Matthew 26:75

And Peter remembered. Luke says the Lord turned around and looked straight at Peter. He went out and wept bitterly. He had sinned greatly! His heart is broken! [Notice the difference between Peter and Judas. Peter's sorrow makes him turn from sin and turn back to Christ. Judas' sorrow makes him kill himself, Read 2 Corinthians 7:10.]

THE OREER OF EVENTS. After the arrest: (1) Jesus is taken before Annas, ex-high priest (see note on Luke 3:2), for a preliminary hearing (John 18:13). (2) Next to Caiaphas, Peter and John following along (John 18:15; John 18:24). [Alford (Greek Testament) says both Annas and Caiaphas lived in the same great building (which must have been the Castle of Antonia which was a city within a city).] (3) First stage of Jewish Trial before Caiaphas (John 18:19-24). (4) Alford (Greek Testament) thinks a second stage of Jewish Trial is implied (John 18:24). It is possible that Jesus was shuffled from room to room, since both Annas and Caiaphas lived in the same castle. The Jewish Trial was illegal by their own law, since it took place at night. (5) Peter's three denials during the Jewish Trial (Matthew 26:69-75), (6) After condemning Jesus to death, The Sanhedrin recesses until dawn, (7) It is implied that Jesus was cruelly treated during the recess (Mark 14:65). (8) The Sanhedrin reconvenes at dawn (Matthew 27:1), This would be the third stage of the Jewish Trial to make it legal. (9) Jesus is again questioned and officially condemned to death (Luke 22:66-71). (10) Jesus is tied with chains and taken to Pilate (Mark 15:1).

THE ILLEGAL CONVICTION. Lawyers and Judges have studied this. During the entire trial, the rules of Jewish Law were flagrantly violated! The accused was deprived of his rights, and treated worse than a criminal. His arrest was at night [illegal]; he was tied-up as an outlaw; he was beaten before his arraignment before the court; and he was abused in open court during the trial. His trial was on a "feast-day" [illegal] and before sunrise [illegal]. He was forced to incriminate himself [illegal] and this under the solemn oath [charge] of the court. He was convicted, sentenced, and executed on the same day. All this was contrary to Jewish Law.