The Mini-Trial

June 30, 2025 | Read and Think About John 18:12-23

Foreword: Leading up to the crucifixion, there were two Jewish trials and three trials before a Roman tribunal.

Matthew, an apostle of Jesus, wrote a comprehensive gospel of Jesus' life to a Jewish audience from a Jewish perspective. John, also an apostle and gospel writer, was an actual eyewitness to many events covered in this module. While all 4 gospels cover various aspects of the trials Jesus underwent, my attention tended more toward Matthew's and John's gospels regarding the Jewish trials.

In turn, the traditional view is that Luke was a gentile (non-Jew). He came on the scene later as a companion of Paul as we read in the book of Acts. Luke carefully investigated the events of Jesus' life and mission, writing the gospel that bears his name and the book of Acts. Luke wrote more from a gentile perspective to a gentile audience. My attention tended more toward Luke's and John's (eyewitness) gospels regarding the three trials under Roman authority.

Now regarding today's passage, we read about this mini-trial occurring in the night, shortly after they arrested and bound Jesus in the garden. The scene is the house of the high priest in Jerusalem (verses 13, 15). Generally speaking, there actually were two people considered as high priest at this time - Annas and Caiphas. The note in my Bible on verse 13 indicates that the way these two worked together was a complicated dance, aimed at keeping both Rome and the people happy.

Jewish law did not allow a defendant to be tried for a capital crime at night. To the extent the events before Annas were a trial, it was illegal. But no one cared. In today's terms, though, the "trial" before Annas might have been more like a pretrial proceeding.

Annas questioned Jesus generally about his disciples and his teaching. He was looking for evidence that could be grounds for execution - shaping the narrative, essentially. But the real trial, from the Jewish perspective, would occur at daybreak in front of the Jewish ruling council, known as the Sanhedrin.

The trial before Annas also is notable as the location where Peter denied Jesus three times there in the courtyard, before the rooster crowed, as Jesus said he would a few hours earlier. It is Matthew's account where he records, "and Peter went out and wept bitterly" after the final denial. (Mattthew 26:75.) It is hard to fathom the emotion packed into that verse. This is the man who later would do such great things to help establish the Church. But now Peter was going through this fear and confusion of his weakest moment.