Chapter 22

Residence of the High-priest Caiaphas. Before dawn on Friday

1Or,sanctuary:as inMatt. 23:35; andchap. 27:5.

2Gr.liable to.

3Or,with rods.

4Or,strokes of rods.

5Gr.him.

COURT OF THEHIGH-PRIEST'SRESIDENCE, DURING THESERIES OFTRIALSFriday before and about dawn

1Or,I neither know, nor understand: thou, what sayest thou?

2Gr.forecourt.

3Many ancient authorities omitand the cock crew.

4Or,And he began to weep.

5Gr.bondservants.

6Gr.a fire of charcoal.

aEach of the four Gospels records three denials; but the details differ considerably, as must always be the case where in each narrative a few facts are selected out of many sayings and doings. We have seen (footnote on§ 154) that there werethree stagesof the Jewish trial, (l) before Annas, (2) before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin for informal examination, (3) before them in a formal trial. Now John gives only the first of the three stages, Luke only the last, Matthew and Mark give the second stage fully, and the third in brief mention. If Peter's denials ran through all three (and Luke says in ver. 59 that there was an hour between his second and third denials), then no one of the four Gospels could give each of the denials precisely at the time of its occurrence; and so each Gospel merely throws them together, as in another way we here bring them together in one section. There is no difficulty about the substantial fact of the denials; and we must be content with our inability to arrange all the circumstances into a complete programme.

Friday

1Or,Ye sayit,because I am.

aThis ratification of the condemnation after dawn was an effort to make the action legal. But no ratification of a wrong can make it right. Some modern Jewish writers admit the illegalities and argue the unhistorical character of the narrative. But the hate of the Sanhedrin for Jesus made them violate their own rules of legal procedure. See my book,The Pharisees and Jesus.

IN THETEMPLE AND IN APLACE WITHOUT THEWALLS OFJERUSALEMFriday morning

1Many ancient authorities readrighteous.

2Gr.corbanas, that is,sacred treasury. Comp.Mark 7:11.

3Or,through.

4Or,I took.

5Or,whom they priced on the part of the sons of Israel.

6Some ancient authorities readI gave.

Jerusalem. Friday, early morning

1Or,an anointed king.

2Gr.Prætorium.

3Or,officers:as in verses 3, 12, 18, 22.

4Or,Thou sayestit,because I am a king.

aThe Roman Trial also comprised three stages, (1) the first appearance before the Roman procurator Pilate (§ 159), (2) the appearance before Herod Antipas, the native ruler of Galilee appointed by the Romans (§ 160), and (3) the final appearance before Pilate (§ 161).

Jerusalem. Friday, early morningLuke 23:6-12

6But when Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man were a Galilean.7And when he knew that he was of Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him unto Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem in these days.

8Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was of a long time desirous to see him, because he had heard concerning him;aand he hoped to see some1miracle done by him.9And he questioned him in many words; but he answered him nothing.10And the chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him.11And Herod with his soldiers set him at nought, and mocked him, and arraying him in gorgeous apparel sent him back to Pilate.12And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day: for before they were at enmity between themselves.

1Gr.sign.

aSee§ 71.

Pilate slowly and reluctantly and in fear surrenders to the demand of the Sanhedrin for the crucifixion of Christ.

Friday toward sunrise (John 19:14)

1Or,a feast.

2Some ancient authorities readof this blood: see ye etc.

3Gr.Prætorium. SeeMark 15:16.

4Or,palace.

5Many ancient authorities insert ver. 17Now he must needs release unto them at the feast oneprisoner. Others add the same words after ver. 19.

6Or,with rods.

7Or,authority.

8Or,opposeth Cæsar.

aIt appears that John, who wrote in Asia Minor, long after the destruction of Jerusalem, makes the day begin at midnight, as the Greeks and Romans did. We seem compelled so to understand him in20:19(comp.Luke 24:29-39); and in no passage of his Gospel is that view unsuitable. Here then we understand that Pilate passed the sentence about sunrise, which at the Passover, near the vernal equinox, would be 6 o'clock. The intervening three hours might be occupied in preparations, and the Crucifixion occurred at 9 o'clock, viz. the third hour as counted by the Jews (Mark 15:25).

bPilate, of course, could not escape full legal and moral responsibility for his cowardly surrender to the Sanhedrin to keep his own office. The guilt of the Sanhedrin (both Pharisees and Sadducees unite in the demand for the blood of Jesus) is beyond dispute. It is impossible to make a mere political issue out of it and to lay all the blame on the Sadducees, who feared a revolution. The Pharisees began the attacks against Jesus on theological and ecclesiastical grounds. The Sadducees later joined the conspiracy against Christ. Judas was a mere tool of the Sanhedrin, who had his resentments and grievances to avenge. There is guilt enough for all the plotters in the greatest wrong of the ages.

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