Day Trial before Sanhedrin

The night trial before selected members of the Sanhedrin (see on Matt. 26:57—75), held in the home of the high priest, was not an official session, in spite of the fact that testimony was heard and a decision rendered. It was necessary to issue a formal call for a meeting of the Sanhedrin as soon as the sun rose, about 5:30 A.M. at that time of year in the latitude of Jerusalem. Hence, the essential features of the night trial had to be repeated. The day trial, therefore, resembles, in its main features, the night trial. That the night session was a meeting of the Sanhedrin is indicated in the statement that "as soon as it was day, the Sanhedrin again assembled".

Christ was led from the guardroom at the palace of the high priest to the council chamber of the Sanhedrin. Here He was questioned, "Are you the Christ?" The night session had already considered the reply Christ gave to this question as an adequate reason for condemning Him to death (see on Matt. 26:63—66). The question was repeated for all to hear. Many members of the Sanhedrin were now present who had not been present at the night session, though Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathaea had not been summoned. Jesus had already told them once, an hour or more earlier (see on Matt. 26:64). They were not interested in the facts in the case and would refuse to examine the evidence. Jesus had discussed the evidences of His Messiahship, probably in this very hall, two years before (see on John 5:17—47, esp. vs. 31—39).

Jesus answered "You say that I am." This is simply an idiomatic way of saying "Yes" (see Mark 14:62 Matt. 26:64). The "Son of man" is "the Christ" (Luke 22:67). See on Matt. 1:1 Mark 2:10. This was Jesus' third condemnation at the hands of the Jewish leaders, and the third scene of abuse and mockery followed hard upon it. Except for the restraining presence of the Roman soldiers, Jesus would doubtless have been murdered by the mob in the very presence of the Sanhedrin. Had Jesus not been what He claimed to be, the Jewish leaders would have been absolutely right. But because He was all He claimed to be, they were eternally and irretrievably wrong.