Devine Scripture

Matthew 26:60

What does Matthew 26:60 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 26:60 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 26:60 means

Despite many false witnesses, they did not find agreement; later two came forward whose testimonies aligned. The difficulty in finding consistent false testimony indicates that Jesus’ enemies had to force a case. The initial failure suggests the truth about Jesus’ innocence made fabrication difficult. The verse shows the council’s persistence: when many testimonies failed, they kept seeking until they found a pair whose claims could be used. It underscores the contrivance and injustice of the legal proceedings.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and they found it not, though many false witnesses came. But afterward came two,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and they found it not, though many false witnesses came. But afterward came two,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And they were not able to get it, though a number of false witnesses came.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and they did not find; and many false witnesses having come near, they did not find; and at last two false witnesses having come near,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And they found not, whereas many false witnesses had come in. And last of all there came two false witnesses:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. But at the last two false witnesses came forward

Context

This verse follows the council’s intent to secure false witnesses and narrates the initial difficulty. It prepares the specific accusation that finally sticks, revealing the lengths to which the authorities went to condemn Jesus. For readers, it highlights the sham nature of the trial and the moral bankruptcy of Jesus’ accusers.

v.59Now the chief priests and the whole council sought false witness against Jesus, that they might put him to death;

v.60This passage

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

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Titus 2:8

    sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of us.

  • Psalms 35:11

    Unrighteous witnesses rise up; They ask me of things that I know not.

  • Deuteronomy 19:15

    One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall a matter be established.

  • Daniel 6:4

    Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find occasion against Daniel as touching the kingdom; but they could find no occasion nor fault, forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.

  • Mark 14:57

    And there stood up certain, and bare false witness against him, saying,

  • 1 Peter 3:16

    having a good conscience; that, wherein ye are spoken against, they may be put to shame who revile your good manner of life in Christ.

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