He means by the High Priest, Caiaphas, who (as John writes) was High Priest that year, of whom Josephus relates that he bought his priesthood of the Roman Emperor. There follows: “And with him were assembled all the Chief Priests and the elders and the scribes.”.
But rightly does he follow afar off, who is just about to betray Him; for he could not have denied Christ if he had remained close to Him. There follows: “And he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.”.
For charity is the fire of which itis said, “I am come to send fire on the earth,” Peter, who for a time was benumbed by this cold, wished as it wereto be warmed by the coals of the servants of Caiaphas, because He sought in the society of traitors the consolation of worldly comfort. It goes on: “And the Chief Priests and allthe council sought for witness against Jesus to put Him to death.”.
He had said also, “I will raise up, "meaning a thing with life and soul, and a breathing temple. He is a false witness, wh...
The Evangelist had related above how our Lord had been taken by the servants of the Priests. Now he begins torelate how He was condemned to death in the house of the High Priest. Wherefore it is said: “And they led Jesus away to the High Priest.”
Then took place the gathering together of the bulls among the heifers of the people. It goes on: “And Peter followed Him afar off, even into the palace of the High Priest. "For though fear holds him back, love draw shim on.
But iniquity lied as the queen did against Joseph, and the priests against Susannah, but a flame goes out, if it has no fuel. Wherefore it goes on: “And found none. Formany bare false witness against Him, but their witness agreed not together. "For whatever is not consistent is held tobe doubtful. There follows: “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. "It is usual with heretics out of the truth to extract the shadow; He did not say what they said, but something like it, of the temple of His body, which He raised again after two days.
Though the law commanded that there should be but one High Priest, there were then many put into the office, and stripped of it, year by year, by the Roman emperor. He therefore calls chief priests those who had finished the time alloted to them, and had been stripped of their priesthood. But their actions are a sign of their judgment, which they carried on as they had prejudged, for they sought for a witness, that they might seem to condemn and destroy Jesus with justice.
