Matthew Chapter 26 verse 59 Holy Bible
Now the chief priests and the whole council sought false witness against Jesus, that they might put him to death;
read chapter 26 in ASV
Now the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin were looking for false witness against Jesus, so that they might put him to death;
read chapter 26 in BBE
And the chief priests and the elders and the whole sanhedrim sought false witness against Jesus, so that they might put him to death.
read chapter 26 in DARBY
Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;
read chapter 26 in KJV
read chapter 26 in WBT
Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus, that they might put him to death;
read chapter 26 in WEB
And the chief priests, and the elders, and all the council, were seeking false witness against Jesus, that they might put him to death,
read chapter 26 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 59. - The chief priests, [and elders,] and all the council. The words in brackets are probably spurious; they are omitted by the best uncials and the Vulgate. The words cannot imply strictly that the whole Sanhedrin was present and consenting to the present proceedings; for we know that such members as Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathaea did not consent to the infamous deeds of the rest (Luke 23:51; John 19:39). Sought (ἐζήτουν, were seeking) false witness. The Sanhedrists had decided on Christ's death; it only remained to find such a charge against him as would compel the Roman authorities to deal summarily with him. For their purpose the truth of the accusation was immaterial, so long as it was established, according to Law (Deuteronomy 17:6; Deuteronomy 19:15), by two or three witnesses examined apart. They knew well that Christ could be condemned on no true testimony, hence they scrupled not to seek false. If they had meant to deal fairly, they would have allowed some who knew him to speak in his favour; but this was the very last thing which they desired or would have sanctioned.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(59) Sought false witness.--The tense of the Greek verb implies a continued process of seeking. The attempt to draw the materials for condemnation from the lips of the accused had failed. The law of Moses required at least two witnesses (Deuteronomy 17:6; Deuteronomy 19:15), and these, it is natural to believe, were examined independently of each other. The haste which marked all the proceedings of the trial had probably prevented previous concert, and the judges could not, for very shame, convict in the face of a glaring discrepancy, probably as to time and place, between the witnesses who thus offered themselves.