The setting was the judgment hall during the trial before Caiaphas as presiding officer, with Jesus standing at the foot of the throne of judgment while the judges and those interested in the trial stood on either side and Roman soldiers were ranged on the platform below the throne. In that setting Caiaphas presided in gorgeous robe with glittering tiara and costly breastplate while Jesus stood in coarse clothing. Jesus stood calm and serene and majestic under the gaze of the multitude amid wild excitement, with a holy influence emanating from Him that led even hardened onlookers to question whether a man of such God-like presence should be sentenced as a common criminal.
Behind this lay months of hunting Jesus to entrap Him and bring Him before a secret tribunal, seeking to obtain by perjury what was impossible to gain by fair means. The midnight seizure by a mob with mockery and abuse, before He was condemned or even accused, violated the law and the rulers' own rule that every man should be treated as innocent until proved guilty. The preliminary examination before Annas concerning His disciples and His doctrines was meant to draw out material to prove He sought to establish a secret society for a new kingdom, so as to convict Him of sedition before the Romans and of blasphemy before the Jews. Christ answered that He spoke openly in synagogue and temple with nothing said in secret, and that questioning was without success. The renewed questioning by Annas and Caiaphas while the Sanhedrim assembled was again without success, leaving them with no accusation and forcing them to hasten the form of a legal trial to unite the Sanhedrim against Him.
The witnesses accusing Jesus gave contradictory testimony that did not agree together, so the priests gained nothing against Him, their evidence was worthless, and their statements could not establish a consistent charge or maintain the accusations.
The setting was the judgment hall during the trial before Caiaphas as presiding officer, with Jesus standing at the foot of the throne of judgment while the judges and those interested in the trial stood on either side and Roman soldiers were ranged on the platform below the throne. In that setting Caiaphas presided in gorgeous robe with glittering tiara and costly breastplate while Jesus stood in coarse clothing. Jesus stood calm and serene and majestic under the gaze of the multitude amid wild excitement, with a holy influence emanating from Him that led even hardened onlookers to question whether a man of such God-like presence should be sentenced as a common criminal.
Behind this lay months of hunting Jesus to entrap Him and bring Him before a secret tribunal, seeking to obtain by perjury what was impossible to gain by fair means. The midnight seizure by a mob with mockery and abuse, before He was condemned or even accused, violated the law and the rulers' own rule that every man should be treated as innocent until proved guilty. The preliminary examination before Annas concerning His disciples and His doctrines was meant to draw out material to prove He sought to establish a secret society for a new kingdom, so as to convict Him of sedition before the Romans and of blasphemy before the Jews. Christ answered that He spoke openly in synagogue and temple with nothing said in secret, and that questioning was without success. The renewed questioning by Annas and Caiaphas while the Sanhedrim assembled was again without success, leaving them with no accusation and forcing them to hasten the form of a legal trial to unite the Sanhedrim against Him.
The witnesses accusing Jesus gave contradictory testimony that did not agree together, so the priests gained nothing against Him, their evidence was worthless, and their statements could not establish a consistent charge or maintain the accusations.