Mark 14:56

KJV

For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.

KJV (with Strong's)

For {G1063} many {G4183} bare false witness {G5576} against {G2596} him {G846}, but {G2532} their witness {G3141} agreed {G2258} not {G2470}{G3756} together {G2258}.

Complete Jewish Bible

For many people gave false evidence against him, but their testimonies didn't agree.

Berean Standard Bible

For many bore false witness against Jesus, but their testimony was inconsistent.

American Standard Version

For many bare false witness against him, and their witness agreed not together.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Mark 14:56 vividly recounts a pivotal moment during Jesus' nocturnal trial before the Sanhedrin, where numerous individuals presented fabricated testimonies against Him. This verse highlights the profound injustice and procedural corruption of the proceedings, emphasizing that despite the multitude of accusers, their false statements were inconsistent and contradictory, thereby failing to provide legally valid grounds for conviction against the innocent Christ.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated immediately after Jesus' arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane and His being led away to the high priest Caiaphas. It forms a critical part of the initial phase of Jesus' trial before the Jewish supreme court, the Sanhedrin. Mark's narrative emphasizes the haste and illegitimacy of these proceedings, setting the stage for Peter's denial and Jesus' subsequent confession of His divine identity. The failure of the false witnesses to agree underscores the desperation of Jesus' accusers and the lack of any legitimate charges against Him, forcing the Sanhedrin to resort to illegal means to achieve their predetermined outcome. This scene directly precedes Jesus' own powerful, albeit brief, testimony that seals His fate.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jesus' trial before the Sanhedrin was fraught with legal irregularities according to Jewish law. Capital cases were typically forbidden at night, during festivals like Passover, or on the eve of a Sabbath. The Sanhedrin's swift, clandestine assembly, their active solicitation of false witnesses, and their predetermined verdict all violated established judicial protocols. Under Jewish law, specifically as outlined in [Deuteronomy 19:15](/deuteronomy/19-15 "Deuteronomy 19:15 - Requirement for Two Witnesses"), a capital conviction required the testimony of at least two witnesses whose accounts were consistent and corroborated. The failure of the witnesses in Mark 14:56 to agree rendered their testimonies legally invalid, further exposing the corrupt nature of the trial and the religious leaders' blatant disregard for their own laws in their zeal to condemn Jesus.
* **Key Themes:** Mark 14:56 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the Gospel. Firstly, it underscores the **profound injustice and corruption** inherent in Jesus' trial, revealing how a legal system designed to uphold truth was perverted to serve the agenda of powerful individuals. The act of seeking [false testimony](/exodus/20-16 "Exodus 20:16 - The Ninth Commandment") was a direct violation of the Ninth Commandment. Secondly, the verse highlights the **integrity and innocence of Jesus**. Despite the barrage of lies, Jesus largely maintains a dignified silence, fulfilling ancient prophecies, such as the description of the suffering servant in [Isaiah 53:7](/isaiah/53-7 "Isaiah 53:7 - The Suffering Servant's Silence"), who "was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth." Finally, it reveals the **inherent weakness and instability of falsehood**. The critical phrase "but their witness agreed not together" exposes the fragility of lies, which, unlike truth, cannot maintain consistency under scrutiny, ultimately collapsing under their own weight.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **false witness (Greek, _pseudomartyréō'_):** This verb (G5576) means "to be an untrue testifier" or "to offer falsehood in evidence." It denotes the deliberate act of presenting fabricated or misleading testimony in a legal setting. In the context of Mark 14:56, it highlights the malicious intent of Jesus' accusers, who actively sought to condemn Him through deceit rather than truth. This was a grave offense, directly violating the spirit and letter of the Ninth Commandment.
* **agreed not together (Greek, _ouk ísai ēn'_):** This phrase combines the negative particle _ou_ (G3756, "not") with the adjective _ísos_ (G2470, "equal" or "similar") and the imperfect verb _ēn_ (G2258, "was/were"). Literally, it means "were not equal" or "did not match." This emphasizes the critical legal flaw in the testimonies: they lacked the consistency and corroboration required for a valid conviction under Jewish law. The inability of the false witnesses to align their stories exposed the manufactured nature of their accusations and the absence of genuine grounds for Jesus' condemnation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For many bare false witness against him":** This clause reveals the sheer volume of accusations leveled against Jesus. The word "many" (G4183, _polýs_) indicates a multitude of individuals, suggesting a concerted effort to overwhelm the court with accusations. The active "bare false witness" (G5576, _pseudomartyréō_) underscores the deliberate and malicious nature of their testimony, which was not merely mistaken but intentionally fabricated to secure a conviction against Jesus.
* **"but their witness agreed not together."**: This crucial second clause highlights the fundamental flaw in the prosecution's case. Despite the quantity of accusers, the quality of their testimony was fatally compromised by internal inconsistencies. The phrase "agreed not together" (G2258 _ēn_ + G2470 _ísos_ + G3756 _ou_) signifies that their accounts were not "equal" or "consistent." This failure to corroborate each other's stories rendered their collective testimony legally invalid under Jewish law, which demanded at least two consistent witnesses for a capital charge. This inconsistency inadvertently served to underscore Jesus' innocence and the desperation of His accusers.

#### Literary Devices
Mark 14:56 employs several literary devices to enhance its impact. **Irony** is prominent, as the Sanhedrin, the highest religious court tasked with upholding God's law, actively subverts justice by seeking and accepting false testimony, directly violating the Ninth Commandment. This highlights the profound moral corruption of those in power. There is also a strong element of **contrast** between the chaotic, inconsistent, and deceitful accusations of the false witnesses and Jesus' dignified silence (though not explicitly in this verse, it is the immediate context). This contrast serves to emphasize Jesus' blamelessness and the inherent fragility of falsehood when confronted with truth. Finally, the scene serves as **foreshadowing**, indicating the depth of the opposition Jesus faced and the lengths to which His enemies would go to secure His death, setting the stage for the ultimate injustice of the crucifixion.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Mark 14:56 offers a profound theological statement about the nature of truth, justice, and divine sovereignty. Even amidst the most egregious perversion of justice, God's ultimate truth cannot be entirely suppressed. The failure of the false witnesses to agree, though seemingly a mere legal technicality, reveals the inherent instability of lies and the providential hand of God at work, ensuring that even human wickedness cannot entirely obscure the truth of Jesus' innocence. This event underscores the biblical principle that truth, though it may be temporarily obscured or attacked, ultimately prevails, and that God's justice, though delayed, will ultimately be served. It also highlights the suffering servant motif, where the innocent one endures false accusation for the sake of others.

* [Deuteronomy 19:15](/deuteronomy/19-15 "Deuteronomy 19:15 - Requirement for Two Witnesses")
* [Proverbs 19:5](/proverbs/19-5 "Proverbs 19:5 - Consequences of False Witness")
* [Matthew 26:59-60](/matthew/26-59-60 "Matthew 26:59-60 - Parallel Account of False Witnesses")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Mark 14:56 serves as a powerful reminder that the path of righteousness often involves encountering injustice and false accusations. Jesus, the embodiment of truth, endured the most profound perversion of justice, yet His integrity remained unblemished. For believers today, this passage calls us to a deep commitment to truthfulness in all our dealings, understanding that lies, no matter how numerous or well-intentioned, are inherently unstable and will ultimately fail. It also prepares us for the reality of persecution; just as Jesus was slandered and falsely accused, so too may His followers experience similar trials for their faith. Our response, like His, should be rooted in trust in God's ultimate justice and a steadfast commitment to living out the truth, even when it is costly. This verse encourages us to find strength in Christ's example, knowing that our suffering for righteousness' sake aligns us with His own experience.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Jesus' experience of being falsely accused inform our response when we face similar injustices or slander in our own lives?**
* **In what ways does this verse highlight the inherent weakness of lies and the ultimate triumph of truth?**
* **What practical steps can we take to ensure our lives are characterized by integrity and truthfulness, even when it is challenging?**

### FAQ

**Why was the Sanhedrin so desperate for false witnesses against Jesus?**

Answer: The Sanhedrin, the Jewish supreme court, was determined to condemn Jesus to death because His teachings and claims challenged their authority and religious traditions. However, they lacked legitimate legal grounds for a capital conviction according to their own laws. Jesus had not committed a crime punishable by death. Therefore, in their desperation to achieve their desired outcome, they resorted to procuring false witnesses, hoping to fabricate charges that would hold up in court. This highlights their profound spiritual blindness and their willingness to pervert justice to eliminate a perceived threat to their power.

**What was the legal significance of their witness not agreeing together?**

Answer: Under Jewish law, particularly as stipulated in [Deuteronomy 19:15](/deuteronomy/19-15 "Deuteronomy 19:15 - Requirement for Two Witnesses"), a capital conviction required the testimony of at least two witnesses whose accounts were consistent and corroborated. The phrase "their witness agreed not together" (Mark 14:56) signifies that the testimonies of the various false witnesses were contradictory and inconsistent. This critical discrepancy rendered their accusations legally invalid, preventing the Sanhedrin from forming a unanimous, legally sound conviction based on these fabricated charges. It forced them to seek other means to condemn Jesus, ultimately leading to the high priest's direct question about Jesus' identity as the Christ, which Jesus answered affirmatively, providing the Sanhedrin with what they deemed blasphemy—a capital offense.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Mark 14:56, with its depiction of Jesus enduring false witness and a perverted justice system, powerfully foreshadows His ultimate role as the innocent Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. The inconsistencies of the false witnesses underscore Jesus' blamelessness, emphasizing that His condemnation was not based on any actual wrongdoing but on the sinfulness and malice of humanity. This unjust trial culminates in the crucifixion, where the truly innocent one suffers the penalty for the guilty. Jesus' silent endurance of these slanders, as prophesied in [Isaiah 53](/isaiah/53 "Isaiah 53 - The Suffering Servant"), demonstrates His perfect submission to the Father's will and His willingness to bear the ultimate injustice for our redemption. His experience of being falsely accused and condemned, despite His purity, provides the very foundation for our salvation, as He became sin for us, though He knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). Thus, this verse, while describing human depravity, ultimately magnifies Christ's perfect sacrifice and the divine justice that would ultimately be satisfied through His atoning death on the cross ([1 Peter 2:21-24](/1_peter/2-21-24 "1 Peter 2:21-24 - Christ Our Example in Suffering")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.