214. The Lord at the House of Annas. Mt. 26:57–58; Mk. 14:51–54; Lk. 22:54; Jn. 18:13–24

Those who had seized the Lord Jesus led him from the garden to the high priests.

A young man, wearing only a linen cloth about his naked body, followed him. The soldiers seized him, but he left the linen cloth and fled naked from them.

Those leading the Lord brought him first to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. This Caiaphas was the one who had given counsel to the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

Simon Peter and another disciple followed the Lord Jesus from afar to the courtyard of the high priest. This disciple was known to the high priest and entered with the Lord Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest; but Peter stood outside at the door. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the doorkeeper and brought Peter in.

Annas the high priest questioned the Lord Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. The Lord Jesus answered him: I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in the synagogue and in the temple, where all the Jews come together, and I have said nothing in secret. Why do you question me? Ask those who have heard me, what I have said to them; behold, they know what I have said.

When he had said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck the Lord Jesus on the cheek, saying: Is that how you answer the high priest? The Lord Jesus answered him: If I have spoken wrongly, bear witness to the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike me?

After this, Annas sent the Lord bound to Caiaphas the high priest.