531They ledJesusaway to the highpriest; and all the chiefpriests and the elders and the scribesgatheredtogether.
54
Peter had followed Him at a distance, 2right into 3the courtyard of the highpriest; and he was sitting with the officers and 4warming himself at the fire.
55
Now the chiefpriests and the whole5Council kept trying to obtaintestimonyagainstJesus to put Him to death, and they were not finding any.
56
For many were givingfalsetestimonyagainst Him, but their testimony was not consistent.
57
Somestood up and began to givefalsetestimonyagainst Him, saying,
58
"We heard Him say, '6I will destroythistemplemade with hands, and in threedays I will buildanothermadewithouthands.' "
59
Not even in thisrespect was their testimonyconsistent.
60
The highprieststood up and came forward* and questionedJesus, saying, "Do You not answer? What is it that thesemen are testifyingagainst You?"
61
7But He keptsilent and did not answer. 8Again the highpriest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, "Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?"
62
And Jesussaid, "I am; and you shall see9THE SON OF MANSITTING AT THE RIGHTHAND OF POWER, and 10COMING WITH THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN."
63
11Tearing his clothes, the highpriestsaid, "Whatfurtherneed do we have of witnesses?
64
"You have heard the 12blasphemy; how does it seem to you?" And they allcondemned Him to be deserving of death.
65
Somebegan to 13spit at Him, and 14to blindfold Him, and to beat Him with their fists, and to say to Him, "15Prophesy!" And the officersreceived Him with slaps in the face.
Peter's Denials
6616As Peter was below in 17the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the highpriestcame,
67
and seeingPeter18warming himself, she looked at him and said, "You also were with Jesus the 19Nazarene."
68
But he denied it, saying, "I neitherknownorunderstandwhat you are talking about." And he 20went out onto the porch. and a roostercrowed.871
69
The servant-girlsaw him, and beganoncemore to say to the bystanders, "This is one of them!"
70
But again21he denied it. And after a littlewhile the bystanders were againsaying to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, 22for you are a Galileantoo."
71
But he began to curse and swear, "I do not knowthisman you are talking about!"
72
Immediately a roostercrowed a secondtime. And PeterrememberedhowJesus had made the remark to him, "Before23a roostercrowstwice, you will deny Me threetimes." And he began to weep.