First, we discussed Jesus’ arrest, referencing previous discussions. Second, we examined the trial before the high priest Caiaphas, as Annas was Caiaphas’ father-in-law. After Jesus’ arrest, He was first brought before Annas, where Peter denied Him for the first time. Third, we recount Peter’s second and third denials and his subsequent repentance. Fourth, we address Jesus’ trial before Pontius Pilate, referencing previous discussions. This includes the trial before Herod, revealing that Pilate, like Herod, found no grounds for a capital offense. Though Pilate initially intended to release Jesus, he ultimately crucified Him “unlawfully.” Finally, we discuss the process of Jesus’ crucifixion.
1. The arrest of Jesus
“Immediately while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, came up accompanied by a crowd with swords and clubs, who were from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. Now he who was betraying Him had given them a signal, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him and lead Him away under guard.” After coming, Judas immediately went to Him, saying, “Rabbi!” and kissed Him. They laid hands on Him and seized Him. But one of those who stood by drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. And Jesus said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me, as you would against a robber? Every day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me; but this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures.” And they all left Him and fled. A young man was following Him, wearing nothing but a linen sheet over his naked body; and they seized him. But he pulled free of the linen sheet and escaped naked.”(Mark 14:43-52)
We previously mentioned that Judas Iscariot, the betrayer, left before the Last Supper ended, thus not partaking of the breaking of bread. Here we see the reason for his early departure: to betray Jesus. The same account appears in Matthew 26:47-56, Luke 22:47-53, and John 18:1-14, though essentially identical. The Book of Matthew explicitly states: “Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?””(Matthew 26:53-54) This does not imply He refrained from praying thus to fulfill Scripture, but rather that He knew it was not the Father’s will. He willingly submitted to God, as in His prayer at the Garden of Gethsemane: “…yet not as I will, but as You will.”(Matthew 26:39) Note that only Mark’s Gospel records the young man fleeing naked. Some speculate this was Mark himself, but there is no solid evidence for this. Even if the speculation were true, since Scripture does not highlight this as significant, why not respect what the Bible chooses to emphasize?
While the fundamental approach is to seek the union of all accounts—that is, to reconcile all narratives—this requires that the accounts themselves be accurate. Since the Gospel of John was written last, it corrects errors in earlier accounts and adds previously unrecorded details. As we have stated, this is because the triune God, while inspiring Scripture, also granted humans a degree of freedom. When people, within that freedom, erred due to their old self, He would correct prior errors or add details in His own way—and this is where the Gospel of John comes into play. For instance, from John’s Gospel we learn that Peter was told to sheathe his sword, and that the servant whose right ear was cut off was named Malchus. Thus we also understand that when Mark wrote his Gospel, he was not perfectly conformed to Jesus’ image; otherwise, he won’t make errors at that time.
Some observe this passage in John’s Gospel: “So when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.”(John 18:6) The Bible does not explicitly state why they fell backward to the ground. Some people cite this verse to claim that the Holy Spirit causes people to fall backward to the ground in the same way today, but this has no biblical basis. We must understand that evil spirits can do this. Previously, in “3. An example of discerning the work of evil spirits” under “1133 Examples about if it is God’s words and actions that God wants,” we presented such an example. Also previously, in “1. Jesus’ arrest” under “1136 Jesus’ Arrest, Trial, and Innocence – John(18)1-40,” we discussed the same account in John 18:1-14. Please visit our website ‘https://a-christian-voice.com/‘, click on ‘On spiritual understanding about life’, and find these articles.
2. The trial of Jesus before the high priest Caiaphas
“They led Jesus away to the high priest; and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes gathered together. Peter had followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the officers and warming himself at the fire. Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, and they were not finding any. For many were giving false testimony against Him, but their testimony was not consistent. Some stood up and began to give false testimony against Him, saying, “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.’” Not even in this respect was their testimony consistent. The high priest stood up and came forward and questioned Jesus, saying, “Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?” But He kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” And Jesus said, “I am; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” Tearing his clothes, the high priest said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy; how does it seem to you?” And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death. Some began to spit at Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him with their fists, and to say to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers received Him with slaps in the face.”(Mark 14:53-65)
After Jesus was arrested, “and led Him to Annas first; for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people.”(John 18:13-14) When Jesus was arrested, all the disciples except Peter and John fled. “Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest, but Peter was standing at the door outside. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in.”(John 18:15-16) The high priest here refers to Annas, as it explicitly states, “So Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.”(John 18:24) Here, Peter denied the Lord for the first time: “Then the slave-girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.””(John 18:17)
Thus, the initial trial took place before Annas, proceeding as follows: “The high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret. Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; they know what I said.” When He had said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus, saying, “Is that the way You answer the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?””(John 18:19-23) They questioned Jesus according to the Law, yet before any verdict was reached, one of officers struck Him without restraint—an act contrary to the Law, revealing his arrogance. Then “So Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.”(John 18:24)
Mark’s Gospel describes the trial before the high priest Caiaphas. The same events are also recorded in Matthew 26:57-68 and Luke 22:66-71. The process is clearly laid out here, with the key point being: “But He kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” And Jesus said, “I am; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.””(Mark 14:61-62) So when Caiaphas stated the truth, Jesus responded with the truth, knowing full well the consequences of doing so.
This was His second trial before the Jews before being sent to Pilate, for the Book of Mark makes it clear: “Early in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes and the whole Council, immediately held a consultation; and binding Jesus, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate.”(Mark 15:1) The Gospel of John also consistently states, “Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium so that they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover.”(John 18:28) Just as before, He did not change His words. Since the Jewish Sanhedrin at that time lacked the authority to impose the death penalty, they brought Jesus before Pilate, hoping he would sentence Him to death.
3. Peter’s second and third denials of the Lord
“As Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came, and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Nazarene.” But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are talking about.” And he went out onto the porch. The servant-girl saw him, and began once more to say to the bystanders, “This is one of them!” But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders were again saying to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean too.” But he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this man you are talking about!” Immediately a rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had made the remark to him, “Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And he began to weep.”(Mark 14:66-72)
As we have mentioned why we need to see what the Gospel of John says regarding this matter, which describes Peter’s second and third denials as follows: “Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?” He denied it, and said, “I am not.” One of the slaves of the high priest, being a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” Peter then denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed.”(John 18:25-27) The result was that “The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.”(Luke 22:61-62) We see Peter’s genuine repentance, fulfilling Jesus’ words: “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”(Luke 22:31-32)
Note the apparent contradiction here, as Mark’s Gospel states the rooster crowed twice, while John’s Gospel says it crowed immediately, only once. We previously discussed this in “1165 Perfume, Last Supper, breaking bread, and Garden of Gethsemane – Mark(14):1-42” under section “6. The prophecy of Peter’s three denials.” Interested readers may refer to that article.
4. Jesus’ trial before governor Pilate
“Early in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes and the whole Council, immediately held a consultation; and binding Jesus, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate. Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He answered him, “It is as you say.” The chief priests began to accuse Him harshly. Then Pilate questioned Him again, saying, “Do You not answer? See how many charges they bring against You!” But Jesus made no further answer; so Pilate was amazed.”(Mark 15:1-5)
The same events are recorded in Matthew 27:11-19 and Luke 23:1-16, with the message included in the Book of Luke: “When Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself also was in Jerusalem at that time.”(Luke 23:6-7) Thus Pilate’s trial included the trial before Herod, where no capital offense was found in Him. No wonder Herod was in Jerusalem at that time. We previously discussed this in detail in “3. Tried before Herod” under “1083 Jesus’ two trials before Jews, and the trial before Herod and Pilate – Jesus (35),” we discussed this point in detail. Please locate that article using the aforementioned method.
Finally, returning to the trial before Pilate, in “4. The first half of the trial before Pilate and its original intention” of “1083,” we examined Matthew 27:11-19 and referenced the account in John 18:28-38. We observed that Pilate, like Herod, found no grounds for a capital offense. His original intent was to release Jesus, yet he ultimately “unlawfully” condemned Him to crucifixion. We previously explored this topic in “5. The trial of the King of truth before Pilate the Governor” and “6. Pilate could not find any guilt in Jesus” under “1136 Jesus’ Arrest, Trial, and Innocence – John(18)1-40.” Please locate these articles using the aforementioned method.
5. The process leading to Jesus’ crucifixion
“Now at the feast he used to release for them any one prisoner whom they requested. The man named Barabbas had been imprisoned with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the insurrection. The crowd went up and began asking him to do as he had been accustomed to do for them. Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” For he was aware that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask him to release Barabbas for them instead. Answering again, Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?” They shouted back, “Crucify Him!” But Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify Him!” Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.”(Mark 15:6-15)
Pilate thought that they sent Jesus to him out of jealousy, but it was more than that. This passage clearly reveals their political calculations: “Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, “What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs. If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.””(John 11:47-48) Ultimately, we see that Pilate also acted out of political calculation, seeking to appease the crowd by “unlawfully” crucifying Jesus.
Essentially, the Gospel of John omits the account which says, “While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him.””(Matthew 27:19) Yet Pilate ultimately did not heed this warning.
We have already explained why we base our account on the Gospel of John, which narrates this process with great clarity. We will not elaborate further on the details here but instead quote the relevant passage. “Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him. But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover; do you wish then that I release for you the King of the Jews?” So they cried out again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas.” Now Barabbas was a robber. Pilate then took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him; and they began to come up to Him and say, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and to give Him slaps in the face. Pilate came out again and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you so that you may know that I find no guilt in Him.” Jesus then came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold, the Man!” So when the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they cried out saying, “Crucify, crucify!” Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him.” The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God.” Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid; and he entered into the Praetorium again and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. So Pilate said to Him, “You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?” Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” As a result of this Pilate made efforts to release Him, but the Jews cried out saying, “If you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar.” Therefore when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold, your King!” So they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” So he then handed Him over to them to be crucified.”(John 18:38–19:16)
Regarding Barabbas, some legends claim he deeply understood that Jesus died in his place. Out of gratitude, he repented of his sins, and vowed to spend his life proclaiming the cross. This has no basis in Scripture. It was merely legend. Even historical records are often altered by victors to suit their narratives. When history conflicts with Scripture, Scripture must take precedence. Yes, be not upside down.
Finally, we must consider the authority given to Pilate from above—not the earthly authority granted by the Roman Empire, but the divine permission to act. Jesus made this clear: “No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”(John 10:18) Without God’s permission, Jesus “Yet not a hair of your head will perish.”(Luke 21:18)
(Verses refer to those in NASB95 unless otherwise specified.)
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