Bible Strands
Matthew 26:59
Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The chief priests and elders convene a judicial proceeding against Jesus in the high priest’s courtyard, immediately after Peter arrives to observe the proceedings.
The words — ἀρχιερεῖς (archiereis) = chief priests, πρεσβύτεροι (presbuteroi) = elders.
The thread — The pursuit of false testimony against Jesus echoes the legal warning in Deuteronomy 19:16, parallels the parallel account in Mark 14:55, and anticipates the fabricated charges used against Stephen in Acts 6:11.
Why it lands — The text records that the religious authorities actively searched for fabricated evidence to justify execution, demanding readers recognize that institutional power can weaponize legal processes against an innocent target.
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
Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 19:16 If a false witness testifies against someone, accusing him of a crime,
- Mark 14:55 Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but they did not find any.
- Acts 6:11 Then they prompted some men to say, “We heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.”
- 1 Kings 21:8 Then Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city.
- Psalms 27:12 Do not hand me over to the will of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence.
- Psalms 35:11 Hostile witnesses come forward; they make charges I know nothing about.
- Psalms 94:20 Can a corrupt throne be Your ally—one devising mischief by decree?
- Proverbs 25:18 Like a club or sword or sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.
- Matthew 5:22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.
- Acts 24:1 Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, who presented to the governor their case against Paul.