Matthew 26:59
New International Version
The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death.

New Living Translation
Inside, the leading priests and the entire high council were trying to find witnesses who would lie about Jesus, so they could put him to death.

English Standard Version
Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death,

Berean Standard Bible
Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death.

Berean Literal Bible
And the chief priests and the whole Council were seeking false evidence against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death.

King James Bible
Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;

New King James Version
Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death,

New American Standard Bible
Now the chief priests and the entire Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death.

NASB 1995
Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death.

NASB 1977
Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, in order that they might put Him to death;

Legacy Standard Bible
Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death.

Amplified Bible
Now the chief priests and the whole Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) tried to get false witnesses to testify against Jesus, so that they might [have a reason to] put Him to death.

Christian Standard Bible
The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony against Jesus so they could put Him to death.

American Standard Version
Now the chief priests and the whole council sought false witness against Jesus, that they might put him to death;

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But the Chief Priests and the Elders and all the assembly were seeking witnesses against Yeshua, so that they might put him to death.

Contemporary English Version
The chief priests and the whole council wanted to put Jesus to death. So they tried to find some people who would tell lies about him in court.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the chief priests and the whole council sought false witness against Jesus, that they might put him to death:

English Revised Version
Now the chief priests and the whole council sought false witness against Jesus, that they might put him to death;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The chief priests and the whole council were searching for false testimony to use against Jesus in order to execute him.

Good News Translation
The chief priests and the whole Council tried to find some false evidence against Jesus to put him to death;

International Standard Version
Meanwhile, the high priests and the whole Council were looking for false testimony against Jesus in order to have him put to death.

Literal Standard Version
And the chief priests, and the elders, and all the council, were seeking false witness against Jesus, that they might put Him to death,

Majority Standard Bible
Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death.

New American Bible
The chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus in order to put him to death,

NET Bible
The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were trying to find false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death.

New Revised Standard Version
Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death,

New Heart English Bible
Now the chief priests and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus so they could put him to death;

Webster's Bible Translation
Now the chief priests and elders, and all the council, sought false testimony against Jesus, to put him to death;

Weymouth New Testament
Meanwhile the High Priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death;

World English Bible
Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus, that they might put him to death,

Young's Literal Translation
And the chief priests, and the elders, and all the council, were seeking false witness against Jesus, that they might put him to death,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin
58But Peter followed Him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. And he went in and sat down with the guards to see the outcome. 59Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death. 60But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward…

Cross References
Matthew 5:22
But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be subject to the fire of hell.

John 18:19
Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and His teaching.

Acts 6:13
where they presented false witnesses who said, "This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.


Treasury of Scripture

Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;

sought.

Deuteronomy 19:16-21
If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong; …

1 Kings 21:8-13
So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth…

Psalm 27:12
Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

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Chief Council Death Elders High Jesus Kept Meanwhile Obtain Order Priests Sanhedrim Sanhedrin Seeking Sought Testimony Trying Whole Witness
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Chief Council Death Elders High Jesus Kept Meanwhile Obtain Order Priests Sanhedrim Sanhedrin Seeking Sought Testimony Trying Whole Witness
Matthew 26
1. Jesus foretells his own death.
3. The rulers conspire against him.
6. The woman anoints his feet.
14. Judas bargains to betray him.
17. Jesus eats the Passover;
26. institutes his holy supper;
30. foretells the desertion of his disciples, and Peter's denial;
36. prays in the garden;
47. and being betrayed by a kiss,
57. is carried to Caiaphas,
69. and denied by Peter.














(59) Sought false witness.--The tense of the Greek verb implies a continued process of seeking. The attempt to draw the materials for condemnation from the lips of the accused had failed. The law of Moses required at least two witnesses (Deuteronomy 17:6; Deuteronomy 19:15), and these, it is natural to believe, were examined independently of each other. The haste which marked all the proceedings of the trial had probably prevented previous concert, and the judges could not, for very shame, convict in the face of a glaring discrepancy, probably as to time and place, between the witnesses who thus offered themselves.

Verse 59. - The chief priests, [and elders,] and all the council. The words in brackets are probably spurious; they are omitted by the best uncials and the Vulgate. The words cannot imply strictly that the whole Sanhedrin was present and consenting to the present proceedings; for we know that such members as Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathaea did not consent to the infamous deeds of the rest (Luke 23:51; John 19:39). Sought (ἐζήτουν, were seeking) false witness. The Sanhedrists had decided on Christ's death; it only remained to find such a charge against him as would compel the Roman authorities to deal summarily with him. For their purpose the truth of the accusation was immaterial, so long as it was established, according to Law (Deuteronomy 17:6; Deuteronomy 19:15), by two or three witnesses examined apart. They knew well that Christ could be condemned on no true testimony, hence they scrupled not to seek false. If they had meant to deal fairly, they would have allowed some who knew him to speak in his favour; but this was the very last thing which they desired or would have sanctioned.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
The
Οἱ (Hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

chief priests
ἀρχιερεῖς (archiereis)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 749: High priest, chief priest. From arche and hiereus; the high-priest; by extension a chief priest.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

the
τὸ (to)
Article - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

whole
ὅλον (holon)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3650: All, the whole, entire, complete. A primary word; 'whole' or 'all', i.e. Complete, especially as noun or adverb.

Sanhedrin
συνέδριον (synedrion)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4892: A council, tribunal; the Sanhedrin, the meeting place of the Sanhedrin.

were seeking
ἐζήτουν (ezētoun)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2212: To seek, search for, desire, require, demand. Of uncertain affinity; to seek; specially, to worship, or to plot.

false testimony
ψευδομαρτυρίαν (pseudomartyrian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5577: False testimony, false witness. From pseudomartur; untrue testimony.

against
κατὰ (kata)
Preposition
Strong's 2596: A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).

Jesus
Ἰησοῦ (Iēsou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424: Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.

in order to
ὅπως (hopōs)
Conjunction
Strong's 3704: From hos and pos; what(-ever) how, i.e. In the manner that (as adverb or conjunction of coincidence, intentional or actual).

put Him to death.
θανατώσωσιν (thanatōsōsin)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2289: To put to death, subdue; pass: To be in danger of death, be dead to, be rid of, be parted from. From thanatos to kill.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 26:59 Now the chief priests the elders (Matt. Mat Mt)
Matthew 26:58
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