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But the officers who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the High Priest, at whose house the Scribes and the Elders had assembled.
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And Peter kept following Him at a distance, till he came even to the court of the High Priest's palace, where he entered and sat down among the officers to see the issue.
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Meanwhile the High Priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death;
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but they could find none, although many false witnesses came forward. At length there came two
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who testified, "This man said, `I am able to pull down the Sanctuary of God and three days afterwards to build a new one.'"
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Then the High Priest stood up and asked Him, "Have you no answer to make? What is it these men are saying in evidence against you?"
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Jesus however remained silent. Again the High Priest addressed Him. "In the name of the ever-living God," he said, "I now put you on your oath. Tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God."
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"I am He," replied Jesus. "But I tell you that, later on, you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Omnipotence, and coming on the clouds of the sky."
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Then the High Priest tore his robes and exclaimed, "Impious language! What further need have we of witnesses! See, you have now heard the impiety.
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What is your verdict?" "He deserves to die," they replied.
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Then they spat in His face, and struck Him--some with the fist, some with the open hand--