Caiaphas

3Then the chief priests, the teachers of God's law, and the leaders of the people met. They met at the house of the high priest, the top priest, named Caiaphas.

Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,

NoteA priest was a man who worked at God's temple and helped people worship. The high priest was the one in charge of all the priests. The teachers of the law studied God's rules and taught them to others.

4They made a plan to grab Jesus in a sneaky way and kill him.

And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.

5But they said, "Not during the feast. The people might get angry and start a riot."

But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.

NoteA riot is when a big crowd gets angry and out of control.

57The men who arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest. The teachers of the law and the leaders were meeting there.

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

58Peter followed far behind, all the way to the high priest's yard. He went in and sat with the guards to see what would happen.

But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.

NoteThe high priest's house was built around an open yard in the middle. People could stand there and watch what happened inside.

59The chief priests and the whole council looked for people to tell lies about Jesus. They wanted a reason to put him to death.

Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;

NoteThe council was a group of about seventy leaders. They acted like a court and decided what to do with people.

60But they did not find any. Many people came and told lies, but it was not enough. At last two men came forward, and they told lies too.

But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,

61They said, "This man said, 'I am able to tear down God's temple and build it again in three days.'"

And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

NoteThe temple was enormous. Workers had been building it for more than forty years.

62The high priest stood up. He said to Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What about what these men say about you?"

And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?

63But Jesus stayed quiet. The high priest said, "I put you under oath before the living God. Tell us if you are the Christ, the king God promised to send, the Son of God."

But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.

NotePutting someone under oath means making them promise before God to tell the truth. Christ means the special king that God had promised to send.

64Jesus said, "You have said it yourself. But I tell you all, from now on you will see the Son of Man. He will sit at the right side of God, the place of power. He will come on the clouds of the sky."

Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

NoteSitting at a king's right side was the highest, most honored seat there was.

65Then the high priest tore his own clothes. He said, "He has said an insulting thing about God! We do not need more witnesses. You just heard him."

Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.

NoteTearing your own clothes was how people showed shock or great sadness. Blasphemy means saying an insulting thing about God. It was a very serious thing to be accused of.

66He asked, "What do you think?" They answered, "He should be put to death."

What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.

67Then they spit in his face and hit him with their fists. Others slapped him.

Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,

NoteSpitting on someone was a strong insult. "Buffeted" means they hit him with their fists.

68They said, "Tell us, Christ! Who was it that hit you?"

Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?

NoteTo prophesy meant to tell something only God could show you. They wanted him to name who hit him without looking.

1This happened in the fifteenth year that Tiberius Caesar ruled Rome. Pontius Pilate was the governor of Judaea, the ruler for Rome. Herod ruled part of the land called Galilee. His brother Philip ruled Ituraea and Trachonitis. Lysanias ruled Abilene.

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,

NoteCaesar was the ruler of Rome, a huge empire far away. Rome had taken over the land where these people lived. Pilate, Herod, Philip, and Lysanias each ran a piece of that land for Rome. The King James word for their job is "tetrarch." It means a ruler over one part of a country.

2Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests, the top leaders at the temple. At that time God spoke his word to John, the son of Zacharias. John was out in the desert.

Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

NoteA priest was a man who worked at the temple, God's house. The high priests were the ones in charge of all the others. This John is John the Baptist. He is not the John who later followed Jesus. "Zacharias" is another way to spell the name Zechariah.

47So the chief priests and the Pharisees called the leaders together. They said, "What should we do? This man does many miracles."

Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.

NoteThe council was a group of Jewish leaders. They met to decide big questions for the people.

48"If we let him keep on, everyone will believe in him. Then the Romans will come. They will take away our place and our nation."

If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

NoteRome was a faraway city whose soldiers ruled this land. "Our place" means the temple in Jerusalem.

49One of them was Caiaphas. He was the high priest that year, the leader of all the priests. He said, "You know nothing at all."

And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,

NoteThe high priest was the top leader of the priests. Priests helped people worship God at the temple.

50"Think about it. It is better for one man to die for the people. Then the whole nation will not be lost."

Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

51He did not think of this by himself. He was high priest that year, so he was telling what would happen. Jesus was going to die for that nation.

And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;

NoteTo tell what God says is called prophesying. Caiaphas did not know that was what he did.

52And not for that nation only. Jesus would also gather God's scattered children and make them one.

And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

53From that day on, the leaders made plans to kill Jesus.

Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.

12Then the soldiers, their leader, and the Jewish guards took hold of Jesus and tied him up.

Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him,

13They led him first to Annas. Annas was the father of Caiaphas's wife. Caiaphas was the high priest that year.

And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.

NoteAnnas had been high priest before this. People still treated him as very important. Caiaphas, his daughter's husband, held the job now.

14Caiaphas was the one who had told the Jewish leaders this: it was better for one man to die for the people.

Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

NoteCaiaphas had said this at an earlier meeting of the leaders. He thought one death would keep the whole nation out of trouble.

19Then the high priest asked Jesus about his followers and about what he taught.

The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.

NoteThe high priest was asking questions like a judge. This was the start of a trial.

20Jesus answered, "I have spoken openly to everyone. I always taught in the synagogues, the places where Jews meet, and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.

Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.

NoteA synagogue was a building in a town. Jews met there to pray and to read God's words.

21Why ask me? Ask the people who heard me speak. They know what I said."

Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.

22When Jesus said this, one of the guards standing there slapped him. He said, "Is that how you answer the high priest?"

And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?

NoteHitting a man who had not yet been judged guilty was against their own law.

23Jesus answered, "If I said something wrong, tell me what was wrong. But if I spoke rightly, why did you hit me?"

Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?

NoteIn a trial, people had to say out loud what a man had done wrong. Jesus was asking them to do that.

24Then Annas sent Jesus, still tied up, to Caiaphas the high priest.

Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.

25Simon Peter was still standing by the fire, keeping warm. They asked him, "Aren't you one of his followers too?" He said no. "I am not," he said.

And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not.

26One of the high priest's servants was a relative of the man whose ear Peter cut off. He said, "Didn't I see you in the garden with him?"

One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?

27Peter said no again. Right then a rooster crowed.

Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.

NoteRoosters crow when the sky first starts to grow light. So the sound told everyone that morning had come. Jesus had told Peter earlier that this would happen.

28Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Roman governor's house. It was early morning. The Jewish leaders did not go inside. They wanted to stay clean so they could eat the Passover meal.

Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.

NotePassover was a special meal eaten once each spring. It helped Jews remember when God brought their people out of Egypt long ago. The leaders followed rules to stay ready for it. Going inside a Roman's house would break those rules.

5The next day the leaders met together in Jerusalem. The older leaders came. So did the scribes.

And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,

NoteJerusalem was the biggest city for the Jewish people. The temple was there, so the leaders met there too. The scribes were men who copied and taught God's laws.

6Annas the high priest was there. Caiaphas, John, and Alexander were there too. So were many others from the high priest's family.

And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.

NoteThe high priest was the top leader at the temple.

7They made Peter and John stand in the middle. Then they asked them a question. "Whose power did you use? Whose name did you use to do this?"

And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?

NoteUsing someone's name meant acting with that person's power. The leaders wanted to know who had sent Peter and John.

8Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit. He said, "Rulers and older leaders of the people,

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,

NoteThe Holy Spirit is God with people, helping them. Here he helped Peter know what to say.

9you are asking us about a kind thing we did. A sick man was made well. You want to know how it happened.

If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;

10Here is what all of you should know. All the people of Israel should know it too. This man is standing here well again. It happened by the name of Jesus Christ from Nazareth. You put Jesus on a cross to die. But God raised him back to life.

Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

NoteNazareth was the small town where Jesus grew up. A cross was a wooden beam. Soldiers nailed people to it to kill them. Israel was the name for the whole Jewish family of people.

11Jesus is the stone that was thrown away. You leaders are the builders who threw it away. Now that stone holds up the whole building.

This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

NotePeter is saying words from an old song in the Bible. Builders used a big corner stone to hold a building up straight. It was the most important stone of all.

12No one else can save us. God has given people no other name that saves us."

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

NoteSaved here means rescued by God from sin and death.

13The leaders saw how brave Peter and John were. They knew these were plain men without special schooling. That surprised them. They also realized these men had been with Jesus.

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

NoteThe old words say Peter and John were "unlearned and ignorant men." That did not mean they were silly. It meant they had not gone to special schools.

14The healed man was standing right there with them. So the leaders had nothing to say.

And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

15They told Peter and John to step outside the meeting room. Then the leaders talked it over.

But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,

NoteThis meeting was like a court. The leaders sat together and decided if someone had done wrong.

16They said, "What should we do with these men? Everyone in Jerusalem knows about the amazing thing they did. We cannot say it did not happen.

Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.

NoteA miracle is something amazing that only God can do.

17But we must stop this news from spreading. Let us warn them strongly. They must not speak to anyone in this name again."

But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.

18So they called them back in. They ordered them never to speak or teach in Jesus' name.

And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

19But Peter and John answered them. "You decide what is right in God's eyes. Should we obey you instead of God?

But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.

20We saw these things and heard them. We simply cannot stop talking about them."

For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

21The leaders warned them some more and then let them go. They could not find a way to punish them. All the people were thanking God for what had happened.

So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.

22The man who was healed was more than forty years old.

For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.

NoteThis is the same man from chapter 3. He had never been able to walk in all those years.