A HARMONISTIC OVERVIEW OF JESUS’ TRIALS
| Phase | Authority/Time/Place | Events/Judgment |
| The Jewish Trial | ||
| 1. First Jewish Phase ( Jn 18:13–24 ) | Annas, Thursday evening, Annas’s courtyard | Only John tells us that Jesus was originally sent to Annas, the former high priest and father-in-law of Caiaphas, for his initial questioning. |
| 2. Second Jewish Phase ( Mk 14:53–65 ; Mt 26:57–68 ; Lk 22:54 ) | Caiaphas and part of the Sanhedrin, Thursday night, Caiaphas’s courtyard (Peter’s denial begins here) | False witnesses are brought against Jesus. When asked if he is the Christ, the Son of God, he responds positively but defines his role as that of the Son of Man. He is accused of blasphemy, mocked and beaten. |
| 3. Third Jewish Phase ( Mk 15:1a ; Mt 27:1 ; Lk 22:66–71 ) | The full Sanhedrin, Friday, early morning | While all three Synoptics mention this phase of the trial, Luke alone describes Jesus’ confession in terms similar to those recorded by Mark and Matthew the evening before. |
| The Roman Trial | ||
| 1. First Roman Phase ( Mk 15:1b–5 ; Mt 27:2 , 11–14 ; Lk 23:1–5 ; Jn 18:28–38 ) | Pilate, Friday, early morning at the Praetorium | The Sanhedrin leads Jesus away to the governor Pilate, who asks him if he is the king of the Jews. Jesus responds positively. In John’s account, Jesus explains that his kingdom is not of this world. |
| 2. Second Roman Phase ( Lk 23:6–12 ) | Herod Antipas, Friday morning at Herod’s palace | Luke alone records that when Pilate learned Jesus was from Galilee, he sent him to Herod, who was visiting Jerusalem. Herod questions Jesus without success, abuses him and returns him to Pilate. |
| 3. Third Roman Phase ( Mk 15:6–15 ; Mt 27:15–26 ; Lk 23:13–25 ) | Pilate, Friday morning at the Praetorium | Holding to his custom to release a prisoner at Passover, Pilate attempts to free Jesus. Prompted by the chief priests, the crowds call for Barabbas’s release and Jesus’ crucifixion. Pilate scourges Jesus and turns him over for crucifixion. |
Taken from Four Portraits, One Jesus by MARK L. STRAUSS. Copyright © 2007 by Mark L. Strauss, p. 502. Used by permission of Zondervan.
Gethsemane
14:32-42pp — Mt 26:36–46 ; Lk 22:40–46
32 ‡ They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 ‡ He took Peter, James and John † along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” † he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”
35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour † might pass from him. 36 ‡ “Abba , [65] Father,” † he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup † from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” †
37 ‡ Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? 38 ‡ Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. † The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” †
39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.
41 ‡ Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour † has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
Jesus Arrested
14:43-50pp — Mt 26:47–56 ; Lk 22:47–50 ; Jn 18:3–11
43 ‡ Just as he was speaking, Judas, † one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.
44 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” 45 ‡ Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” † and kissed him. 46 The men seized Jesus and arrested him. 47 ‡ Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
48 ‡ “Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 ‡ Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, † and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” † 50 ‡ Then everyone deserted him and fled. †
51 ‡ A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, 52 ‡ he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.
Jesus Before the Sanhedrin
14:53-65pp — Mt 26:57–68 ; Jn 18:12 , Jn 18:13 , Jn 18:19–24
14:61-63pp — Lk 22:67–71
53 ‡ They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. 54 ‡ Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. † There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire. †
55 ‡ The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin † were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. 56 ‡ Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.
57 Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: 58 ‡ “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, † not made with hands.’ ” 59 Yet even then their testimony did not agree.
60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 61 ‡ But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. †
Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” †
62 ‡ “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” †
63 ‡ The high priest tore his clothes. † “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. 64 ‡ “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”
They all condemned him as worthy of death. † 65 ‡ Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him. †
Peter Disowns Jesus
14:66-72pp — Mt 26:69–75 ; Lk 22:56–62 ; Jn 18:16–18 , 25–27
66 ‡ While Peter was below in the courtyard, † one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. 67 ‡ When she saw Peter warming himself, † she looked closely at him.
“You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” † she said.
68 ‡ But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” † he said, and went out into the entryway. [66]
69 When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” 70 ‡ Again he denied it. †
After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” †
71 He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.” †
72 ‡ Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. [67] Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice [68] you will disown me three times.” † And he broke down and wept.
Jesus Before Pilate
15:2-15pp — Mt 27:11–26 ; Lk 23:2 , 3 , 18–25 ; Jn 18:29–19:16
1 ‡ Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law † and the whole Sanhedrin, † made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate. †
2 ‡ “Are you the king of the Jews?” † asked Pilate.
“You have said so,” Jesus replied.
3 ‡ The chief priests accused him of many things. 4 ‡ So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.”
5 ‡ But Jesus still made no reply, † and Pilate was amazed.
6 ‡ Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. 7 ‡ A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. 8 The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.
9 “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” † asked Pilate, 10 knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas † instead.
12 “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.
13 ‡ “Crucify him!” they shouted.
14 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
15 ‡ Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, † and handed him over to be crucified.
The Soldiers Mock Jesus
15:16-20pp — Mt 27:27–31
16 ‡ The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace † (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. 17 ‡ They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. 18 ‡ And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” † 19 ‡ Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. 20 ‡ And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out † to crucify him.
The Crucifixion of Jesus
15:22-32pp — Mt 27:33–44 ; Lk 23:33–43 ; Jn 19:17–24
21 ‡ A certain man from Cyrene, † Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, † was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. † 22 ‡ They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 23 ‡ Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, † but he did not take it. 24 ‡ And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots † to see what each would get.
25 ‡ It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. 26 ‡ The written notice of the charge against him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS . †
27 ‡ They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. [28] [69] 29 ‡ Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads † and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, † 30 come down from the cross and save yourself!” 31 In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him † among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! 32 ‡ Let this Messiah, † this king of Israel, † come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
A rolling-stone tomb in Israel, similar to the one in which Jesus was laid
The Death of Jesus
15:33-41pp — Mt 27:45–56 ; Lk 23:44–49 ; Jn 19:29–30
33 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. † 34 ‡ And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” ). [70] †
35 ‡ When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.”
36 ‡ Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, † put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.
37 ‡ With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. †
38 ‡ The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. † 39 ‡ And when the centurion, † who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, [71] he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” †
40 ‡ Some women were watching from a distance. † Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, [72] and Salome. † 41 ‡ In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there. †
The Burial of Jesus
15:42-47pp — Mt 27:57–61 ; Lk 23:50–56 ; Jn 19:38–42
42 ‡ It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). † So as evening approached, 43 ‡ Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, † who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, † went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 44 ‡ Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. 45 ‡ When he learned from the centurion † that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. 46 ‡ So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. † 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph † saw where he was laid.
Jesus Has Risen
16:1-8pp — Mt 28:1–8 ; Lk 24:1–10
1 ‡ When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices † so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 ‡ and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” †
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 ‡ As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe † sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
6 ‡ “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, † who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 ‡ But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, † just as he told you.’ ” †
8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. [73]
[The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have verses 9–20.]
9 When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, † out of whom he had driven seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. 11 When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it. †
12 Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. † 13 These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.
14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. †
15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. † 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. † 17 And these signs † will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; † they will speak in new tongues; † 18 they will pick up snakes † with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on † sick people, and they will get well.”
19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven † and he sat at the right hand of God. † 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs † that accompanied it.