And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying,
And {G2532} as soon as {G5613} it was {G1096} day {G2250}, the elders {G4244} of the people {G2992} and {G5037} the chief priests {G749} and {G2532} the scribes {G1122} came together {G4863}, and {G2532} led {G321} him {G846} into {G1519} their {G1438} council {G4892}, saying {G3004},
At daybreak, the people’s council of elders, including both head cohanim and Torah-teachers, met and led him off to their Sanhedrin,
At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and scribes, met together. They led Jesus into their Sanhedrin and said,
And as soon as it was day, the assembly of the elders of the people was gathered together, both chief priests and scribes; and they led him away into their council, saying,
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Mark 15:1
¶ And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried [him] away, and delivered [him] to Pilate. -
Matthew 27:1
¶ When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: -
Acts 22:5
As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished. -
Matthew 5:22
But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. -
Acts 4:25
Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? -
Acts 4:28
For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. -
John 18:28
¶ 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.
Luke 22:66 KJV marks a pivotal moment in the Passion narrative, describing the formal commencement of Jesus' trial before the Jewish high court, the Sanhedrin, at daybreak.
Context
Following His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:47), and an initial illegal nighttime interrogation and physical abuse (Luke 22:63-65), this verse signifies the transition to a more official, though still hurried and unjust, proceeding. The phrase "as soon as it was day" suggests an attempt to give the trial a veneer of legality, as Jewish law generally prohibited capital trials at night. This gathering was the culmination of the religious leaders' long-standing opposition to Jesus, seeking grounds for His condemnation.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The KJV phrase "as soon as it was day" translates the Greek kai hos egeneto hemera, emphasizing the break of dawn. This timing was crucial because Jewish legal tradition generally required trials for capital offenses to be held during daylight hours and to last for at least two days if the verdict was guilty. The haste and immediate decision to hand Jesus over to Pilate (Luke 23:1) highlight the leaders' urgency and disregard for due process.
Practical Application
Luke 22:66 reminds us of the profound injustice Jesus endured at the hands of powerful religious figures. It highlights how institutional power can be corrupted and used to suppress truth. For believers, it underscores Jesus' voluntary submission to God's redemptive plan, even in the face of betrayal and unlawful condemnation. It challenges us to discern true spiritual authority from mere human tradition and to stand for justice, even when it is unpopular or dangerous.