(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ And they that had laid hold on Jesus led [him] away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
Those who had seized Yeshua led him off to Kayafa the cohen hagadol, where the Torah-teachers and elders were assembled.
Those who had arrested Jesus led Him away to the house of Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and elders had gathered.
And they that had taken Jesus led him away to the house of Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.
And{G1161} they that had laid hold{G2902} on Jesus{G2424} led him away{G520} to{G4314} Caiaphas{G2533} the high priest{G749}, where{G3699} the scribes{G1122} and{G2532} the elders{G4245} were assembled{G4863}.
Matthew 26:57 is a pivotal verse in the narrative of Jesus' Passion, capturing the moment when Jesus is taken to the home of Caiaphas the high priest after His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. The verse reads, "And they that had laid hold on Jesus led [him] away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled." This event occurs during the final days of Jesus' earthly ministry, in the hours leading up to His crucifixion.
The historical context of this verse is set against the backdrop of first-century Jerusalem during the Jewish festival of Passover. Tensions were high between the Jewish religious leaders and Jesus, whose teachings and miracles had challenged the established religious order and authority. The scribes and elders, who were part of the Sanhedrin (the Jewish religious council), had been seeking to eliminate Jesus because they viewed Him as a threat to their power and to the stability of their relationship with the Roman occupiers.
In the verse, the mention of Caiaphas is significant because he was the high priest at the time and played a crucial role in orchestrating Jesus' trial and subsequent execution. The assembly of the scribes and elders indicates that a formal, albeit illegal and covert, trial was about to take place. Jewish law required that capital cases be tried during the day and not on the eve of a Sabbath or festival, and defendants were to be given a fair hearing with the chance to confront their accusers—conditions not met in Jesus' case.
The themes present in this verse include injustice, religious hypocrisy, and the fulfillment of prophecy. Jesus, the innocent and righteous one, is subjected to a sham trial by those who are supposed to be the guardians of justice and faith. This event fulfills prophetic scriptures concerning the suffering and rejection of the Messiah. Additionally, the verse foreshadows the sacrificial role Jesus is about to fulfill, as He is led to His death to atone for the sins of humanity, according to Christian theology.
In summary, Matthew 26:57 captures a moment of deep betrayal and injustice, as Jesus is brought before a kangaroo court presided over by Caiaphas and other religious leaders. This event is a critical step in the divine plan for Jesus' sacrificial death and resurrection, which stands at the heart of the Christian faith.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)