Sanhedrin trial of Jesus

Jesus about to be struck in front of former High Priest Annas, as in John 18:22 (Madrazo, 1803)

Part of a series on
Death and Resurrection of Jesus
show Passion Last Supper Arrest Trials Sanhedrin trial Herod's court Pilate's court Flagellation Mocking Crown of thorns Via Dolorosa Crucifixion and Death Burial Resurrection Empty tomb Appearances Noli me tangere Road to Emmaus Great Commission Ascension
show Holy Week Palm Sunday Holy Monday Holy Tuesday Spy Wednesday Maundy Thursday Good Friday Holy Saturday Easter Sunday
show Significance Session of Christ Salvation Jewish eschatology Christian eschatology
show Visions of Jesus Vision theory Visions Religious experience
show Empty tomb fringe theories Stolen body Swoon Lost body Twin
show Related Instrument of crucifixion Crucifixion darkness Conversion of Paul the Apostle Islamic view
Portals: Christianity Bible
v t

In the New Testament, the Sanhedrin trial of Jesus refers to the trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin (a Jewish judicial body) following his arrest in Jerusalem and prior to the trial before Pontius Pilate. It is an incident reported by all three Synoptic Gospels of the New Testament, while John's Gospel refers to a preliminary inquiry before Annas.^[1] The gospel accounts vary on a number of details.

Jesus is generally quiet, does not mount a defense, and rarely responds to the accusations, and is found guilty of various offenses: violating the Sabbath law (by healing on the Sabbath), threatening to destroy the Jewish Temple, practicing sorcery, exorcising people by the power of demons, and claiming to be the Messiah.^[2] He is then taken to Pontius Pilate, the governor of Roman Judaea, to be tried for claiming to be the King of the Jews.

Jewish laws for the conduct of capital trials[]

This section possibly contains original research. The Sanhedrin tractate was written 4th century CE to 6 century CE; Maimonides was a 12th century CE scholar; none of these sources are modern, mainstream history, and were written much later after the destruction of the Jewish Temple and the scattering of Jews by the Romans; the claims could be true or could be false, anyway these are not WP:RS for mainstream history, and can only trusted to amount to hearsay (Chinese whispers) about the Sanhedrin from the time when the Temple was still standing. Please by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed. (April 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

Jewish tradition and texts portray the Sanhedrin to be an established court based in Jerusalem with strict guidelines on how to function, including a prohibition against trials after dark, and a requirement that they occur in a public venue.^[3] Talmud Sanhedrin (tractate) 32a reads: Hebrew: דיני נפשות דינים ביום וגומרים ביום‎, lit. 'In cases of capital law, the court judges during the daytime, and concludes the deliberations and issues the ruling only in the daytime.' (Steinsaltz Translation) And further on 32a Hebrew: דיני נפשות גומרין בו ביום לזכות וביום שלאחריו לחובה לפיכך אין דנין לא בערב שבת ולא בערב יום טוב‎, lit. 'In cases of capital law, the court may conclude the deliberations and issue the ruling even on that same day to acquit the accused, but must wait until the following day to find him liable. Therefore, since capital cases might continue for two days, the court does not judge cases of capital law on certain days, neither on the eve of Shabbat nor the eve of a Festival.' Maimonides quotes this mishna verbatim in his authoritative compendium of Jewish law Mishneh Torah, The Sanhedrin and the Penalties within their Jurisdiction §11.1 ^[4]

This is often considered by Christian sources to show that the Gospel authors accused the Sanhedrin of violating the Torah during the trial.^[5][6][7] David Chapman and Eckhard J. Schnabel say that an exception to the usual procedural safeguards in capital cases was made in the case of someone suspected of seducing others away from Israel's religion.^[8]

Raymond E. Brown and others^[9] think that in the era in which the narrative is set, the Sanhedrin was, rather than a fixed court, more of an ad hoc body that the high priest consulted to investigate religious offenses or to discuss political concerns.^[10] Craig A. Evans, citing theologian C.E.B. Cranfield, says that if the meeting at the house of Caiaphas is seen as "an informal hearing designed to gain a consensus among Jewish authorities that Jesus should be handed over to the Romans with a capital recommendation" there would be no violations of the rules regarding capital trials.^[11]

The Sadduccean priesthood was widely despised.^[12] Caiaphas had been installed as high priest by Pilate's predecessor, the Roman procurator Valerius Gratus. Gratus had earlier deposed Caiaphas' father-in-law Annas, and then installed and deposed three other high priests over the course of eleven years.^[13] The family of Annas, including his son-in-law Caiaphas, is portrayed in Talmud Pesachim (tractate) 57a as having influence but using it against the interests of the people.^[14]

Evening inquest at Caiaphas' palace[]

In the narrative in the synoptic gospels, after the arrest of Jesus he is taken to the private residence of Caiaphas, the high priest. Matthew 26 (Matthew 26:57) states that Jesus was taken to the house of Caiaphas the High Priest of Israel, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. Mark 14 (Mark 14:53) states that Jesus was taken that night "to the high priest" (without naming the priest), where all the chief priests and the elders gathered.

According to John's gospel, Jesus was taken not to Caiaphas but to Annas, ^[15] who questioned him only privately. A former high priest and father-in-law of Caiaphas, Annas remained very influential. The fact that Jesus was taken not to Caiaphas but to Annas is explained on the ground that the latter's palace was nearer the place of arrest than that of the former. Peter and other disciple, however, being ignorant of the state of affairs, went to Caiaphas' house in the night.^[16]

La negazione di Pietro, Arturo Viligiardi, 1888

In all four Gospel accounts, the trial of Jesus before the priests and scribes is interleaved with the Denial of Peter narrative, where Apostle Peter, who has followed Jesus, denies knowing him three times.^[17] The intercalated narrative of Jesus' resolute determination offers contrast to the framing narrative of Peter's aggrieved denials (Mark 14:53–54, 14:66–72).^[18][19][20] Luke 22 (Luke 22:61) states that as Jesus was bound and standing at the priest's house Peter was in the courtyard. Jesus "turned and looked straight at him", and Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times."^{[2][21][22][17]}

In John 18 (John 18:24), Jesus is sent from Annas to Caiaphas the high priest. Both Matthew and Mark say that another consultation was held among the priests the next morning. The second interview with Jesus was "...evidently held in the house of Caiaphas, rather than in the Chamber of Hewn Stone..."^[23]

According to Luke 22:63, at Caiaphas' house, Jesus is mocked and beaten. He is accused of claiming to be both the Messiah and the Son of God.^[2][21][22] Although the Gospel accounts vary with respect to some of the details, they agree on the general character and overall structure of the trials of Jesus.^[24]

Mark 14:55-59 states that the chief priests sought witnesses to testify against Jesus but did not find any. Matthew characterizes these as false witnesses. Many gave false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree. Finally two came forward and accused him of saying "I am able to destroy the temple and raise it again in three days".^[25] Theologian Eckhard J. Schnabel points out that if the Sanhedrin had wished to contrive false testimony they would have prepared the witnesses so that their statements would have confirmed rather than contradict each other.^[26]

In the Gospel accounts, Jesus speaks very little, and gives very infrequent and indirect answers to the questions of the priests, according to John 18:22 prompting an officer to slap him. In Matthew 26:62, the lack of response from Jesus prompts the high priest to ask him: "Answerest thou nothing?" In the Gospel accounts, the men that hold Jesus at the high priest's house mock, blindfold, insult and beat him, at times slapping him and asking him to guess who had hit him that time.^{[2][21][22][27]}

Mark 14:61 states that the high priest then asked Jesus: "Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" And Jesus said "I am", at which point the high priest tore his own robe in anger and accused Jesus of blasphemy. In Matthew 26:63, the high priest asks: "Tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus responds "You have said it", and added "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven", prompting the High Priest to tear his own robe,^[2][21][22] breaking Mosaic Law (Leviticus 21:10)^{[disputed – discuss]}, and to accuse him of blasphemy.

According to Luke, Joseph of Arimathea was a counsellor, a member of the Sanhedrin who dissented from the decision.^[28] According to John, Nicodemus was with Joseph of Arimathea to recover and bury Jesus' body,^[29] leading to the inference that he also dissented.

Morning arraignment and trial[]

Events in the
Life of Jesus according to the canonical gospels
show Early life Annunciation Visitation Nativity Virgin birth Adoration of the Shepherds Circumcision Presentation Adoration of the Magi Flight into Egypt Massacre of the Innocents Return to Nazareth Finding in the Temple
show Ministry Baptism Temptation Commissioning the Twelve Sermon on the Mount / Plain Beatitudes Lord's Prayer Miracles Parables Rejection Transfiguration
show Passion Triumphal entry into Jerusalem Temple cleansing Second coming prophecy Anointing Last Supper Farewell Discourse Paraclete promised Agony in the Garden Kiss of Judas Arrest Sanhedrin trial Mocking Herod's court Pilate's court Flagellation Crown of Thorns Via Dolorosa Crucifixion Descent from the Cross Entombment Harrowing of Hell
show Resurrection Empty tomb Appearances Noli me tangere Road to Emmaus Great Commission Ascension
show In rest of the NT Road to Damascus John's vision
Portals: Christianity Bible
v t

Luke 22:66 states that, "as soon as it was day", the chief priests and scribes gathered together and led Jesus away into their council.^[2][21][22] John 18:28 states that, early in the morning, Jesus was led from Caiaphas to Pontius Pilate in the Praetorium.^[2][21][22]

In Luke 22:67, Jesus is asked: "If thou art the Christ, tell us. But he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe". But, in 22:70, when asked "Are you then the Son of God?", Jesus answers "You say that I am", affirming the title Son of God.^[30] At that point, the priests say "What further need have we of witness? for we ourselves have heard from his own mouth", and they decide to condemn Jesus.^[2][21][22]

Thereafter, in Pilate's Court, the Jewish elders ask Pontius Pilate to judge and condemn Jesus, accusing him of claiming to be the King of the Jews. Such a claim would be considered treasonous, for being a direct challenge to the Roman authorities.^[22]

• 

  Matthias Stom's depiction of Jesus before Caiaphas, c. 1630.

• 

  Rembrandt's 1660 depiction of Peter's Denial. Jesus, in the upper right hand corner, is at the high priest's house, his hands bound behind him, and turns to look at Peter.

Commentary[]

The historicity of the gospel narratives has been questioned by scholars, who suggest that the evangelists' accounts reflect the later antagonism that arose between the Church and the Synagogue. They show a tendency to minimize the actions of Pilate and emphasize the responsibilities of the Jews.^[31] Pilate's effectiveness as governor depended on cooperation with the aristocratic Jewish leadership. Provincial governors "...had full jurisdiction over capital cases, even when they worked in conjunction with local courts".^[32]

Comparison[]

Narrative comparison[]

The following comparison table is primarily based on the New International Version (NIV) English translation of the New Testament.^[33]

Chronological comparison[]

Chronological comparison between the Jesus Passion narratives according to the Gospels of Mark and John

See also[]

• Chronology of Jesus
• Jesus at Herod's court
• Denial of Peter
• Kiss of Judas
• Life of Jesus in the New Testament
• Passion of Jesus
• Pilate's court
• Thirty Pieces of Silver

References[]

Citations[]

Sources[]

Further reading[]

External links[]

• Media related to Jesus before Caiaphas at Wikimedia Commons