⁵⁹ The leading priests and the high council tried to find something against Jesus so that they could kill him. They tried to find people to lie and say that Jesus had done wrong. ⁶⁰ Many people came and told lies about him. But the council could find no real reason to kill him. Then two people came ⁶¹ and said, “This man^[a] said, ‘I can destroy the Temple of God and build it again in three days.’”

⁶² Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Don’t you have anything to say about these charges against you? Are they telling the truth?” ⁶³ But Jesus said nothing.

Again the high priest said to Jesus, “You are now under oath. I command you by the power of the living God to tell us the truth. Tell us, are you the Messiah, the Son of God?”

⁶⁴ Jesus answered, “Yes, that’s right. But I tell you, in the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right side of God. And you will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven.”

⁶⁵ When the high priest heard this, he tore his clothes in anger. He said, “This man has said things that insult God! We don’t need any more witnesses. You all heard his insulting words. ⁶⁶ What do you think?”

The Jewish leaders answered, “He is guilty, and he must die.”

⁵⁵ The leading priests and the whole high council tried to find something that Jesus had done wrong so they could kill him. But the council could find no proof that would allow them to kill Jesus. ⁵⁶ Many people came and told lies against Jesus, but they all said different things. None of them agreed.

⁵⁷ Then some others stood up and told more lies against Jesus. They said, ⁵⁸ “We heard this man^[a] say, ‘I will destroy this Temple built by human hands. And three days later, I will build another Temple not made by human hands.’” ⁵⁹ But also what these people said did not agree.

⁶⁰ Then the high priest stood up before everyone and said to Jesus, “These people said things against you. Do you have something to say about their charges? Are they telling the truth?” ⁶¹ But Jesus said nothing to answer him.

The high priest asked Jesus another question: “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the blessed God?”

⁶² Jesus answered, “Yes, I am the Son of God. And in the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right side of God All-Powerful. And you will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven.”

⁶³ When the high priest heard this, he tore his clothes in anger. He said, “We don’t need any more witnesses! ⁶⁴ You all heard these insults to God. What do you think?”

Everyone agreed that Jesus was guilty and must be killed.

Jesus Before the Jewish Leaders^(A)

⁶⁶ The next morning, the older leaders of the people, the leading priests, and the teachers of the law came together. They led Jesus away to their high council. ⁶⁷ They said, “If you are the Messiah, then tell us that you are.”

Jesus said to them, “If I tell you I am the Messiah, you will not believe me. ⁶⁸ And if I ask you, you will not answer. ⁶⁹ But beginning now, the Son of Man will sit at the right side of God All-Powerful.”

⁷⁰ They all said, “Then are you the Son of God?” Jesus said to them, “You are right in saying that I am.”

⁷¹ They said, “Why do we need witnesses now? We all heard what he said!”