Barton's Bible Study Notes

Life of Christ: Unit 52 - Sections 174-181

Read Matthew 26:57, Mark 14:53, Luke 22:54 & John 18:12-14. Our Lord’s trials before the Jewish courts and the Roman courts now begin. Matthew states He was led away to Caiaphas while John states He was taken first to Annas, who was the father-in-law to Caiaphas. It helps to understand a little about the Jewish high priesthood at this point. The high priest was the top religious leader in Judea. He held great power and wielded much influence. He was the head of the Sanhedrin, which was the Jewish high court. This council or court was the last appeal for those accused of crimes. The only thing that the Sanhedrin could not pass on was capital crimes, those which merited the death penalty. Rome reserved that power for herself. The position of the high priest was not only a religious office; it was a political office appointed by the Roman authorities. Annas was appointed high priest in 6 B.C. but was removed by Rome in A.D. 15. Although he was removed, he remained the power behind the high priesthood for the next half-century, being succeeded in office by five of his sons and a son-in-law. Caiaphas was the high priest at this time, but the real power behind the office, the one making the decisions, was Annas. Because of this, Annas is still called a high priest even though his son-in-law held that office, as is seen in Luke 3:2. Thus Jesus was first taken to Annas, and then he sent Him to Caiaphas, his son-in-law.

1. John relates that Caiaphas was the one who said it was expedient for one man to die for the people. This is a reference to an earlier statement he made in John 11:49-53:

“But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation does not perish.” Now he did not say this on his own initiative, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but in order that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they planned together to kill Him.”

How is it that an unbeliever can be a prophet?

Read Matthew 26:58, 69-70; Mark 14:54, 66-68; Luke 22:54-57 and John 18:15-18. Peter and John followed the crowd that had arrested our Lord back to Caiaphas’ house. Peter stopped by the gate to the courtyard, but John was allowed inside the courtyard because he personally knew Caiaphas and was recognized by the servant-girl in charge of the gate. When John went out and vouched for Peter, he came in and sat by the fire which had been built to keep the staff warm. This servant-girl then approached Peter and accused him of being one of Jesus’ disciples, whereupon Peter denied the accusation.

2. Contrast Peter’s actions when face to face with a servant-girl who accused him of being a follower of Jesus with his actions recorded in John 18:10 when face to face with at least 600 armed and trained Roman soldiers.

Read John 18:19-24. Annas questions our Lord first. John did not stay with Peter in the courtyard but approached to within earshot at least of where Jesus was being questioned by Annas. No doubt this is why He records the events taking place here while the other Gospel writers do not. This questioning was done at night. It was not performed by a full council but by one person. Our Lord was struck by one of the officers of the high priest, although that was prohibited by Jewish law. No witnesses were called to testify. Indeed, this was not an official trial. Instead, it was an attempt by Annas to find something upon which to hang an accusation warranting a death sentence.

3. Concerning what two areas did the high priest (Annas) question Jesus?

4. What did our Lord tell Annas about His disciples? What did He tell Him about His teachings?

Read Matthew 26:59-66, Mark 14:55-64 and John 18:24. Annas then sends Jesus on to Caiaphas and the elders. They are still meeting in the house of Caiaphas, and it is night. From Luke’s account, we know that the questioning took place somewhere visible from the courtyard since our Lord turns and looks at Peter after his last denial. According to Jewish law, any criminal trials had to be done by the full council in the council room during the day. This again was not the official trial but a preliminary one to decide how they could justify the death sentence on which they had already agreed.

5. What was the purpose of this meeting with Jesus?

6. How successful were they in obtaining false testimony?

7. How did our Lord respond to the religious leaders when they questioned Him about these false witnesses?

8. What question did Caiaphas finally ask our Lord?

9. How did Jesus answer?

Read Matthew 26:67-68 & 71-75, Mark 14:65 & 69-72, Luke 22:58-65 & John 18:25-27. After Caiaphas declared that our Lord had blasphemed by claiming to be the Messiah, ritually tearing his clothing, and getting the rest of those present to agree to the accusation, Jesus was turned over to His guards.

10. Peter’s second and third denial of our Lord take place sometime during the period Jesus was being questioned by Caiaphas. Why do you suppose Peter used cursing in his last denial?

The Applications:

What are the applications of these passages to our lives today? Identify as many as you are able.