26:57 {16} And they that had laid hold on Jesus led [him] away to {a} Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
(16) Christ being innocent is condemned by the high Priest for that wickedness of which we are guilty.
(a) From Annas to Caiaphas, before whom the multitude was assembled; Joh 18:13.
26:57 Led [him] away to Caiaphas, the high priest. He was first examined by Annas, the former high priest, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, probably while the Sanhedrin was assembling in the darkness of the night (Joh 18:13). For the trial of Christ, compare Mr 14:53-64 Lu 22:54-71 Joh 18:13-18.
The scribes and the elders were assembled. Mark says the chief priests (Mr 14:53) also. It was a gathering of the Sanhedrin. Those who were favorable to Jesus, like Joseph and Nicodemus, were probably not called.
26:57 They led him away to Caiaphas - From the house of Annas, the father - in - law of Caiaphas, to whom they had carried him first. Mark 14:53; Luke 22:54; John 18:12.
26:57-68 Jesus was hurried into Jerusalem. It looks ill, and bodes worse, when those who are willing to be Christ's disciples, are not willing to be known to be so. Here began Peter's denying him: for to follow Christ afar off, is to begin to go back from him. It is more our concern to prepare for the end, whatever it may be, than curiously to ask what the end will be. The event is God's, but the duty is ours. Now the Scriptures were fulfilled, which said, False witnesses are risen up against me. Christ was accused, that we might not be condemned; and if at any time we suffer thus, let us remember we cannot expect to fare better than our Master. When Christ was made sin for us, he was silent, and left it to his blood to speak. Hitherto Jesus had seldom professed expressly to be the Christ, the Son of God; the tenor of his doctrine spoke it, and his miracles proved it; but now he would not omit to make an open confession of it. It would have looked like declining his sufferings. He thus confessed, as an example and encouragement to his followers, to confess him before men, whatever hazard they ran. Disdain, cruel mocking, and abhorrence, are the sure portion of the disciple as they were of the Master, from such as would buffet and deride the Lord of glory. These things were exactly foretold in the fiftieth chapter of Isaiah. Let us confess Christ's name, and bear the reproach, and he will confess us before his Father's throne.
