The Last Week of Jesus

The Examinations

The Sanhedrin arrested and then examined Jesus in order to collect evidence for a trial by Pilate.[1] Dr. Darrell Bock, a Luke-Acts scholar, wrote a rejoinder to the idea that the Jewish leaders put Jesus on trial, but rather examined Him, thereby collecting evidence for Pilate.[2] Bock writes, “This is an examination to gather evidence for Pilate, NOT a trial. They could not issue a verdict and deliver a sanction for the verdict. This use of the Jewish Jurisprudence is misleading.”[3]

The illegalities of the alleged trials of Jesus by the Jewish leaders have unfortunately become a basis for historic antisemitism.

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[1] It is understood by many Bible students that the trials were illegally administered. In fact, it is commonly understood that at least twenty-one laws were broken throughout the trials of Jesus:

1) No trials after sundown.

2) No arrest by religious authorities affected by a bribe.

3) Sanhedrin members could not be part of the arrest.

4) No trials before morning sacrifice.

5) No secret trials.

6) 2-3 witnesses in perfect agreement.

7) First defense then accusation procedure.

8) The accused could not incriminate himself.

9) All can argue for acquittal, but not conviction.

10) Blasphemy was only valid if the accused used the name of God.

11) A condemned person could not be scourged or beaten.

12) Verdict can only be announced during the day.

13) The High priest could not tear his garments.

14) In cases of capital punishment, it must take place 24 hours between verdict and trial.

15) Charges cannot originate with the judges.

16) A unanimous decision for guilt shows innocence – it is impossible for 23-71 men to agree without plotting.

17) Judges were to be humane and kind.

18) A person cannot condemn himself on his own words.

19) Voting for the death penalty had to be by individual count – youngest to the oldest so that they would not be unduly influenced by older members.

20) Sanhedrin trials could only be conducted in the Hall of Judgment in the Temple compound.

21) The sentence and the guilty verdict could not be announced on the same day but was to be separated by three days.

[2] https://www.ibr-bbr.org/files/bbr/bbr17a03.pdf

[3] Personal comment by Dr. Bock in editing the author’s chapter.