performed by Him. ⁹And he questioned Him at some length; but He answered him nothing. ¹⁰And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, accusing Him vehemently. ¹¹And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate. ¹²Now Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been enemies with each other” (Luke 23:8–12).

Here we find Jesus fulfilling Isaiah 53. He was silent.

“He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth” (Isaiah 53:7).

7.     FORMAL Appearance before Pilate for sentencing.

Pilate tries to release Jesus instead of Barabbas knowing that there was no real charge against Jesus. So he hopes the crowd will rather have Jesus released than the well-known criminal Barabbas. Instead, the guilty is punished and the criminal goes free. The crowd is deaf to Pilate’s political maneuvering so eventually gives in to the crowd’s growing cries, knowing that civil unrest in the high feast was not an option. He was bound by the whims of the people instead of being bound to truth. In turn, he washes his hands in front of the crowd and condemns Jesus to die even though he found no guilt in Him.

 

“Now when morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus to put Him to death; ²and they bound Him, and led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate the governor.

³Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, ⁴saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to that yourself!” ⁵And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself.

⁶The chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the temple treasury, since it is the price of blood.”

⁷And they conferred together and with the money bought the Potter’s Field as a burial place for strangers. ⁸For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. ⁹Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one whose price had been set by the sons of Israel; ¹⁰and they gave them for the Potter’s Field, as the Lord directed me.”

¹¹Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor questioned Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.” ¹²And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not answer. ¹³Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” ¹⁴And He did not answer him with regard to even a single charge, so the governor was quite amazed.

¹⁵Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted. ¹⁶At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. ¹⁷So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” ¹⁸For he knew that because of envy they had handed Him over. ¹⁹While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him.” ²⁰But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death. ²¹But the governor said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” ²²Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Crucify Him!” ²³And he said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they kept shouting all the more, saying, “Crucify Him!” ²⁴When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.” ²⁵And all the people said, “His blood shall be on us and on our children!” ²⁶Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified” (Matthew 27:1–26).

Let us find in these trails a commitment to stand with Christ.