Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;
Meanwhile, the chief priests, elders, and the whole council were desperately looking for people to lie about Jesus so they could justify executing him.
When people have already decided what they want to believe, they'll go looking for evidence to back it up, even if it's fake.
📚 Historical Context
In the first century AD, during the Roman occupation of Judea, the chief priests and elders were the leading religious authorities among the Jewish people, overseeing the Sanhedrin, which was the supreme council for religious and legal matters. This group felt threatened by Jesus' teachings and claims of messiahship, leading them to conspire against him in a bid to maintain their power and avoid Roman backlash. In Matthew's Gospel, this verse describes the events shortly after Jesus' arrest, as they gathered to seek fabricated evidence to condemn him to death.
Explore Similar Verses
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.