Mark 14:53-65 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

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Bible Comments

The Trial before the Sanhedrin. This trial is irregular in many ways. It was unlawful to hold such a trial at night. It is not, therefore, unhistorical (Montefiore, i. 345f.). Mk. speaks of the whole Sanhedrin meeting and of all condemning Jesus (Mark 14:55; Mark 14:64). This is his customary popular exaggeration, prompted here by desire to throw the guilt on all the religious leaders of Judaism (cf. Mark 15:1). The trial is really a preliminary investigation a search for a charge on which Jesus may be condemned and handed over to Pilate. It is not certain that the Sanhedrin had lost the power of capital punishment, but under the circumstances, the leaders desired to thrust the responsibility for the death-sentence on to Pilate. Wellhausen thinks the first line of testimony, the saying of Jesus against the Temple, was the true foundation of the charge of blasphemy (cf. Mark 13:1 *). To claim to be Messiah was not blasphemy. Montefiore rightly comments: Though the prediction about the Temple may have been nearer blasphemy than the claim to be Messiah, still. it was not technically blasphemy. and if - blasphemy-' could have been stretched to suit one offence, it could also have been stretched to suit the other (i. 350). Jesus died for claiming to be king of the Jews, and He died in the confidence of His ultimate triumph.

Mark 14:60. For the silence of Jesus, cf. Isaiah 53:7.

Mark 14:65. This scene seems to be reflected in 1 Peter 2:20-23. Some trace it to OT influence; see Micah 5:1 (RV), Isaiah 50:6; Isaiah 53:3.

Related Commentaries of Mark 14:53

Mark 14:53-65

53 And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes.

54 And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.

55 And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none.

56 For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.

57 And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying,

58 We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.

59 But neither so did their witness agree together.

60 And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?

61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?

62 And Jesus said,I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

63 Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses?

64 Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.

65 And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.