Probably it is across a courtyard they go to another part of the same pile of buildings or palace.  Caiaphas, too, is ready, unusual though the hour is.  With him are several members of the senate, the official body in control of affairs.  The plans have been carefully worked out.  This night work will get things in shape before the dreaded crowds of the morrow can be aroused.  Now begins the examination here.  These plotters have been so absorbed in getting Jesus actually into their power that they seem to have over-looked the details of making out a strong case against Him.  They really didn’t need a case to secure their end, yet they seem to want to keep up the forms, probably not because of any remnants of supposed conscience left unseared, but to swing the bothersome, fanatical crowds that must always be reckoned with.  Now they deliberately try to find men who will lie about Jesus’ words, and swear to it.  They find some willing enough—­money would fix that—­but not bright enough to make their stories hang together.  At last some one brings up a remark made three years before by Jesus about destroying the temple and rebuilding it in three days.  It is hard to see how they might expect to make anything out of that, for in the remark, as they understood it, He had proposed to undertake the rebuilding of the famous structure if they should destroy it.  And then they can’t even agree here.  Clearly they’re hard pushed.  Something must be done.  Precious time is slipping away.  The thing must be in shape by dawn if they are to get it through before the crowds get hold of it.

All this time Jesus stands in silence, doubtless with those eyes of His turned now upon Caiaphas, now on the others.  His presence disturbed them in more ways than one.  That great calm, pure face must have been an irritant to their jaded consciences.  Suddenly the presiding officer stands up and dramatically cries out, as though astonished, “Answerest thou nothing?  Canst thou not hear these charges against Thee?” Still that silence of lip, and those great eyes looking into His enemies’ faces.  Then comes the question lurking underneath all the time, put in the form of a solemn oath to the prisoner, “I adjure Thee by the living God, that Thou tell us whether Thou art the Christ, the Son of God.”  Thus appealed to, Jesus at once replies, “I am.”  And then, knowing full well the effect of the reply, He adds, “Nevertheless—­notwithstanding your evident purpose regarding Me—­the Son of Man will be sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming in the clouds of heaven, and ye shall see it.”

In supposed righteous horror Caiaphas tore his garments, and cried, “What further need is there of witnesses?  Behold you have heard His blasphemy.  What verdict do you give?” Back come the eager cries, “He deserves death—­Guilty.”  So the second session closes with the verdict of guilty agreed upon.  Yet this was not official.  The senate could meet only in daylight hours.  The propriety