Page 132 - Advanced Life of Christ - Student Textbook

After meeting in Caiaphas’ house, the Sanhedrin was convened for a second trial at night. At this time
the false witnesses spoke against Jesus.

These Jewish trials were illegal on several accounts:
1. Trials were NEVER to occur in private homes, but in a public place where witnesses could be found.
2. Also, there was a rule that witnesses could NEVER be called at night.
3. The indictment against Jesus was illegal also because the judges themselves brought up the charge
without any prior testimony by witnesses. The Jewish court was not allowed by law to originate
charges.
4. The court illegally proceeded to hold its trial of Jesus before sunrise so that no one would be available
to testify on His behalf.
5. Even though Jewish law did not permit the trial of a capital offense to begin on the day before an
annual festival day, Jesus was arrested and tried the day before the High Sabbath, that also happened to
be the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread (Jn.18:28; 19:31).
6. Finally, Jesus was condemned by the Sanhedrin for the crime of blasphemy, stating that He was the
Messiah and Chosen One of God. However, the Court illegally switched the charges from blasphemy to
treason against Rome when the case went before Pilate. No evidence was ever presented and after a
brief interview, Pilate determined that Jesus was not guilty of treason.

The religious leaders knew that the trial held in the middle of the night was illegal and that it likely
would not pass muster with the Roman procurator. So, they brought Jesus back to obtain a confession
out of Him and then take Him to Pilate. Jesus was standing nearby when Peter concluded his final denial
and looked up to see Jesus gazing at him. Peter went out of the courtyard and wept bitterly (Luke
22:61-62). After confessing to be the Messiah and the Son of God – God in the flesh, Jesus was taken to
Pilate.

Jesus Tried by Pilate and Herod Antipas (Luke 23:1-5, Mark 15:1-5, Matthew 27:1-2, Matthew
27:11-14 and John 18:28-38; Matthew 27:3-10; Luke 23:6-12; Matthew 27:15-26, Mark 15:6-
15, Luke 23:13-25 and John 18:39-40; John 19:16, Mark 15:16-20, and Matthew 27:27-31)

In order to avoid defiling
themselves by entering a Gentile
domicile, the Jewish rulers who
were about to commit the
greatest crime in the history of
mankind, had induced Pilate to
set up his court on the pavement
outside of Antonia Fort. Pilate
was indifferent to the Jews and all
their petty issues, but this
Nazarene had raised so much
objection over the last few years
that he consented to hear the
case. The Sanhedrin attempted
to get Pilate to condemn Jesus
simply because they demanded it,
but Pilate would have none of
Model of Fort Antonia on the east side of the Temple Complex
that. So, Pilate took Jesus alone
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