And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none.

MARK 14:55KJV
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Mark 14:55 (KJV)

What does Mark 14:55 mean?

Mark 14:55 describes how the chief priests and the entire Jewish council were actively searching for people who would testify against Jesus so they could sentence him to death, but they were unable to find any credible witnesses. This verse highlights their determination to condemn Jesus, even though they lacked valid evidence.

The setting is the night before Jesus’ crucifixion, during his trial before the Sanhedrin (the Jewish ruling council). The chief priests and council members are not impartial judges; instead, they are trying to build a case against Jesus by seeking out testimony that would justify a death sentence. The verse shows the difficulty they faced in finding witnesses whose stories agreed, which sets up the following verses where false witnesses are brought forward.

The Greek behind Mark 14:55

  • "συνέδριον" (synedrion): This word is translated as "council" and refers specifically to the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish court. Knowing this helps clarify that the group involved was the most authoritative body in Jewish religious life.
  • "ἐζήτουν" (ezētoun): This verb, translated as "sought," carries the sense of an ongoing, active search. The council was not passively waiting for evidence; they were aggressively looking for anything to use against Jesus.
  • "μαρτυρίαν" (marturian): This word means "witness" or "testimony." The council needed legal testimony to justify their actions, but the verse points out that none was found, underlining the lack of real evidence.

Why Mark 14:55 matters

  • Mark 14:55 clears up any idea that Jesus was condemned based on fair or reliable evidence; instead, it shows the leaders’ intent to find a reason for execution, regardless of truth.
  • The verse emphasizes the injustice of the trial, setting the stage for the reader to see the following events as a miscarriage of justice.
  • This detail connects to the wider story by showing the mounting opposition to Jesus and the lengths to which the authorities were willing to go to silence him.

Where else these words appear

“put” Greek G2289 · used in 11 verses

  • Matthew 10:21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
  • Mark 13:12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.
  • Romans 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

“council” Greek G4892 · used in 22 verses

  • Matthew 5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
  • Acts 4:15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,
  • Acts 22:30 On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.

“witness” Greek G3141 · used in 33 verses

  • Mark 14:56 For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.
  • John 5:34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.
  • 1 John 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

“all” Greek G3650 · used in 99 verses

  • Matthew 1:22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
  • Mark 15:33 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.
  • Acts 15:22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: