Matthew 26:57-27:10

Amplified Bible

Jesus before Caiaphas

⁵⁷ Those who had seized Jesus led Him away to ^[a]Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) had gathered [^[b]illegally] together.^{(A) 58} But Peter followed Him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the [elegant home of the Jewish] high priest, and went inside, and sat with the ^[c]guards to see the outcome.

⁵⁹ Now the chief priests and the whole Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) tried to get false witnesses to testify against Jesus, so that they might [have a reason to] put Him to death. ⁶⁰ They found none, even though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward, ⁶¹ and testified, “This man said, ‘^[d]I am able to ^[e]tear down the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’” ⁶² The high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Have You no answer to give? What is it that these men are testifying against You?” ⁶³ But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, “I call on You to swear a binding oath by the living God, that you tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.” ⁶⁴ Jesus said to him, “You have [in fact] said it; but more than that I tell you [regardless of what you do with Me now], in the future you will see [Me revealed as] the Son of Man seated at the ^[f]right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”^(B)

⁶⁵ Then the high priest tore his ^[g]robes [in mock horror] and exclaimed, “He has blasphemed [by making Himself God’s equal]! What further need have we of witnesses or evidence? See, you have now heard the blasphemy.^{(C) 66} What do you think?” They answered, “^[h]He deserves to be put to death.”

⁶⁷ Then they spat in His face and struck Him with their fists; and some slapped Him,^{(D) 68} saying, “^[i]Prophesy to us, You Christ (Messiah, Anointed); who was it that struck You?”

Peter’s Denials

⁶⁹ Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came up to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.”^{(E) 70} But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” ⁷¹ And when he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.” ⁷² And again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.” ⁷³ After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them too; for even your [Galilean] accent gives you away.” ⁷⁴ Then he began to curse [that is, to invoke God’s judgment on himself] and swear [an oath], “I do not know the man!” And at that moment a rooster crowed. ⁷⁵ And Peter remembered the [prophetic] words of Jesus, when He had said, “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly [in repentance].

Judas’ Remorse

27 When it was morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) conferred together against Jesus, [plotting how] to put Him to death [since under Roman rule they had no power to execute anyone]; ² so they bound Him, and led Him away and handed Him over to Pilate the governor [of Judea, who had the authority to condemn prisoners to death].

³ When Judas, His betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was gripped with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders,^{(F) 4} saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They replied, “What is that to us? See to that yourself!” ⁵ And throwing the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary, he left; and went away and ^[j]hanged himself. ⁶ The chief priests, picking up the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put these in the treasury [of the temple], because it is the price of blood.” ⁷ So after consultation they used the money to buy the Potter’s Field as a burial place for strangers. ⁸ Therefore that piece of ground has been called the Field of Blood to this day. ⁹ Then the words spoken by Jeremiah the prophet were fulfilled: “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of Him on whom a price had been set by the sons of Israel;^{(G) 10} and they gave them for the Potter’s Field, as the Lord directed me.”^(H)