56 me. But all this was done, that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled. 57 And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas

the high priest, where the Scribes and the elders were assembled. 58 But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and 59 went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end. Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against

people came unto him, and he sat down and taught them. John viii. 2. I spake openly to the world (said Jesus); I ever taught in the synagogue and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. Why askest thou me? (of my disciples, or of my doctrine), ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them; behold they know what I said. John xviii. 20, 21.

56 That the Scriptures of the prophets, &c.] See verse 54. I will put enmity between "thee" ("the serpent") and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Ge. iii. 15. I am the Lord that confirmeth the word of his servants, and performeth the counsel of his messengers: that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof. Is. xliv. 26. The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the Lord was taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the heathen. La. iv. 20.

Then all the disciples forsook him, &c.] See verse 31. And they all forsook him and fled. And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body, and the young men laid hold upon him. And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked. Mar. xiv. 50, 51, 52. Behold, the hour cometh (said Jesus), yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered every man to his own, and shall leave me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. John xvi. 32. I have told you (said Jesus to the chief priests) that I am "he" ("Jesus of Nazareth"). If, therefore, ye seek me, let "these" ("the disciples") go their way: that the saying might be fulfilled which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none ! And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple; that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest: but Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter. John xviii. 8, 9. 15, 16. At my first answer (to Alexander the coppersmith, said Paul,) no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. 2 Ti. iv. 16.

57 They that had laid hold on Jesus, &c.] Every day they wrest my words, all their thoughts are against me for evil. They gather themselves together, they hide themselves; they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul. Ps. lvi. 5, 6. And they led Jesus away to the high priest, and with him were assembled all the chief priests, and the elders, and the Scribes. And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest; and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire. Mar. xiv. 53, 54. Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter føllowed afar off. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. Lu. xxii. 44, 55. And one of them named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all: nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. John xi. 49, 50, Then the band, and the captain and officers of the Jews, took Jesus and bound him; and led him away to Annas first (for he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year). Now Caiaphas wa he which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest. John xviš. 12, 13, 14. 24.

58 And went in and sat with the servants. And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple; that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest; but Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter. And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself; they said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not. John xviii. 15, 16. 25. See chap xxvi. 69.

59 Sought false witness.] If a false wit ness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong: then both the man, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the Lord, and the judges which shall be in those days. And the judges shall make diligent inquisition; and behold, if the witnes be a false witness, and hath testified faisely

Jesus, to put him to death; But found none: yea, though many 60 false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, And said, This fellow said, I am able to 61

against his brother, then shall ye do unto him as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you. And thine eye shall not pity, but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. De. xix. 16-21. So she (Jezebel) wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders, and to the nobles that were in the city, dwelling with Naboth. And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people: and set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king; and then carry him out and stone him, that he may die. And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants of his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them; and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them. They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died. 1 Ki. xxi. 8-13. Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies, for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. Ps. xxvii. 12. False witnesses did rise up, they laid to my charge things that I knew not. They rewarded me evil for good, to the spoiling of my soul. XXXV. 11, 12. Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law? They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood. Ps. xciv. 20, 21. A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a mawl, and a sword, and a sharp arrow. Pr. xxv. 18. And the chief priests, and all the council sought for witness against Jesus, to put him to death, and found none: for many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together. Mar. xiv. 55, 56. Then (when the Jews could not resist the wisdom and the spirit by which Stephen spake) they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the Scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council. And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law. 11, 12, 13. And after five days Ananias

Ps.

the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul; and when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, We have found this man, a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of Nazarenes; who also hath gone about to profane the temple. Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself, because that thou mayest understand that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship: and they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city; neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me. Ac. xxiv. 1-13.

60 Found none.] Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion, nor fault, forasmuch as he was faithful; neither was there any error or fault found in him. Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. Da. vi. 4, 5. Young men likewise exhort to be sober-minded: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. Tit. ii. 8. Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts having a good conscience; that whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 1 Pe. iii. 16.

At the last came two false witnesses.] One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established. De. xix. 15. And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying, We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another, made without hands. But neither so did their witness agree together. Mar. xiv. 57, 58, 59.

61 This fellow said.] See verse 71. This fellow (saith the Pharisees) doth not cast out devils but by Beelzebub, the prince of the Ac. vi. devils. Mat. xii. 24. And they (the Sodomites) said (of Lot), This one fellow came in to

62 destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days. And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing?

sojourn, and he will needs be a judge; now will we deal worse with thee than with "them" ("the two angels"). Ge. xix. 9. Thus saith the "king" ("Ahab"), Put "this fellow" ("Micaiah, the prophet") in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace (from Ramoth-gilead). 1 Ki. xxii. 27. Then Jehu came forth to the servants of his Lord, and one said unto him, Is all well? Wherefore came this "mad fellow" (“the young prophet" sent by Elisha to anoint Jehu king) to thee? And he said unto them, Ye know the man, and his communication. 2 Ki. ix. 11. I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people (said David, as a type of Christ). All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip; they shake the head, &c. Ps. xxii. 6, 7. Thus saith the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the Lord that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee. Is. xlix. 7. He (the Messiah) is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. Is. liii. 3. And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cesar, saying, That he himself is Christ, a king. Lu. xxiii. 2. We know (said the Pharisees) that God spake unto Moses; as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is. John ix. 29. Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics, encountered "him" ("Paul"), and some said, What will this babbler say? Ac. xvii. 18. This fellow (said the Jews, of Paul) persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law. Ac. xviii. 13. Away with such a fellow from the earth; for it is not fit that he should live. Ac. xxii. 22.

I am able to destroy the temple of God.] Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Mat. xxvii. 40. Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the Lord had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests, and the prophets, and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die. Why hast thou prophesied in the name of the Lord, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant? And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the Lord. When the princes of Judah heard these things, then they came up from the king's house, unto the house of the Lord; and sat down in the entry of the

new gate of the Lord's house. Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This man is worthy to die: for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears. Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets, This man is not worthy to die; for he hath spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God. Then rose up certain elders of the land, and spake to all the assembly of the people, saying, Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spake to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high place of a forest. Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him at all to death? did he not fear the Lord, and besought the Lord, and the Lord repented him of the evil which he had pronounced against them? Thus might we procure great evil against our souls. Je xxvi. 8-11. 16-19. And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah! thou that destroyest the temple. and buildest it in three days, save thyself Mar. xv. 29. Destroy this temple (said Jesus), and in three days I will raise it up Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body. John ii. 19, 20, 21 This "man" (said the false witnesses against "Stephen") ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law. Ac. vi. 13.

62 Answerest thou nothing?] And when he was accused of the chief priests, and elders, he answered nothing. Then saith Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him never a word, insomuch that the governat marvelled greatly. Mat. xxvii. 12, 13, 14 And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? Mar. xiv. 60. Then be (Herod) questioned with "him" (“ Jess") in many words, but he answered him nothing. Lu. xxiii. 9. The high priest then asked (Jesus) of his disciples and of his doctrine. Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort, and in secret have I said nothing; why asketh thou me ? Ask them which heard me what I have said unto them. Behold, they know what I said, John xviii, 19, 20, 21. And (Pilate) went again into the judgment-hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou! But

what is it which these witness against thee? But Jesus held his 63 peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: 64

I adjure thee by the living God.] And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear world, that he gave his only begotten Son, his iniquity. Le. v. 1. And the men of that whosoever believeth in him should not Israel were distressed that day (in the battle with the Philistines), for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food, until evening, that I may be avenged So none of the people tasted any food. And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped, but no man put his hand to his mouth; for the people feared the oath. But Jonathan

nevertheless, I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son d man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds 65 of heaven. Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hati

him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his father, making himself equal with God. Then answered Jesus, and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do; for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth; and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them, even so the Son quickeneth whom he will; for the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son. That all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son, honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live. John v. 18-25. I and my Father are one (said Jesus). Say ye of him whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest, because I said I am the Son of God? John x. 30. 36. And this is the record that God hath given to us, eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 1 John v. 11, 12. See chap. ii. 11.

64 Thou hast said.] See verse 25. Art thou the Christ, the son of the blessed (said the high priest)? and Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Mar. xiv. 62. Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God; and he said unto them, Ye say that I am. Lu. xxii. 70.

Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man, &c.] See chap. xvi. 27; xxviii. 13. I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. Da. vii. 13. Because (said Jesus to Nathanael) I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig-tree, believest thou? Thou shalt see greater things than these. And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, hereafter ye shall see the heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. John i. 50, 51.

Ye men of Galilee (said the angels), why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This

same Jesus which is taken up from a into heaven shall so come in like un ner as ye have seen him go into he Ac. i. 11. We shall all stand before de judgment-seat of Christ. Ro. xiv. 16 Fa the Lord himself shall descend from benz with a shout, with the voice of the archanęsi and with the trump of God; and the dedi Christ shall rise first. 1 The iv. 16. Be hold, he cometh with clouds; and every est shall see him, and they also which pe him; and all kindreds of the eart sta because of him, even so, Ama år. 1. And I saw a great white throne, and kim that sat on it; and from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away, and there was fr place for them. Re. xx. 11.

The right hand of power.] The Lord unto my lord, Sit thou on my right until I make thine enemies thy footti. * cx. 1. "He" (“ Stephen”), being fai dz Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into be and saw the glory of God, and Jesus sanit on the right hand of God, and said, Bet see the heavens opened, and the Son standing on the right hand of God. 55, 56. Who being the brightness of (" God's") glory, and the express image person, and upholding all things by the of his power, when he had by himself; our sins, sat down on the right hand of " jesty on high. He. i. 3. Letus run with the race that is set before us, looking Jesus, the author and finisher of who for the joy that was set before l dured the cross, despising the shame, set down at the right hand of the tre God. He. xii. 12.

65 The high priest rent his clathr that is the high priest among his b upon whose head the anointing oil was " and that is consecrated to put on the g shall not uncover his head nor m clothes. Le. xxi. 10. Then came the son of Hilkiah, which was over the hold, and Shebna the Scribe, and Joat * * of Asaph, the recorder, to Hezekiah, wi clothes rent, and told him the words of shakeh. 2 Ki. xviii. 37. And it pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, his clothes, and covered himself with cloth, and went into the house of the And he sent Eliakim, which was household, and Shebna the Scribe, elders of the priests, covered with sal to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Ama they said unto him, Thus saith Hex This day is a day of trouble, and of and blasphemy, for the children rec the birth, and there is not strength .*