Matthew 26:57-68

The Trial before the Sanhedrin (Mark 14:53 *; see also Luke 22:54 f., Luke 22:66). There are no striking divergences from Mk.'s narrative.

Matthew 26:57. Apparently we are to think of the Sanhedrin as having been in (informal) session since Matthew 26:3.

Matthew 26:58. Peter comes to see the end, not to warm himself as in Mk.

Matthew 26:59. Syr. Sin. says witness (so Mk.), not false witness.

Matthew 26:61 is more simple and perhaps more original than Mk.

Matthew 26:63. Caiaphas demands that Jesus should take an oath. We should perhaps take the ambiguous reply, Thou hast said, as a refusal (cf. Matthew 5:34) to do this. Mk. has interpreted it as an affirmation of Messiahship.

Matthew 26:64. from henceforth: this adverb (cf. Matthew 26:29; Matthew 23:39) here refers to a single moment in the future. It is not to be taken with I say. Jesus is here no doubt speaking of Himself. For the thought cf. Daniel 7:13; Psalms 110:1. The power is a Jewish periphrasis for God. Note Lk., the power of God.