The Six Trials of Jesus:

Three religious (Jewish) trials where he was found guilty and three civil (Roman) trials where he was found innocent.

The Jews found him guilty but the Romans found Jesus Innocent.

Pilate said as he washed his hands, "I am innocent of this man's blood" the Jews actually responded, "His blood be upon us and our children".

Peter follows

But Peter was following Him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and entered in, and sat down with the officers to see the outcome. Matthew 26:58

Peter had followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest;

Having arrested Him, they led Him away and brought Him to the house of the high priest; but Peter was following at a distance.

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.

Time for Fire to be Kindled, then first denial

1

Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.”

 and he was sitting with the officers and warming himself at the fire. Mark 14:54

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.”

After they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter was sitting among them. And a servant-girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight and looking intently at him, said, “This man was with Him too.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.”

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.” Now the slaves and the officers were standing there, having made a charcoal fire, for it was cold and they were warming themselves; and Peter was also with them, standing and warming himself. John 18:15-18

Second denial

2

When he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” And again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.”

And he went out onto the porch, and a rooster crowed. The servant-girl saw him, and began once more to say to the bystanders, “This is one of them!” But again he denied it.

A little later, another saw him and said, “You are one of them too!” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!”

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.”

Peter’s third denial

3

A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Surely you too are one of them; for even the way you talk gives you away.” Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know the man!”

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!”

After about an hour had passed, another man began to insist, saying, “Certainly this man also was with Him, for he is a Galilean too.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.”

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,

Rooster Crows

And immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.Matthew 26:69-75

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

Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 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 22:54-62

and immediately a rooster crowed.John 18:25-27

Judge

Texts

Decision

Time AM

Place

Notes

3 Religious trials by Jews

Annas

Mt 26:57-58; Mk 14:53-54; Luke 22:54-55; Jn 18:12-23

Guilty

2-2:30

House of High Priest

Jesus answers freely

Caiaphas

Mt 26:59-75; Mk 14:55-65; Lk 22:56-65; Jn 18:24

Guilty

2:30-5

House of High Priest

Peter’s three denials. One hour between second and third denial: Lk 22:59

Jesus would not answer

Sanhedrin

Mt 27:1, Mk 15:1; Lk 22:66-71

Guilty

6

Court of Sanhedrin

In the early morning

3 Civil trials by Romans

Pilate

Matt 27:2-14; Mk 15:2-5; Lk 23:1-6; Jn 18:28-38

Innocent

6:30

Praetorium

Death of Judas

Herod

Lk 23:7-12

Innocent

7

Herod visiting Jerusalem

Pilate

Matt 27:15-26; Mk 15:6-15; Lk 23:13-25; Jn 18:39-19:16

Innocent

7:30-8

Praetorium

Mt

Mk

Lk

Jn

1.     Annas

Mt 26:57-58

Mk 14:53-54

Lk22:54-55

Jn 18:12-23

2.     Caiaphas

Mt 26:59-75

Mk 14:55-65

Lk 22:56-65

Jn 18:24

3.     Sanhedrin

Mt 27:1

Mk 15:1

Lk22:66-71

-

4.     Pilate

Matt 27:2-14

Mk 15:2-5

Lk 23:1-6

Jn 18:28-38

5.     Herod

-

-

Lk 23:7-12

-

6.     Pilate

Matt 27:15-26

Mk 15:6-15

Lk 23:13-25

Jn 18:39-19:16

Time

Type

Authority

Scripture

Accusations

Legality

Results

1

2:00 AM

Jewish

Preliminary ex­amination

Annas, ex-high priest of Jews

John 18:13-23

Pre–trial trumped–up charges. General questioning, nothing specific

Illegal because it was unauthorized inquiry held at night at residence of Annas. Prejudice. No specific charges. Violent.

Purpose was to gain evidence for the trial. “Guilty” of irreverence. Taken to Caiaphas.

2

3:30 AM

Jewish

Caiaphas, current high priest, and members of Sanhedrin

Matt. 26:56-68; Mk. 14:53-65; Jn. 18:24

Blasphemy; claimed to be the Messiah, Son of God

Illegal because held at night at residence of Caiaphas. Perjured witnesses could not agree. Violence.

Guilty of blasphemy by common consent. Sent to the Sanhedrin

3

6:00 AM

Jewish

Sanhedrin (Jewish ruling authorities)

; Lk. 22:66-71

Charged with blasphemy; claimed to be Son of God. Rome not interested in blasphemy.

Formal trial to con­firm capital sentence of the illegal night trial. Put Jesus under oath. Caiaphas made each member of Sanhedrin accredited witnesses.

Declared guilty of blasphemy by Sanhedrin. Sent to Roman Governor, Pilate, for legal sentence of death.

4

6:30 AM

Roman Civil Trial

Pilate, Governor of Judaea, at official residence (first time)

Matt. 27:1-2, 11-14; Mk. 15:2-5; Lk. 23:1-7; Jn. 18:28-38

Accused Him of treason which was worthy of capital punish­ment in Rome.

Illegal, yet held even though found innocent by Pilate. No defense attorney. Violent.

Innocent, Jn. 18:38. Should have ended trial, but sent to Herod Antipas. Mob overruled Pilate.

5

7:00 AM

Roman Civil Trial

Herod Antipas, Governor of Galilee

Lk. 23:8-12

No accusation. Mock trial. Mob violence.

Illegal because no grounds. Mockery in courtroom. Violence. No defense attorney.

Mistreated and mocked, returned to Pilate without decision by Herod

6

7:30 AM

Roman Civil Trial

Pilate (second time)

Matt. 27:15-26; Mk. 15:6-15; Lk. 23:13-25; Jn. 18:39-19:16

Treason. Bargain with mob, put on trial with Barabbas

Illegal because Pilate had no proof of guilt, allowed innocent man be condemned

Found innocent, but Pilate bowed to political pressure of Jews.

7

Today

Universal

You are the judge.

The whole Bible

Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior

This decision is legal and eternally binding

What did you do with Jesus?