Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover.
John doesn’t give any of the details of the trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin. There was first an informal meeting (Mark 14:53, 55-65; Matt 26:59-68; Luke 22:54, 63-65) and then a formal ratification of a sentence immediately after dawn (Mark 15:1, Matt 27:1, Luke 22:66-71). This was to try to give a semblance of conforming to the letter of the Jewish law that cases involving the death sentence could not be held at night. However, they still broke the law by holding the first trial during the night and by passing sentence on the same day as the trial.
Matthew 26:59-68 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’” Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” “He is worthy of death,” they answered.
Then they spat in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?”
Matthew 27:1 Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death.
Jesus was led to the Praetorium, which was the magnificient palace built by Herod the Great in Jerusalem and used by the Roman governors as a residence while staying in the city. The Roman governor’s main residence was in Caesarea (Acts 23:35).
Acts 23:35 he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers get here.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s palace.
It was early, probably between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. The second trial of the Sanhedrin had to begin after dawn and lasted but a short time, from whence they took Jesus to Pilate (Mic 2:1). Roman courts could meet anytime after sunrise and usually began the day quite early as noted by Seneca who speaks of “thousands hurrying to the forum at break of day”.
Micah 2:1 Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it.
Jews could not enter the house of a Gentile (Acts 10:28; 11:3) because Gentiles were unclean. This did not refer, however, to colonnades or open spaces in couryards (Mishnah, Ohol. 18:9-10). They could thus appear before the Praetorium but not in it. This defilement would last for 7 days and keep them from celebrating the Feast. The Gentile houses were considered to be unclean because it was thought the Gentiles threw abortions down the drains of their homes and contact with the dead, or even being in the same place as the dead would defile a Jew for those previously mentioned 7 days according to (Num 19:11, 14). The houses of Gentiles had not been cleansed of leaven and were unclean for that reason also. An interesting irony is that the Jewish leaders had just consorted with the Romans the night before in their attempt to arrest Jesus (John 18:3) but were now unwilling to enter a Roman domicile. Morris further notes that, “It is a curious commentary on human nature that they were scrupulous about contracting a defilement that would prevent them from keeping the feast, but they were not at all concerned about taking part in an act of judicial murder.” It is possible for us to have the same perverted view of sin today.
Acts 10:28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.
Acts 11:3 and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”
Numbers 19:11 “Whoever touches the dead body of anyone will be unclean for seven days.
Numbers 19:14 “This is the law that applies when a person dies in a tent: Anyone who enters the tent and anyone who is in it will be unclean for seven days,
John 18:3 So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.