When Peter, John, and other Apostles were arrested (Acts 4:3; 5:17), they were imprisoned to await trial before the Sanhedrin. However, Jesus was taken directly to the Jerusalem residence of the high priest Joseph Caiaphas. This was highly unusual, for a number of reasons.

First, it was the eve of Passover, one of the holiest nights, when  priestly officials would be expected to celebrate the festival with their families. To be instead judging the case of a rural rabbi from Galilee would have to be considered very much out of the ordinary. Second, while Caiaphas’s residence was probably quite luxurious, it was large enough to accommodate the full quorum of 72 members of the Sanhedrin, even if they would have allowed themselves to be summoned on such short notice.

Mark’s account described a hasty indictment of Jesus that was conducted under cloak of darkness, suggesting that Caiaphas was eager to dispense with Jesus as soon as possible and behind closed doors. John reports that Jesus was first questioned by Annas, Caiaphas’s father-in-law and head of the Annas family. Following a brief hearing, Jesus was then referred to Caiaphas (John 18:13-24).

At that moment, Caiaphas had served some 12 years in office, and he was facing a difficult situation. Without the full backing of the Sanhedrin, a high priest did not have the power to order a man’s death. Therefore, his other option was to refer the whole matter to the local Roman government. This would be very controversial, since the Sanhedrin had fought hard to retain its autonomy in domestic matters. An even more fundamental problem was that Jesus was only guilty of disturbing the peace, and perhaps of blasphemy, in the Temple forecourt, but neither of these warranted Roman intervention, let alone a sentence of death.

To make matters worse, the indictment hearing as described by Mark did not go according to plan. Eyewitnesses did not agree. “We heard him say,” said one, “I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands” (Mark 14:58). While this was inflammatory rhetoric, it was not grounds for prosecution, because countless prophets had said the same thing and warned that the Jerusalem Temple could be destroyed. So how would Caiaphas proceed?

Caiaphas tried a different tack and asked Jesus, “Are you the Messiah?” According to Mark, Jesus replied, “I am,” and then cited from the Book of Daniel and the Psalms: “You will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of ‘the Power,’ and ‘coming with the clouds of heaven’” (Psalms 110:1; Daniel 7:13-14).

Just what Caiaphas needed to hear! He knew that words like “the right hand of the power” would get the Romans' attention and that he could spin Jesus as a threat to Roman authority .He tore his clothes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses?”