Matthew 26:3

τότε, two days before Passover. συνήχθησαν points to a meeting of the Sanhedrim. εἰς τὴν αὐλὴν denotes the meeting place, either the palace of the high priest in accordance with the use of αὐλή in later Greek (Weiss), or the court around which the palatial buildings were ranged (Meyer) = atrium in Vulgate, followed by Calvin. In the latter case the meeting would be informal. In any case it was at the high priest's quarters they met: whereupon Chrys. remarks: “See the inexpressible corruption of Jewish affairs. Having lawless proceedings on hand they come to the high priest seeking authority where they should encounter hindrance” (Hom. lxxix.). Καϊάφα, Caiaphas, surname, Joseph his name, seventeen years high priest (vide Joseph. Ant., 18, 2, 2; 4, 3).