Mark 14:53

πρὸς τὸν�. Caiaphas, as Mt. states. Neither Mk nor Mt. mentions Annas, and Mk never names Caiaphas, but presumably in Mk “the high-priest” always means Caiaphas. Jn says that they took Jesus to Annas first. He had been high-priest A.D. 7–14, and had been deposed by Valerius Gratus, Pilate’s predecessor. But probably some Jews regarded him as the true high-priest, although his son-in-law Caiaphas acted as high-priest A.D. 18–36. They seem to have lived together in the same palace. See on John 18:13.

συνέρχονται. The Sanhedrin, with its three component sections, is ready to meet at once; and the three sections are mentioned separately, as if to show how representative the assembly was, and how widely spread was the responsibility. Late as the hour is, the witnesses are ready also. All has been carefully prepared. The Synoptists distinguish two ecclesiastical trials, an informal one during the night, when the chief business was transacted, and a formal one by daylight to confirm the proceedings. Nothing done in the night was valid.