Luke 22:53-67

The Trial before the Sanhedrin (Mark 14:53 *, Matthew 26:56 *). There are several differences from Mk. Jesus is not taken into the hall at first, but remains in the courtyard, and is present while Peter denies Him, so that when the cock crowed the Lord turned and looked on Peter (Luke 22:61). The denial scene thus precedes the trial. The second challenge (Luke 22:58) is not from the first maid (Mk.), or another maid (Mt.), but from a man. Peter does not curse and swear. The ill-treatment of Jesus (by the guard, not by the court) also precedes the trial. There is no nocturnal trial; what Mk. and Mt. put immediately on the arrival of Jesus at the high priest's house Lk. puts as soon as it was day (cf. Mark 15:1; Matthew 27:1). No thing is said about the destruction of the Temple or the false witness. But the questioning goes on from Art thou the Messiah? to Art thou the Son of God? apparently a greater (and more presumptuous) title. The answer of Jesus to the first question is that argument is useless since the minds of the judges are made up. In Mk. He says I am. In Lk. again the judges are not to see the coming of the Son of Man (Mk., Mt.); by the time Luke wrote they were dead and had not seen the Advent. The judges say that the Son of Man who sits at the right hand of (the power of) God is the Son of God; Jesus has after all more than answered their question about the Messiah. His answer to the second question may be interpreted as Have it so if you like. Lk. does not mention blasphemy, but it is implied as the object of We have heard. The court does not pronounce any formal verdict. Council = the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish authority. Its members were drawn from elders, chief priests, and scribes.