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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Mark 14:53-65

We have here Christ's arraignment, trial, conviction, and condemnation, in the ecclesiastical court, before the great sanhedrim, of which the high priest was president, or judge of the court; the same Caiaphas that had lately adjudged it expedient he should be put to death, guilty or not guilty (John 11:50), and who therefore might justly be excepted against as partial. I. Christ is hurried away to his house, his palace it is called, such state did he live in. And there, though, in the dead of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 14:61

But he held his peace, and answered nothing ,.... Knowing it would be to no purpose, and signifying hereby, that the things alleged against him were unworthy of an answer: again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed ? The Vulgate Latin adds, "God": in Matthew it is "God" only, Matthew 26:63 . This is one of the names and epithets of God, with the Jews; nothing is more common in their writings, than this abbreviature, הקבה , which... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 14:61

Of the Blessed? - Θεου του ευλογητου , Or, of God the blessed one. Θεου , is added here by AK, ten others, Vulgate, and one of the Itala. It might be introduced into the text, put in Italics, if the authority of the MSS. and versions be not deemed sufficient. It appears necessary for the better understanding of the text. The adjective, however, conveys a good sense by itself, and is according to a frequent Hebrew form of speech. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 14:27-72

Peter's fall. The painful declaration that the words of the prophet, "I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered abroad," would find their fulfillment in them, and in "All ye shall be offended," roused Peter's spirit, and with a bold but mistaken estimate of his own courage and devotion, he fearlessly, even presumptuously, affirmed, "Although all shall be offended, yet will not I." St. Luke has preserved for us words which throw much light upon the incident of Peter's... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 14:53-65

The trial before Caiaphas. Surely this is the most amazing scene in the long history of humanity! The Redeemer of mankind upon his trial; the Savior at the bar of those he came to save;—there is in this something monstrous and almost incredible. But the case is even worse than this. The Lord and Judge of man stands at the tribunal of those who must one day appear before his judgment-seat. They judge him in time whom he must judge in eternity. It is a spectacle the most affecting and the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 14:53-65

Jesus at the bar of Judaism. I. THE CHARACTER OF THE EVIDENCE AGAINST HIM . 1 . Not in support of any clear and definite indictment . 2 . Encouraged by a desire on the part of the judges to incriminate . "They sought witness." The death of the Prisoner a foregone conclusion. 3 . The accusations unreliable and conflicting . II. HIS REPLY TO HIS ACCUSERS . Silence: The impressive dignity of this attitude. He would not justify himself before... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 14:53-65

First trial of Jesus. I. JUDICIAL INJUSTICE . Optimi corruptio pessima . The judge who should represent on earth the equal dealing of God, may turn the name of justice into a mockery. Names will not influence men to right if the heart be not right. Under the name and garb of judge, men have sometimes concealed the worst passions, the most arbitrary instincts. So do extremes meet in human life. Only in God do names and realities perfectly correspond. II. TRUTH ITSELF MAY BE... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 14:53-72

Parallel passages: Matthew 26:57-75 ; Luke 22:54-62 ; John 18:13-27 — The denial by Peter. I. THE CAUSES THAT LED TO PETER 'S SIN 1. —The first cause of Peter's sin. The first cause, as we may infer from this very chapter, was self-confidence. Our Lord foretold the smiting of the Shepherd, as predicted long before in ancient prophecy—of himself the good Shepherd, appropriating the title; and along with the smiting of the Shepherd, he foretold, as a consequence,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 14:54-72

Peter denying Christ. The seeming discrepancies of the accounts by the evangelists of Peter's threefold denial are explained on the ground of their independency of one another, and their making prominent various portions of a lengthened and complex series of actions. "Three denials are mentioned by all the evangelists, and three occasions are distinguished; but on some of these there was more than one speaker, and probably more than one answer." This circumstance was— I. AN EVIDENCE... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 14:60-61

And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing?… But he held his peace, and answered nothing. The high priest would naturally be seated at the top of the semicircle, with the members of the Sanhedrim on either side of him, and the Accused in front of him. Now he rises from his seat, and comes forward into the midst ( εἰς τὸ μέσον ), and demands an answer. But Jesus answered nothing. It would have been a long and tedious business to answer such... read more

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