Mark 14:53
And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes.
Original Language Analysis
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
1 of 19
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 19
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Ἰησοῦν
Jesus
G2424
Ἰησοῦν
Jesus
Strong's:
G2424
Word #:
4 of 19
jesus (i.e., jehoshua), the name of our lord and two (three) other israelites
πρὸς
to
G4314
πρὸς
to
Strong's:
G4314
Word #:
5 of 19
a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e., toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e., pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of,
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
6 of 19
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἀρχιερεῖς
the chief priests
G749
ἀρχιερεῖς
the chief priests
Strong's:
G749
Word #:
7 of 19
the high-priest (literally, of the jews; typically, christ); by extension a chief priest
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
8 of 19
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
συνέρχονται
were assembled
G4905
συνέρχονται
were assembled
Strong's:
G4905
Word #:
9 of 19
to convene, depart in company with, associate with, or (specially), cohabit (conjugally)
αὐτῷ
with him
G846
αὐτῷ
with him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
10 of 19
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
οἱ
G3588
οἱ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
12 of 19
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἀρχιερεῖς
the chief priests
G749
ἀρχιερεῖς
the chief priests
Strong's:
G749
Word #:
13 of 19
the high-priest (literally, of the jews; typically, christ); by extension a chief priest
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
14 of 19
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
οἱ
G3588
οἱ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
15 of 19
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πρεσβύτεροι
the elders
G4245
πρεσβύτεροι
the elders
Strong's:
G4245
Word #:
16 of 19
older; as noun, a senior; specially, an israelite sanhedrist (also figuratively, member of the celestial council) or christian "presbyter"
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
17 of 19
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
Historical Context
The Sanhedrin normally met in the Chamber of Hewn Stone on the Temple Mount, but night sessions there were illegal under Jewish law. This gathering likely occurred at Caiaphas's palace. The high priest Caiaphas (AD 18-36) was appointed by Rome and served at their pleasure, making him politically compromised. His father-in-law Annas, though deposed, still wielded enormous influence.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does Mark emphasize that the entire religious establishment assembled against Jesus?
- How does Jesus's silence before illegally-constituted religious authority inform Christian response to corrupt institutions?
- What does the full assembly of the Sanhedrin reveal about the depth of religious opposition to Christ's claims?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And they led Jesus away to the high priest (ἀπήγαγον τὸν Ἰησοῦν πρὸς τὸν ἀρχιερέα, apēgagon ton Iēsoun pros ton archierea)—The verb ἀπάγω (apagō) means 'to lead away,' often used of prisoners led to execution. Jesus is brought before Caiaphas, though John's Gospel clarifies He first appeared before Annas (John 18:13). All the chief priests and the elders and the scribes constituted the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish council of 70-71 members.
Mark emphasizes the full assembly—this was no hasty midnight kangaroo court but the entire religious establishment united against Christ. The threefold designation (chief priests, elders, scribes) represents the complete religious, civic, and legal authority of Judaism. What Adam lost in a garden, Christ would reclaim through obedience in another garden, now facing the concentrated opposition of fallen religious power.