Luke 22:66 meaning, Cross Ref, ai commentary KJV NIV ESV NLT

Luke 22:66 kjv

And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying,

Luke 22:66 nkjv

As soon as it was day, the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, came together and led Him into their council, saying,

Luke 22:66 niv

At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them.

Luke 22:66 esv

When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said,

Luke 22:66 nlt

At daybreak all the elders of the people assembled, including the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. Jesus was led before this high council,

Luke 22 66 Cross References

Verse	Text	Reference
Mt 27:1	When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death.	Parallel account of morning counsel.
Mk 15:1	And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes...	Parallel account, early morning gathering.
Jn 18:28	Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early in the morning.	Parallel, indicates timing for Pilate.
Lk 22:54	Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house.	Preceding event: Jesus taken to Caiaphas's house.
Lk 22:71	And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.	Concluding statement of the Jewish trial.
Mk 14:55	And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none.	Sanhedrin's intent to condemn.
Jn 1:11	He came unto his own, and his own received him not.	Theme: Messiah rejected by His own people.
Acts 4:5-7	And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes...	Sanhedrin's structure and activity against apostles.
Acts 5:21	And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together...	Sanhedrin reconvenes for another hearing.
Lk 9:22	Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain...	Jesus' prophecy of rejection and death.
Lk 18:31-33	Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.	Jesus' detailed prophecy of His passion.
Isa 50:6	I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.	Prophecy of the Suffering Servant's abuse.
Isa 53:7	He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth...	Prophecy of the Suffering Servant's silence before accusers.
Ps 2:2	The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed.	Prophetic Psalm on rulers conspiring against God's Anointed.
Ps 35:11-12	False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not. They rewarded me evil for good...	Prophecy of unjust accusation and betrayal.
1 Ki 21:8-14	And she wrote letters... And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people: And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him...	Biblical precedent for corrupt legal proceedings.
Jer 26:10-11	When the princes of Judah heard these things, then they came up from the king's house unto the house of the LORD, and sat down in the entry of the new gate of the LORD'S house. Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This man is worthy to die...	A prophet accused of capital offense by religious leaders.
Ex 23:7	Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.	Mosaic Law principle against injustice and executing the innocent.
Deut 17:6	At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.	Requirement for multiple witnesses in capital cases (often violated in Jesus' trial).
Jn 19:6	The chief priests therefore and officers, when they saw him, cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.	Reveals the determination of the leaders to execute Jesus.
Acts 13:27	For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.	Sums up the condemnation of Jesus by the Jewish rulers as fulfillment of prophecy.

Luke 22 verses

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Luke 22 66 Meaning

Luke 22:66 marks the solemn beginning of Jesus' formal trial before the Jewish high court, the Sanhedrin, at daybreak following His arrest. It signifies the transition from the illicit, night-time interrogation to an official, though ultimately unjust, legal proceeding convened by the leading religious and civil authorities of the Jewish people, who were determined to condemn Jesus to death.

Luke 22 66 Context

Luke 22:66 takes place following Jesus' Last Supper with His disciples, His intense prayer in Gethsemane, and His subsequent betrayal by Judas and arrest. He was first brought to the house of Annas, the former high priest, and then sent to Caiaphas, the current high priest (Lk 22:54). While at Caiaphas's house during the night, Jesus underwent an initial, unofficial questioning, and Peter denied Him three times. Verse 66 signifies the transition from this private, informal interrogation to the full, official gathering of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish supreme court, at the first light of day to render a formal judgment. This meeting, taking place under the strictures of Jewish law which often prohibited night trials or speedy conclusions in capital cases, highlights the urgency and determination of the religious leaders to secure a conviction and execute Jesus.

Luke 22 66 Word Analysis

And as soon as it was day: (Greek: Kai hōs egeneto hēmera) The phrase hēmera (day, daylight) is crucial. Jewish law often stipulated that capital trials should occur during the day. While some initial interrogations could happen at night, the official verdict and sentencing typically required daylight and were not to be concluded on the same day as conviction. This particular mention emphasizes the transition to what the Jewish authorities considered their formal legal session, although conducted with gross procedural irregularities driven by their prejudiced desire for conviction.
the elders of the people: (Greek: hoi presbyteroi tou laou) These were distinguished men, usually heads of families or communities, and leaders among the populace, often wealthy and influential. They represented the lay aristocracy and were members of the Sanhedrin, contributing to its political weight.
and the chief priests: (Greek: kai archiereis) This group included the serving high priest (Caiaphas at the time), former high priests (like Annas), and members of the high priestly families, many of whom were Sadducees. They held immense religious, social, and political power and often controlled Temple operations and treasury. They were typically conservative and protective of their vested interests and Roman favor.
and the scribes: (Greek: kai grammateis) Experts and teachers of the Mosaic Law, interpreters of Jewish tradition (Oral Law), and legal scholars. Many scribes were Pharisees. They meticulously studied and copied the Scriptures and advised on matters of law and doctrine. Their presence indicates that the religious legal framework was engaged.
came together: (Greek: synēchthēsan, from synagō) This denotes a deliberate and formal assembly. The combined presence of these three groups – elders (lay leaders), chief priests (religious aristocracy), and scribes (legal/theological experts) – represents the full composition and highest authority of the Jewish Sanhedrin. Their united appearance signifies a consolidated opposition against Jesus.
and led him: (Greek: kai anēgagon auton) The verb anagō implies bringing someone up or into a specific, usually formal or higher, location, such as a court or place of judgment. It marks Jesus' formal presentation before the official body for trial, indicating His legal custody transitioning to their direct purview for the hearing.
into their council: (Greek: eis to synedrion autōn) Synedrion refers to the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish governing council, typically composed of 71 members. This was the authoritative body that could deliberate on matters of national religious law and, with Roman consent, judicial punishment, including capital sentences. Their actions here constituted the official Jewish verdict that would then be presented to the Roman authorities.
saying: (Greek: legontes) This word acts as a prelude, signaling that the verse introduces the direct questions and accusations that the Sanhedrin will pose to Jesus, commencing the formal proceedings as recounted in the following verses.

Luke 22 66 Bonus Section

The convening of the Sanhedrin "as soon as it was day" demonstrates the extreme urgency and determined maliciousness of the religious leaders. They wanted Jesus convicted and executed before the Passover festivities became too advanced, fearing a public uprising. This rapid process was a violation of their own judicial standards, which typically called for a delay of at least one day between a capital conviction and sentencing to allow for reflection or new evidence.
The three groups mentioned (elders, chief priests, scribes) encompassed all the main factions within the Jewish leadership (Sadducees and Pharisees primarily), showcasing a broad and deep conspiracy against Jesus. While they might have differed on many doctrinal points, their shared goal of eliminating Jesus united them.
The synedrion's authority was primarily religious, but they exercised considerable civil power under Roman rule, especially over matters concerning Jewish law. While they could convict Jesus, they needed Roman authorization for execution, which necessitated His transfer to Pontius Pilate immediately afterward.

Luke 22 66 Commentary

Luke 22:66 is a pivotal verse, signaling the shift in Jesus' passion from clandestine apprehension and private interrogation to an official, though rigged, judicial process. The collective assembly of the "elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes" forming "their council" highlights the complete, unified resolve of the Jewish religious and political leadership to condemn Jesus. The mention of "as soon as it was day" not only establishes the time but also carries significant legal implications under Jewish law for capital cases, ironically revealing the leaders' hypocrisy in trying to legitimize their illegal night-time actions by holding a formal, but still flawed, daytime hearing. Despite their legal maneuvering, the spiritual reality was that the world's wisdom, represented by the combined authority of the Sanhedrin, was rising against God's Christ, unwittingly fulfilling prophecies concerning the Suffering Servant who would be delivered to unjust condemnation. This assembly was the religious pinnacle of humanity's rejection of its divine Messiah.