Matthew 26:66-70

Mat 26:66 (KJB)
What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.

Then Caiaphas asks them what they thought about the answers given to him by Jesus. The rest of the council stated that He is worthy of death. They did not pronounce a sentence of death upon Jesus at this time, in fact, no proper sentence was sought because of the illegality of these proceedings. It was not until the morning that they sought the death penalty for Jesus. The purpose of the nighttime assembly was to get rid of Jesus.

Mat 26:67 (KJB)
Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,

(Luke 22:63 KJV) And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. Then the servants which were holding Jesus began to spit at Him and then buffet Him. The word “buffeted” in the Greek carries with the meaning of “to strike with a fist.” Then others had slapped Him in the face with the palms of their hands which would cause much pain. This had happened to Jesus in fulfillment of Isaiah 50:6. (Isa 50:6 KJV) I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. Jesus was not even convicted of a crime or even had legal representation and yet, with the full consent of the Sanhedrin, they allowed Him to be mistreated even before a legal guilty verdict. This showed the level of hatred the Jews had for Jesus.

Mat 26:68 (KJB)
Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?

(Luke 22:64 KJV) And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee? Now they had blindfolded Jesus and began to hit Him and then mocked by telling Him to prophesy and tell them who hit Him. They no doubt also accused Jesus of being a false prophet and that is why they continued to taunt Him by telling Him to prophesy. (Deu 18:20 KJV) But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. It would be another reason for them to seek the death penalty because false prophets were to be put to death.

Mat 26:69 (KJB)
Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.

Peter was still sitting outside in the inner court and a young girl had approached him saying that he was also with Jesus of Galilee. (John 18:17 KJV) Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not. This girl was one who kept the door in the inner court and was probably one of the maid servants of the High Priest. She recognized him and knew who he was even though he denied it.

Mat 26:70 (KJB)
But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.

He had denied what she said and completely refuted her remarks. The bravery that Peter had shown in the Garden of Gethsemane was now waning and turning into fear as he now fears for his own life. Peter thought that by hiding out with the High Priest’s henchmen it would give him a cover and he would not be recognized.

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