John 18:13 tells us they led him to Annas the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the High Priest. This occurred around 2 AM. Annas was high priest at the time the temple was cleansed. Annas asked about Jesus teachings.

John 18:20-21, "Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said."

Jesus was struck by an officer after he said this (verse 22). Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?" (John 18:23).

When Annas was finished with him, he was sent to Caiaphas (verse 24).

Mark 14:53, "And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes."

Caiaphas got together a group of men about 3:30 in the morning.

Mark 14:56-59, "For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together. And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying, We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands. But neither so did their witness agree together."

Caiaphas asks him if he's "the Christ, the Son of the Blessed" (verse 61), and Jesus answers him! "I am."

Caiaphas said, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God" (Matthew 26:3)

Mark 14:62, "And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven."

Mark 14:63, "Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses?"

Luke 22 records what transpired about 6 o'clock in the morning. Luke 22:66 says it was day. Mark 15:1 tells us it was early in the morning.

Luke 22:66-71, "And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying, Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe: And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go. Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God. Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am. And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth."

This third trial was the shortest of all the trials. Jesus, in their mind, was guilty. They voted to take him to Pilate. The charge was blasphemy, but that would not stand up in a Roman court. Therefore, between the time that they dismissed and gained an audience with the governor, Pilate, they made plans to switch the accusation to treason, and they claimed that he was guilty of attempting to overthrow the government.

Luke 23:1, "And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate."

The time was around 6:30 to 7 o'clock in the morning. John 18:28, "Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the Passover."

John 18:29, "Pilate then went out unto them"

John 18:29-30, "What accusation bring ye against this man? They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee."

John 18:31, "Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law..."

John 18:31, "...The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:"

John 18:33, "Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again

John 18:33, "...and called Jesus.

John 18:33-35, "Art thou the King of the Jews? Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?" He wanted to know if Jesus was in the process of overthrowing the government in Palestine. John 18:36, "Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence."

If Jesus wanted to overthrow the government, his servants would be fighting, carrying on a revolution, taking lives, storming this temple, ruining this procedure. But you don't even find my servants out there!

The third process in the Roman code was defense. And now Pilate, acting on behalf of a defense attorney, begins to look at this side of Jesus. By the way, the Roman Law, much like American law, allowed for a defense attorney, but you never find where Jesus was allowed that. So Pilate looks at it from Jesus' point of viewso you're a king!

John 18:37, "Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice."

John 18:38, "Pilate saith unto him, What is truth?"

This has nothing to do with the case, it has a lot to do with Pilate's mind set. He was a very mixed up, miserable man. In a matter of months, he would be taking his own life. He is in a quandary regarding the area of objective, sound truth. And so he says, What's truth?

John 18:38, "And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all."

The fourth step is a verdict. Accusation, interrogation, defense, and a verdict. And all four are acted out for us right here. Pilate says he finds no guilt! All he finds is some spiritual kingdom, and that's not going to affect or threaten Rome! Jesus is not guilty of treason!

Luke 23:4-5, "Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man. And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place."

Luke 23:6-7, "When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean. And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time."

Luke 23:8, "And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him."

Luke 23:10-11, "And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate."