Matthew 26 57

Matthew 26:57 kjv

And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.

Matthew 26:57 nkjv

And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.

Matthew 26:57 niv

Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled.

Matthew 26:57 esv

Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered.

Matthew 26:57 nlt

Then the people who had arrested Jesus led him to the home of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of religious law and the elders had gathered.

Matthew 26 verses

Matthew 26 57 Meaning

Matthew 26:57 describes the immediate aftermath of Jesus' arrest in Gethsemane. The arresting party led Jesus, now their captive, to the official residence of Caiaphas, the current High Priest. There, a pre-arranged assembly of prominent religious leaders—the scribes and elders, representing the Sanhedrin—had gathered, indicating a planned and illegitimate nighttime judicial proceeding against Jesus. This verse marks the beginning of Jesus' formal religious trial, orchestrating His condemnation by the very authorities who were supposed to represent God's law.

Matthew 26 57 Context

Matthew 26:57 follows directly from the narrative of Jesus' arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. After Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus with a kiss, a detachment of armed men and temple guards "laid hold" of Jesus (Matt 26:47-56). The immediate context shows Jesus' willingness to submit to this capture, even restraining Peter from violent resistance. This verse thus initiates the formal legal proceedings against Jesus, transitioning from the betrayal and arrest to His first trial before the highest Jewish religious court.

Historically, the Sanhedrin was the supreme Jewish judicial and administrative body in Judea under Roman rule. Composed of seventy-one members including chief priests, scribes, and elders, it exercised significant religious and civil authority, though its power to inflict capital punishment was limited by the Roman occupiers. The High Priest presided over this council. Caiaphas, appointed by the Roman procurator Valerius Gratus (AD 18) and removed by Vitellius (AD 36), held the office for a remarkably long and politically advantageous tenure, aligning closely with Roman interests to maintain order. The nighttime gathering of the Sanhedrin at Caiaphas's house, particularly for a capital case, was highly irregular and unlawful according to Jewish jurisprudence (e.g., trials involving capital punishment were not to be held at night, on festival days, or concluded on the same day). This indicates the pre-determined outcome and the corrupt nature of the proceedings against Jesus. The assembly here reveals a clear conspiracy by the Jewish religious leadership against Jesus, driven by fear of Roman reprisal, loss of their authority, and spiritual blindness.

Matthew 26 57 Word analysis

• And (Καὶ - Kai): A simple connective particle. It signals the immediate continuation of the narrative, linking the act of arrest directly to the act of leading Jesus away to a specific location and for a specific purpose.
• they that had laid hold on Jesus (οἱ κρατήσαντες τὸν Ἰησοῦν - hoi kratēsantes ton Iēsoun):
  • "they that had laid hold on": Refers to the "crowd with swords and clubs" (Matt 26:47), which included temple guards, Roman soldiers, and servants. The participle "κρατήσαντες" (kratēsantes) from krateo means "to seize," "to grasp," or "to take hold of forcefully." It conveys an aggressive, deliberate act of capture.
  • "Jesus": The direct object of their forceful action. This highlights Jesus' identity as the target of their plot and the central figure of the divine plan unfolding.
• led him away (ἀπήγαγον - apēgagon): From apagō, meaning "to lead away," "to conduct away," or "to carry off." It implies a forced removal, reflecting Jesus' lack of freedom but also His voluntary submission to the divine will (Isa 53:7). This verb is often used for leading someone to judgment or execution (e.g., Matt 27:31).
• to Caiaphas the high priest (πρὸς Καϊάφαν τὸν ἀρχιερέα - pros Kaiaphan ton archierea):
  • "to Caiaphas": The direct destination. Joseph Caiaphas was the son-in-law of Annas (John 18:13), a former High Priest and significant power behind the scenes. Caiaphas held the high priesthood from about AD 18 to 36, a long tenure indicative of his pragmatic cooperation with Roman authority. He was instrumental in plotting Jesus' death (John 11:49-50).
  • "the high priest": Refers to the supreme religious authority in Israel, responsible for matters of Mosaic Law and presiding over the Sanhedrin. His office held immense religious and political sway among the Jews, even under Roman occupation. His involvement underscores the religious nature of the charges, despite political undercurrents.
• where (ὅπου - hopou): A simple locative adverb, specifying the place where the following action occurred.
• the scribes and the elders were assembled (οἱ γραμματεῖς καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι συνήχθησαν - hoi grammateis kai hoi presbyteroi synēchthēsan):
  • "the scribes": Experts in Jewish law, interpreters, and teachers of the Torah. They represented the scholarly wing of the Sanhedrin.
  • "and the elders": Lay leaders of the Jewish community, typically prominent men and heads of families, often wealthy or influential. They represented the aristocratic and communal element of the Sanhedrin.
  • "were assembled": From synagō (to gather, collect, assemble). The aorist passive verb "συνήχθησαν" (synēchthēsan) emphasizes that they were already gathered or had been convened. This passive voice indicates they were called together for a specific purpose by a higher authority (likely Caiaphas and the chief priests, not explicitly mentioned but implied in Mark's parallel). This detail highlights the premeditated and illegal nature of the night trial. Their pre-assembly signifies their eagerness and complicity in condemning Jesus.

Words-group analysis:

• "they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away": Emphasizes Jesus as a prisoner, no longer free. This act is the first step in the formal legal process, demonstrating a predetermined will to remove Him from the public sphere and bring Him before authority.
• "to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled": This entire phrase delineates the setting of the immediate "trial" or interrogation. It specifies the highest religious authority figure and the composition of the gathered council, underscoring that this was an official, albeit unlawful, convocation of the Sanhedrin's most influential members, prepared for judgment even at night. This rapid and secret convening speaks to the conspiracy against Jesus.

Matthew 26 57 Bonus section

• Illegality of the Trial: According to Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:1 and other Jewish legal traditions, capital cases like Jesus' were strictly forbidden from being tried at night, on a feast day (Passover), or on the Sabbath. Additionally, a conviction could not be pronounced on the same day the trial began. The swift, secret assembly at Caiaphas's house therefore highlights the complete disregard for legal due process, revealing their desperate determination to eliminate Jesus before a public outcry could ensue or Roman intervention.
• Symbolic Setting: Caiaphas's house, the center of Israel's religious governance, ironically becomes the place where the ultimate "righteous one" is judged and condemned by those who should have recognized Him. This dark assembly marks the climax of human rebellion against divine revelation.
• Fulfillment of Old Testament themes: This scene echoes prophetic themes of the righteous being persecuted by the powerful (Ps 31:13) and plotted against by wicked rulers (Ps 2:2), while humbly submitting to their fate like a lamb led to slaughter (Isa 53:7).

Matthew 26 57 Commentary

Matthew 26:57 captures a pivotal moment: the transition from Jesus' arrest to His religious trial. It is a scene orchestrated by the very leaders entrusted with upholding God's law. The haste and clandestine nature of this nighttime assembly at Caiaphas's private residence betray the council's intention to railroad Jesus to condemnation. Jewish legal custom prohibited night trials for capital offenses and demanded open hearings; this violated those sacred traditions, revealing the deep-seated malice and perversion of justice. The Sanhedrin's chief objective was not truth or justice, but the silencing of a figure they perceived as a threat to their authority and position (John 11:48). This verse serves as a chilling testament to humanity's capacity to reject the Divine amidst self-preservation and political expediency. The High Priest, meant to bridge God and man, instead actively plots against God in human form, symbolizing the spiritual blindness of many among Israel's leadership.