Common English Bible

Matthew 26:55-63 Common English Bible (CEB)

55. Then Jesus said to the crowds, "Have you come with swords and clubs to arrest me, like a thief? Day after day, I sat in the temple teaching, but you didn’t arrest me.

56. But all this has happened so that what the prophets said in the scriptures might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples left Jesus and ran away.

57. Those who arrested Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest. The legal experts and the elders had gathered there.

58. Peter followed him from a distance until he came to the high priest’s courtyard. He entered that area and sat outside with the officers to see how it would turn out.

59. The chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death.

60. They didn’t find anything they could use from the many false witnesses who were willing to come forward. But finally they found two

61. who said, "This man said, ‘I can destroy God’s temple and rebuild it in three days.’"

62. Then the high priest stood and said to Jesus, "Aren’t you going to respond to the testimony these people have brought against you?"

63. But Jesus was silent. The high priest said, "By the living God, I demand that you tell us whether you are the Christ, God’s Son."