Mark 14:55

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

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 brought Jesus to the high priest, and with him were assembled all the princes of the priests and the elders and the scribes.

54 But Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest, and he was seated with the servants and warming himself at the fire.

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

56 For many bore false witness against him, but their witness did not agree together.

57 And there arose some that bore false witness against him, saying,