Questioning before the High Priest 

Basic Info

Matthew 26:57–68, Mark 14:53–65, Luke 22:66–71, John 18:13–24

By the time he had reached Jerusalem, Jesus had a lot of followers. He was known not only to challenge and question the faithfulness of the Jewish leaders but also to challenge Roman authority. The Jewish leaders were trying to placate the Romans to prevent Roman wrath from falling on the head of the Jewish people. Jesus didn’t seem to take the placating route; he was more of a call-it-as-you-see-it kind of guy. It is likely the Jewish and Roman leaders saw Jesus and his band of followers as political risks, especially with all of Jesus’ talk of a Kingdom of God (John reports Caiaphas’ telling the people that it is better one man die than all the Jewish people). But they needed a legitimate charge if they were going to have him executed.

Matthew and Mark report that it was the high priest, Caiaphas who questioned Jesus. Luke says it was the Sanhedrin or Assembly of Judges. John says it was Caiaphas’ father, Annas. The role of the high priest in Jesus’ arrest / death has sometimes been interpreted as a Jewish-Christian issue rather than a power issue in Roman-occupied Jerusalem. Witnesses were also presented. Only Mark reports that Jesus acknowledges being the Messiah; in the other Gospels, Jesus doesn’t say it, but they condemn him anyway. They take this to be blasphemy.

Sometimes this scene will include a depiction of Peter’s denying Jesus because that story happens while Jesus is being questioned.

What to Look For

• The high priest’s type of and use of authority / power
• Jesus’ type and use of authority / power
• The characterization of the crowd members
• Whether Peter’s denial of Jesus is included in the scene

Questions to Focus a General Interpretation

How does the artwork present the power dynamic between official Jewish leaders and the charismatic leader / Messiah, Jesus?

Does the artwork come across as a piece of anti-Jewish rhetoric?

Questions to Guide a Personal Interpretation

Does the way Jesus is depicted standing up to accusations offer you a model for how to handle people who accuse you of some wrongdoing?

Notice whether the artist caricatured Jews in any way. Do you ever find yourself exaggerating characteristics of those you dislike?

Questions to Suggest a Historical Interpretation



Is the power dynamic depicted in the artwork likely to reflect any of the power dynamics at play politically, economically, religiously, or socially in the artist’s time and place?

What were Jewish-Christian relations like in the artist’s time and place? Are they reflected in the artwork?