“Audistis blasphemiam : quid vobis videtur ? Qui omnes condemnaverunt eum esse reum mortis.”
“Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.”
“You have heard the blasphemy. What is your verdict?” And they all condemned Him as deserving of death.”
“You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?” They all condemned him to be worthy of death.”
“Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be worthy of death.”
VIII. They agreed that he was a blasphemer, and, as such, was guilty of a capital crime, v. 64. The question seemed to be put fairly, What think ye? But it was really prejudged, for the high priest had said, Ye have heard the blasphemy; he gave judgment first, who, as president of the court, ought to have voted last. So they all condemned him to be guilty of death; what friends he had in the great sanhedrim, did not appear, it is probable that they had not notice.
Verses 53-65 We have here Christ's condemnation before the great council of the Jews. Peter followed; but the high priest's fire-side was no proper place, nor his servants proper company, for Peter: it was an entrance into temptation. Great diligence was used to procure false witnesses against Jesus, yet their testimony was not equal to the charge of a capital crime, by the utmost stretch of their law. He was asked, Art thou the Son of the Blessed? that is, the Son of God. For the proof of his being the Son of God, he refers to his second coming. In these outrages we have proofs of man's enmity to God, and of God's free and unspeakable love to man.