Mark 14:57-59

These verses provide a specific example of what Mark just described generally. Evidently the witnesses misunderstood Jesus’ statements about the destruction of the temple (Gr. naos, temple building) of His body (John 2:19) and the future destruction of the Jerusalem temple (Mark 13:2). Anyone who destroyed a temple in the ancient world was subject to capital punishment (cf. Jeremiah 26:1-19). [Note: Josephus, Antiquities of . . ., 10:6:2.] This was evidently one of the most serious charges against Jesus (cf. Mark 14:61; Mark 15:29).