Bible Study Q and A: What Really Happened During the Trial and Crucifixion of Jesus?

*Bible Study Questions and Answers are free on our website, www.thatyoumayknowhim.com. However, we kindly ask that you refrain from removing any ministry branding from these Bible Studies (including the printable PDFs) and from reproducing them, altering them, or copying them in any way. To learn how you can support our ministry, visit our partner page: www.thatyoumayknowhim.com/give.*

Bible Study Q and A - What Really Happened During the Trial and Crucifixion of Jesus (Acco.

Download • 270KB

Matthew 26:57-68 “Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. 58 And Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end. 59 Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, 60 but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward 61 and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’ ” 62 And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. 66 What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.” 67 Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, 68 saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?” 

• Who presided over Jesus’ trial? Was it fair?

  
  

Jesus’ trial was before the Jewish Sanhedrin, the supreme council of the Jewish people during the Second Temple Period. The Sanhedrin was made up of both Sadducees and Pharisees, although the Sadducees had the greater majority and were more influential in the ruling body.

While some say the Sanhedrin traces its lineage all the way back to the time of Moses, the first mention of it in Jewish literature comes from around 57 BC.

While the Sanhedrin carried some legal authority amongst the Jewish people, they were not technically an authoritative body. Rome was the ruling power of the day, and while Roman leaders more or less encouraged the Jews to manage their own affairs, they could have stepped in at any time to stop the proceedings. The fact that the Jewish leaders could not crucify Jesus on their own, but delivered him over to the Roman Governor of the area (more on him below), is telling.

The fact that Jesus’ trial took place in the middle of the night (more on this below), amid a spur-of-the-moment, kangaroo court-type setting, is evidence enough that the proceedings were biased. The more fascinating part is what this says about Jesus’ influence: that a Galilean preacher had garnered so much attention and sway that the Jewish leaders of the day felt compelled to arrest and execute him before Passover shows that they were severely threatened by him, his popularity, and his following.

• When did the beatings start for Jesus?

  
  

Matthew records that they started before his trial was even over. Verses 67-68 of Ch. 26 state that “they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, saying, ‘Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?’” Luke adds insight to this when he says, “They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, ‘Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?’ 65 And they said many other things against him, blaspheming him” (Luke 22:64-65).

In other words, they started blindfolding Jesus and punching him (the word “strike” means to punch with a fist) before he was even out of Caiaphas' courtyard. They were also spitting on his face and slapping him.

Matthew 27:1-2 “When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. 2 And they bound him and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate the governor.”

• The first part of verse 27 says, “when morning came… they bound him and led him away…” But this took place after Jesus' arrest and trial. At what time was Jesus arrested? And when did his trial take place?

Jesus was probably arrested between the hours of 2-3 am. We know this because his entire trial took place before sunrise, usually around 6 am at that time of year. The rooster crowed at sunrise, after Jesus’ trial had concluded and Peter had denied him three times, just as Jesus had predicted. Several hours had likely passed since Jesus was arrested in Gethsemane (the olive grove opposite the Eastern Gate of Jerusalem), transported back into the city, and taken to several different locations before being tried in the courtyard of Caiaphas’ house. How many, precisely? We can't say for sure.

•   Who was Pontius Pilate? And what was his part in Jesus’ crucifixion?

  
  

Pilate was the Roman prefect of Judea from A.D. 26-36, directly appointed from Rome. He was, essentially, the appointed Roman ruler of the area, responsible for ensuring and enforcing the Pax Romana – the Roman Peace – and for suppressing any insurrection that the Jewish or Samaritan people may bring about. All four Gospels indicate that Pilate was at first unwilling to appease the Jewish ruling establishment and the crowd by crucifying Jesus. He seems to perceive that the Jewish rulers calling for the death of Jesus were themselves threatened by his power. Pilate does not seem at all concerned by the fact that they insist this man is calling himself “the King of the Jews” (a political title that any Roman likely would have understood as a threat; the Jews had no king after Herod, the last Roman client king to ever be appointed).

Some church traditions take Pilate’s initial reluctance to crucify Jesus way too far. In the Coptic Church, Pilate and his wife (more on her below) actually became saints, even though history teaches us that Pilate was generally a brutal and merciless man. He was eventually removed from power by the Emperor Tiberius for being too harsh in suppressing insurrections and later died by suicide.

Regardless of whether or not he was hesitant to execute Jesus, Pilate eventually gave in to the demands of the Sanhedrin, as we’ll soon see.

Matthew 27: 11-14 “Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.”

• Is Pilate’s initial favor toward Jesus justified by the text of Scripture?

  
  

Pilate does seem to have some respect for Jesus, which Matthew mainly bases on the fact that Jesus refuses to answer the chief priests and elders (likely the same group that oversaw his trial). Little did Pilate know, Jesus was fulfilling prophecy:

Isaiah 53:7 “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.”

It must be stated that in John’s Gospel, Jesus and Pilate have a conversation in private, away from the accusers who have brought Jesus to him.

Matthew 27:15-23 “15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16 And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. 19 Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.” 20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” 23 And he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”

• What’s the deal with Pilate wanting to release a prisoner named Barabbas instead of Jesus?

In Roman law, an imperial magistrate could acquit a prisoner who was not yet condemned. Apparently, this law had become a custom in Judea, and every year during Passover, the prefect released a political prisoner to acquiesce to the Jewish people he ruled over.

One must understand that normally, this likely would have been a prisoner that the Jews wanted released. There had been many Jewish people arrested and held over the years by the Romans for unjust reasons. However, Pilate used this tradition to try to compel the crowd to choose releasing Jesus over another prisoner. He chooses Barabbas, a notorious insurrectionist (maybe a member of the Zealots) who appears to have been notoriously disliked by the people. Regardless, they choose to have him released instead of Jesus, causing Pilate’s plan to backfire.

• How does Pilate’s wife play into these events?

  
  

While Pilate is doing everything in his power to avoid condemning Jesus, his wife sends word that she has experienced a vivid and troubling dream in which she was warned not to have anything to do with condemning Jesus of Nazareth. This clearly seems to be a moment of divine intervention, wherein God is reaching out a hand one last time to try and convince Pilate to follow his conscience and not condemn the Galilean preacher.

Nonetheless, after a back-and-forth with the crowds ensues, during which Pilate seems to almost be defending Jesus (v.23 – “And he said, 'Why? What evil has he done?' But they shouted all the more, 'Let him be crucified!'”), he eventually gives in and agrees to condemn the man to death, even though Pilate himself seems to find no guilt in Jesus.

We don’t know much about Pilate’s wife, other than in the Coptic Church tradition, she and Pilate both became Christians later in life. We do know that Jesus’ influence and repute made their way into the ears of the ruling class of society. In the Gospels, a woman named Joanna, whose husband was a high-ranking servant of Herod Antipas named Chuza, was a prominent financial supporter of Jesus’ ministry (Luke 8:2-3).

Matthew 27:24-26 “24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” 25 And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.

27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. 28 And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.” 

• Who ultimately took responsibility for Jesus’ death sentence?

  
  

In one of the most stunning moments in all of Scripture, it is the crowd gathered outside Pilate’s headquarters – the Jewish people of Jerusalem – who boldly proclaim, “his blood be on us and on our children.” This seems to be a direct fulfillment of several prophetic passages spoken by Jesus wherein he predicts that his own people would utterly reject and betray him, with the result being that the Kingdom would be taken from them:

Matthew 21:42-44 (quoted from Psalm 118:22-23, the very passage the people were crying out as Jesus was entering Jerusalem on Palm Sunday) “42 Jesus said to them, 'Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? 43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. 44 And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.'”

Pilate is also not without blame. As stated above, while he had no desire to condemn Jesus, even going as far as to declare his innocence publicly by washing his hands of the situation, he was still the only man with the power to acquit him. In believing in Jesus’ innocence yet still agreeing to condemn him to death, Pilate proved himself to be a man of despicable character.

• What did Jesus’ scourging entail?

  
  

In John’s account, we read that Jesus’s flogging included being beaten by the Roman soldiers, who also forced a crown of thorns onto his head and dressed him in a purple robe (purple signifies kingship). They were mocking him, just as the soldiers employed by the high priest had done earlier.

Among the Jews, scourging was limited to forty lashes, but the Romans had no such limits. They could go until the strength of the ones performing the lashing was exhausted. I’ll let renowned New Testament scholar DA Carson take it from here:

“They used a flagellum, made by ‘plaiting pieces of bone or lead into leather thongs.’ The victim was stripped and tied to a post. Severe flogging… reduced the flesh to a bloody pulp and could open up the body until the bones were visible and the entrails exposed.’ As an independent punishment, it frequently ended in death, but was often used to weaken the prisoner before execution.”[1]

So, to recap, Jesus began being beaten (blindfolded and punched repeatedly) before 6 am by the servants of the high priest. Then, between the hours of 6 am and 9 am, he was scourged into a bloody pulp, a crown of thorns was jammed onto his head, and he was dressed up in a purple robe and mocked by an entire battalion of Roman soldiers, who also hit him over the head repeatedly with the staff they had mockingly placed in his hand (Mark 15). In John’s account, he was brought back out to the crowd with the robe and crown on for additional mocking before he was led away to be crucified.

Read Isaiah 52:13-53:12

Matthew 27:32-44 32As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry his cross. 33 And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), 34 they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. 35 And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. 36 Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. 37 And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” 38 Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. 39 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41 So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, 42 “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” 44 And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.

• Who was Simon of Cyrene? Why was he compelled to carry Jesus’ cross?

  
  

Even though various traditions exist surrounding this individual, we don’t know much about him. Based on his name, he was likely a Jew whose family came from an Old Greek settlement on the Coast of North Africa (Cyrene). As he was coming into the city, the Roman soldiers compelled him to carry Jesus’ cross. He had no choice in the matter (that’s what the word “compelled” means).

This seems to imply that Jesus carried his own cross from Pilate’s headquarters to the edge of the city wall but could go no further. He was likely already in such rough shape that he had no strength to carry a large wooden beam that would soon be attached to a post.

• Where was Jesus crucified? And what was the drink they offered him?

  
  

While the location of Jesus’ death is uncertain, it was likely outside the northern wall of the city, near where the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is located today in Jerusalem. We get the word “Calvary” from the Latin word for skull (“calva”).

While there are different opinions about the drink offered to Jesus (wine mixed with gall) this offer was likely a further source of mockery. “Gall” was a mix of bitter or poisonous substances. While Jesus was in unthinkable agony, something to drink would have been a welcome source of relief. They offered him something that was either a) deadly, or b) so bitter it was disgusting to taste.

• When did they crucify Jesus, and what was the sign placed over his head?

  
  

Mark records that Jesus was crucified at 9 am (Mark 15:25) and hung on the cross approximately six hours before death at 3 pm (Mark 15:34). The irony of the sign placed over Jesus’ head is undeniable. Romans typically posted in writing the crime of the executionee over their head during crucifixion. Here, Pilate probably did this to mock the Jews, who in John’s Gospel ask him to change the sign from saying “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” to “the man who claimed to be the king of the Jews.”

So here is Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, hanging underneath a sign that declares him “King of the Jews” in three different languages (John 19:20). To any faithful Old Testament reader who was paying attention, the intertwining messianic strands of “suffering servant” and “royal son” would have been in full view here.[2]

It’s also important to note that the soldiers “casting lots for his clothes” is a direct fulfillment of Psalm 22:18, which Jesus echoes with his last breath.[3]

Matthew 27:27-54 45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 47 And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” 48 And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. 49 But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.

51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 54 When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” 

• Was there some sort of solar eclipse during Jesus’ agonizing death?

  
  

While it’s not out of the realm of possibility, arguing the cause of the darkness is futile. What we know is that darkness covered the entire area from 12 noon until 3:00 pm that day. Darkness is a sign of judgment in various Old Testament passages. The most chilling, perhaps, is Amos 8:9-10, which seems to specifically predict this day’s darkness, down to the very hour.

Amos 8:9-10 “And on that day,” declares the Lord God, “I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight. 10 I will turn your feasts into mourning and all your songs into lamentation; I will bring sackcloth on every waist and baldness on every head; I will make it like the mourning for an only son and the end of it like a bitter day.”

The text specifically says that darkness covered the land, not the earth. Clearly, this judgment stands against the death of Jesus and the Jewish people, specifically.

• What did Jesus cry out before he died? Did God forsake Jesus in the moment before his death?

  
  

Just before he died, Jesus cried out the first line of Psalm 22 in his native tongue, Aramaic. Psalm 22 is a prophetic passage written by King David that foreshadows Jesus’ death on the cross. In the Psalm, David begins by saying “my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” But as you read further, you come to see that David did not believe he was actually forsaken by God; he was showing confidence that God would turn his situation around even though he was surrounded by enemies and circumstances looked dire. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was the greatest act of injustice to ever take place, yet God turned it into the greatest act of vindication and mercy. For more on this, check out our recent video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKd6-g5TiIE

• What is the significance of the temple curtain being torn in two?

  
  

Jesus’ death was met with a violent earthquake (another sign of judgment) as well as the tearing of the inner curtain of the temple, the one which separates the holy place from most holy place. The tearing of this curtain represents many things: open access to God, the obsolescence of the temple ritual and the law governing it, the end of the old covenant and the start of the new, which is rooted in Jesus’ death, the future destruction of the temple building, and much more. Above all, Jesus is the new temple; the meeting place of God and man. The old meeting place is obsolete.

The rest of the passage, including verses 52-53, will be covered in another Bible study.

[1] David E. Garland, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary (Expositor’s Bible commentary, 2010), Carson, 639.

[2] Ibid, 644.

[3] Psalm 22:18 “…They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots."

What Really Happened During the Trial and Crucifixion of Jesus? Matthew 26-27 Bible Study Questions and Answers