Bible Strands
Luke 22:71
“Why do we need any more testimony?” they declared. “We have heard it for ourselves from His own lips.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Sanhedrin members speak to Jesus immediately after He confirms their accusation that He is the Son of God. They declare that further testimony is unnecessary because they have heard His claim directly from Him.
The words — ἔχομεν (echomen) means "we have," and χρείαν (chreian) means "need," forming the literal phrase "we have need." Paired with μαρτυρίας (marturias), "witness," they establish the claim that additional testimony is redundant.
The thread — This declaration runs parallel to Matthew 26:65 and Mark 14:63, where the high priest similarly rejects the need for additional witnesses after Jesus' final statement.
Why it lands — The text states that the council dismisses direct testimony in favor of their own predetermined conclusion. It asks a reader to observe how explicit claims of identity can trigger immediate legal dismissal rather than factual investigation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.
Cross-references
- Matthew 26:65 At this, the high priest tore his clothes and declared, “He has blasphemed! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.
- Mark 14:63 At this, the high priest tore his clothes and declared, “Why do we need any more witnesses?