MARK XIV. 51 And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast 52 about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him: and he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked. mon Peter fol lowed Jesus, and so did another disciple : that disciple was known un to the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the 16 high priest. But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, An Oriental house is usually built around a quadrangular interior court; into which there is a passage (sometimes arched) through the front part of the house, closed next the street by a heavy folding gate, with a smaller wicket for single persons, kept by a porter. The interior court, often paved or flagged, and open to the sky, is the hall (avλn), mentioned in the following section, where the attendants made a fire; and the passage beneath the front of the house, from the street to this court, is the porch (προαύλιον οι πυλών). The place where Jesus stood before the high priest, may have been an open room or place of audience on the ground floor, in the rear or on one side of the court; such rooms, open in front, being_customary. It was close upon the court; for Jesus heard all that was going on around the fire; and turned and looked upon Peter; Luke 22. 61. Peter's first denial took place at the fire in the middle of the court (avλn), on his being questioned by the female porter.-Peter then, according to Matthew and Mark, retreats into the passage leading to the street πυλών, προαύλιον), where he is again questioned, and makes his second denial. Luke and John do not specify the place. The evangelists differ in their statements here, as to the person who now ques tioned him. Mark says the same maid (αdiokn) saw him again, and began to question him, ver. 69; Matthew has (äλλ), another maid, ver. 71; Luke writes (repos), another person, or another man, ver. 58; while John uses the indefinite form (einov), they said. As, according to Matthew (ver. 70) and Mark (ver. 69), there were several persons present, Peter may have been interrogated by several.-The third denial took place an hour after, probably near the fire, or at least within the court, where our Lord and Peter could see each other; Luke 22. 61. Here Matthew and Mark speak of several interrogators, Luke has, some other man (äλλos Tis), and John specifies the servant of the high priest. The three denials are here placed together for convenience, although during the intervals between them the examination of Jesus was going on before the high priest; the progress of which is given in § 145. 2 For he was, &c. The reason for taking our Lord first to Annas was, perhaps, this, that he was known from his family relation to share the views and feelings of his son-in-law, Caiaphas, whose avowed purpose or recommendation to seek the death of Jesus is mentioned in the next verse. 3 John 11. 50. MATT. XXVI. 58 and went in, 54 and sat with the 69 67 Now Peter sat without in the palace and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus 70 of Galilee. But he denied be- 68 fore them all, saying, I know not what thou 71 sayest. And a while came he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire. And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest: and had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were sat down together, Peter sat down among them. JOHN XVIII. and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Pe18 ter. And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself. when she saw 56 But a certain 17 Then saith the she Peter warming himself, looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth. But he denied, 57 saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. 58 And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew. And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them. And he denied it again. damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not. And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not. One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the gar § 145. JESUS BEFORE CAIAPHAS AND THE SANHEDRIM. HE DECLARES HIMSELF TO BE THE CHRIST; IS CONDEMNED AND MOCKED.-Jerusalem. 19 Morning of the Sixth Day of the Week. JOHN XVIII. 19-24. The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. 20 Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in se21 cret have I said nothing. Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, 22 what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said. And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus_with 23 the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so? Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, 24 why smitest thou me? Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest. 66 59 LUKE XXII. 63-71. And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, — MATT. XXVI. 59-68. Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him 1 Mark relates that the cock crowed twice, ver. 68, 72; the others speak only of his crowing once. This accords also with their respective accounts of our Lord's prophecy; see § 136. The cock often crows irregularly about midnight or not long after; and again always and regularly about the third hour or day-break. When therefore "the cock-crowing" is spoken of alone, this last is always meant. Hence the name cock-crowing (λEKTρоpwvía), for the third watch of the night, which ended at the third hour after midnight; 55 MARK XIV. 55-65. And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and Mark 13. 35. Mark therefore here relates more 3 This examination by Caiaphas, John 18. 19-23, took place soon after Peter's first denial; see § 144. Not improbably the high priest again withdrew, after having sent off messengers to convoke the Sanhedrim, which met at early dawn, Luke 22. 66.-Luke 22. 63-65 is transposed, in accordance with Matthew and Mark. 4 Comp. Acts 6. 11-13. witness against him, but their wit 60 to death; but found none: yea, 56 found none. For many bare false though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last 57 ness agreed not together. And 61 came two false witnesses, and said, 62 This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.1 58 there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying, We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build 59 another made without hands.1 But neither so did their witness agree 60 together. And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against But 61 thee? But he held his peace, and answered nothing.2 And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which 63 these witness against thee? Jesus held his peace.2 MATT. XXVI. And the high 61 priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, 62 64 the Son of God. Je sus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds 65 of heaven. Then the 63 high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need 64 have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. 66 What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.3 67 Then did they spit in 65 his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of 68 their hands, saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee? MARK XIV. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art 67 thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus said, I am : and ye shall see the 68 Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. 69 LUKE XXII. -saying, Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe: and if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go. Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the 70 power of God. Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am. And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth. Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we 71 any further witnesses? Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.3 65 And many other things blasphemously spake they against him. 1 Comp. John 2. 19. 2 Isa. 53. 7. 3 Comp. Lev. 24. 16; John 19. 7. 4 Isa. 50. 6. I § 146. THE SANHEDRIM LEAD JESUS AWAY TO PILATE.-Jerusalem. Sixth Day of the Week. MARK XV. 1—5. 1 And Jesus stood before the governor and the governor 2 asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And straight- scribes and the And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat 29 the passover.2 Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye a30 gainst this man? They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him 31 up unto thee. Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death: that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die. Then Pilate entered into the LUKE XXIII. 2 And they be to gan to accuse 32 judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the 34 Jews? Jesus answered him, Jesus Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? 35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief 36 priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be 1 The judgment hall, or rather the prætorium, the residence of the Roman governor, was most likely a part of the castle of Antonia, situated on the north-west corner of the temple area, where also the Roman soldiers were in garrison, as we learn from Acts 21. 31–37; 23. 10. 2 On the meaning of passover in this place, see above in Introductory Note, p. 146. 3 John 12. 32, 33; Matt. 20. 19. 4 Comp. 1 Tim. 6. 13. |