“‘What is your verdict?’
They answered.
‘He deserves death.’
Then they spat
In his face.
They struck him.
Some slapped him.
They said.
‘Prophesy to us!
You Christ!
You Messiah!
Who is it
That struck you?’”
τί ὑμῖν δοκεῖ; οἱ δὲ ἀποκριθέντες εἶπαν Ἔνοχος θανάτου ἐστίν.
Τότε ἐνέπτυσαν εἰς τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐκολάφισαν αὐτόν, οἱ δὲ ἐράπισαν
λέγοντες Προφήτευσον ἡμῖν, Χριστέ, τίς ἐστιν ὁ παίσας σε;
This is something similar in Mark, chapter 14:64-65. There is nothing like this in Luke, chapter 22, and John, chapter 18. Matthew said that the high priest turned to the rest of the council there. What is your verdict? What do you think (τί ὑμῖν δοκεῖ)? The members of the council that included priests, presbyters, elders, and scribes answered (οἱ δὲ ἀποκριθέντες εἶπαν) that Jesus was deserving of death (Ἔνοχος θανάτου ἐστίν.). Technically, they could not condemn Jesus to death since only the Roman authorities could impose a death penalty. However, they were not reluctant to abuse him with spitting, punching, slapping, and taunting. Thus, they spat at him in his face (Τότε ἐνέπτυσαν εἰς τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ). They struck him with a fist (καὶ ἐκολάφισαν αὐτόν), while others slapped him with an open hand (οἱ δὲ ἐράπισαν). They said that he, the Christ Messiah (Χριστέ), should prophesize to them (λέγοντες Προφήτευσον ἡμῖν) who was it that struck him (τίς ἐστιν ὁ παίσας σε). Thus, this secret Jewish leaders’ night trial came to an inglorious end.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 