Mark 14:55

55 And the highest priests, and all the council, sought witnessing against Jesus to take him to the death [that they should betake him to death]; but they found not.

Mark 14:55 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 14:55

And the chief priests, and all the council
Especially the former, who were of all most busy and active in this matter:

sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death;
on which they were determined, right or wrong; in this they went contrary to one of their own canons, which runs thus ^F11:

``in pecuniary causes, they begin either for absolution, or condemnation; but in capital causes, they begin for absolution, and do not begin for condemnation.''

That is, they begun with such evidences as tended to acquit a man, and not with such as served to condemn him; whereas this court was only seeking for such evidence to begin with, that they might condemn Jesus to death:

and found none;
that would answer their purpose; (See Gill on Matthew 26:59).

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FOOTNOTES:

F11 Misn. Sanhedrin, c. 4. sect. 1.

Mark 14:55 In-Context

53 And they led Jesus to the highest priest. And all the priests and scribes and elder men came together [And all came together into one, the priests and the scribes and elder men].

54 But Peter followed him afar [till] into the hall of the highest priest. And he sat with the servants, and warmed him(self) at the fire.

55 And the highest priests, and all the council, sought witnessing against Jesus to take him to the death [that they should betake him to death]; but they found not.

56 For many said false witnessing against him, and the witnessings were not suitable [and the witnessings were not covenable].

57 And some rose up, and bare false witnessing against him, and said [saying],