Second Stage of Jewish Trial. Jesus Condemned by Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin.

  ^a 63 But Jesus held his peace. ^b and answered nothing.

  ^b 62 And Jesus said, {^a saith} unto him, Thou hast said: ^b I am: and ^a nevertheless I say unto you, Henceforth ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on {^b with} the clouds of heaven. [Jesus freely confessed the truth which his church is called upon to confess. "Right hand of Power" was commonly understood to mean the right hand of God. By the words "nevertheless" and "henceforth" Jesus brings the present state of humiliation into contrast with his future state of glory. Hard as it might sit in judgment and they should stand on trial before him.]

  63 And

  ^a 65 Then the high priest rent his garments, {^b clothes,} and saith, {^a saying,} He hath spoken blasphemy: what further need have we of witnesses?

behold, now ye have heard the blasphemy:

  66 what think ye?

[Though Jesus had given the very answer which the high priest was longing to hear, yet he hypocritically pretends to be shocked at it, and rends his clothes and feigns horror. Evidently he feared the effect of the clear, calm answer of Jesus and sought to counteract its influence on his colleagues.] They answered and said, He is worthy of death. ^b And they all condemned him to be worthy of death. [This was not the final, formal sentence, but the mere determination of the council at the preliminary hearing.]

  ^a 65 Then the high priest rent his garments, {^b clothes,} and saith, {^a saying,} He hath spoken blasphemy: what further need have we of witnesses?

behold, now ye have heard the blasphemy:

  66 what think ye?

  ^c 63 And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and beat him.

  ^b 65 And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face,

  ^a 67 Then did they spit in his face and buffet him:

  ^c 64 And they blindfolded him, ^a and some smote him with the palms of their hands,

  68 saying, {^b and

[began] to say unto him,} ^a Prophesy unto us, thou Christ: who is he that struck thee? ^b and the officers received him with blows of their hands.

  ^c 65 And many other things spake they against him, reviling him.

[To spit in the face has been an insult in all ages and in all lands. See Numbers 12:14 ; Deuteronomy 25:9 ; Job 30:10 . Jesus, having stood out for examination, is now given back to the officers to be led away into the council chamber. These officers received Jesus with many indignities. They seek to make his high claims contemptible, and to make it appear that instead of being divine he is hardly worthy to be regarded as human.]

  ^b 65 And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face,

  ^a 67 Then did they spit in his face and buffet him:

  ^c 64 And they blindfolded him, ^a and some smote him with the palms of their hands,

  68 saying, {^b and

  ^c 65 And many other things spake they against him, reviling him.