The Skeptics Annotated Bible (769 page)

60 But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,

61 And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

(26.59-61)
“The chief priests … sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; But found none … At the last came two false witnesses, And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.”
384 Did Jesus say, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up”?

62 And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?

(26.63-64) When the high priest asks Jesus if he is “the Christ, the Son of God,” Jesus hedges by saying, “Thou hast said.” In Mark (14.62), Jesus answered directly by saying, “I am.” In both gospels he falsely prophesies that the high priest would see his second coming.
385 How did Jesus respond to the high priest?

63 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.

(26.63)
“The high priest … said … I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.”

64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

(26.64)
“Jesus saith … Thou hast said … Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”

65 Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.

66 What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.

67 Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,

68 Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?

(26.69-74)
386 To whom did Peter deny knowing Jesus?

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

(26.69)
“Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus.”

70
But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.

(26.70)
“But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.”

71 And when he was gone out into the porch,
another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus
of Nazareth.

(26.71)
“Another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus.”

72 And
again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.

(26.72)
“Again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.”

73 And
after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.

(26.73)
“After a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.”

74
Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man.
And immediately the cock crew.

(26.74)
“Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man.”

75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

27
When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:

2 And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

(27.3-5) “Judas … went and hanged himself.”
387 How did Judas die?

6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.

7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in.

(27.6-7) “The chief priests took the silver pieces … and bought with them the potter's field.”
388 Who bought the Potter's field?
389 What did Judas do with the silver?

8 Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.

(27.8)
“Unto this day”
The phrase “unto this day” shows that the gospel of Matthew was written long after the events it describes.

9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;

10 And gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me.

(27.9-10)
“Spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me.”
This is not a quote from Jeremiah, but a misquote of Zechariah (11.12-13).