9
Chapter 9
Christ's Trial
Witnesses against Him
Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death. Matthew 26:59
But found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward. Matthew 26:60
And said, "This fellow said, `I am able to destroy the temple of GOD and to build it in three days.'" - -61
And the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, and found none.
Mark 14:55
For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree. - -56
And some rose up and bore false witness against Him saying, - -57
"We heard Him say, `I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.'" - -58
But not even then did their testimony agree. - -59
Accusations against Christ
And they began to accuse Him, saying, "We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King." Luke 22:2
But they were the more fierce, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place." - -5
And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him. - -10
Pilate then went out to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this Man?" John 18:29
They answered and said to him, "If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you." - -30
The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of GOD." 19:7
Christ Interrogated
And the high priest arose and said to Him, "Do You answer nothing? What is it that these men testify against You?" Matthew 26:62
Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?" So Jesus said to him, "It is as you say."
- 27:11
The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine.
John 18:19
Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" - -33
Jesus answered him, "Are you speaking for yourself on this, or did others tell you this about Me?" - -34
Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?" - -35
His Silence Predicted
He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet he opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, silent, so He opened not His mouth. Isaiah 53:7
Christ's Silence
And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing. Matthew 27:12
Then Pilate said to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?" - -13
And He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly. - -14
And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, "Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?"" Mark 14:60
But He kept silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, "Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" - -61
And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing. - 15:3
Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, "Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify against You!"
- -4
But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled. - -5
Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing. Luke 23:9
Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid, John 19:8
And went again into the Praetorium and said to Jesus, "Where are You from? But Jesus gave him no answer." - -9
Then Pilate said to Him, "Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?" - -10
Application of the Prophecy
The place in the Scripture which he read was this: "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so He opened not His mouth." Acts 8:32
In His humiliation His justice was taken away. And who will declare His generation? For His life is take from the earth." - -33
So the eunuch answered Philip and said, "I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?" - -34
Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. - -35
Christ's Defense
Jesus answered him, "I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing." John 18:20
"Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said." - -21
Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here."
- -36
Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." - -37
Christ's Confession
But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, "I adjure You by the living GOD that You tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of GOD."
Matthew 26:63
Jesus said to him, "It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven." - -64
But He kept silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, "Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?"
Mark 14:61
And Jesus said, "I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven." - -62
Then Pilate asked Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" And He answered and said to him, "It is as you say."
- 15:2
If You are the Christ, tell us. But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will by no means believe." Luke 22:67
"And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go." - -68
"Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of GOD." - -69
Then they all said, "Are You then the Son of GOD?" And He said to them, "You rightly say that I am." - -70
And they said, "What further testimony do we need? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth."
Luke 22:71
So Pilate asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?" And He answered him and said, "It is as you say." - 23:3
Reflection
I urge you in the sight of GOD who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate. 1 Timothy 6:13
His Innocence Foretold
"But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, `They hated Me without a cause.'"
John 15:25
Pilate's Testimony Thereto
For he knew that because of envy they had delivered Him. Matthew 27:18
For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy. Mark 15:10
Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no fault in this Man." Luke 23:4
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 fault in Him at all. John 18:38
Pilate then went out again, and said to them, "Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him." - 19:4
Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, "You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him." - -6
Pilate's Expedients
When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. "You see to it." Matthew 27:24
And all the people answered and said, "His blood be on us and on our children." - -25
Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, and the rulers, and the people," Luke 23:13
Said to them, "You have brought this Man to me as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him;" Luke 23:14
"No, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing worthy of death has been done by Him." - -15
I will therefore chastise Him and release Him." - -16
And he said to them the third time, "Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go." - -22
The Governor's Annual Custom
Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. Matthew 27:15
Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested. Mark 15:6
Then the multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do just as he had always done for them. Mark 15:8
(For it was necessary for him to release one to them at the feast). Luke 23:17
But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. John 18:39
Barabbas' Character
And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. Matthew 27:16
And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow insurrectionists; they had committed murder in the insurrection. Mark 15:7
Who had been thrown into prison for a certain insurrection made in the city, and for murder. Luke 23:19
And he released to them the one they requested, who for insurrection and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will. - -25
Christ and Barabbas Proposed
Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" Matthew 27:17
But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. - -20
The governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" They said, "Barabbas!" - -21
But Pilate answered them, saying, "Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?" Mark 15:9
But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them. - -11
Barabbas Preferred
And they all cried out at once, saying, "Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas." Luke 23:18
Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?" John 18:39
Then they all cried again, saying, "Not this Man, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a robber. - -40
Reflection
But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you. Acts 3:14
Christ's Death Demanded
Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said to him, "Let Him be crucified!" Matthew 27:22
Then the governor said, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they cried out all the more, saying, "Let Him be crucified!"
- -23
And Pilate answered and said to them again, "What then do you want me to do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?" Mark 15:12
So they cried out again, "Crucify Him!" - -13
Then Pilate said to them, "Why, what evil has He done?" And they cried out more exceedingly, "Crucify Him!" Mark - -14
Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them.
Luke 23:20
But they shouted, saying, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!" - -21
But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed. - -23
From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, "If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar's friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar." John 19:12
But 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!" - -15
Reflections
The GOD of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the GOD of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. Acts 3:13
And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. - 13:28
Christ Condemned
Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, "He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy!" Matthew 26:65
What do you think? They answered and said, "He is deserving of death." - -66
Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "What further need do we have of witnesses?" Mark 14:63
"You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?" And they all condemned Him to be worthy of death. - -64
So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested. Luke 23:24
So he delivered Him to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and led Him away. John 19:16
Reflections
And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. Luke 24:20
For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him.
Acts 13:27
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