14:72a
And immediately the rooster crowed a second time: Right after Peter’s third denial of Jesus, the rooster crowed a second time. The first time it crowed was in 14:68c. This happened just as Jesus said in 14:30 that it would happen.
And immediately: The word immediately here means “as soon as” or “without delay.” In this context it refers to the time immediately after Peter spoke.
14:72b
Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken to him: When the rooster crowed a second time, Peter remembered what Jesus had earlier said to him. This word is referring to what Jesus had already said in 14:30.
the word: The phrase the word refers to the words that Jesus had spoken to Peter earlier. These words are quoted in 14:72c. Although the word is a singular form, it does not refer literally to only one word but to all that Jesus had said about this as a unit.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
Then Peter remembered the words Jesus had said to him.
-or-
Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said to him.
14:72c
Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times: See how you translated this clause in 14:30. You should translate it in the same way here.
In some languages it may be necessary to introduce the words that Jesus had spoken in some way. For example:
Jesus had said, “Before the rooster crows twice…”
14:72d
And he broke down and wept: Peter cried because he was very sorry that he had denied Jesus three times. Peter had made a solemn promise to Jesus in 14:31, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” He knew that he had failed to be loyal to Jesus.
broke down and wept: There are two ways that the versions interpret the Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as broke down and wept:
(1) It indicates that Peter was so overcome by grief and remorse that he wept. The phrase broke down is an English idiom that expresses this meaning. For example:
Then Peter lost control of himself and began to cry. (New Century Version)
-or-
And he broke down and cried. (Good News Bible)
(Berean Standard Bible, English Standard Version, New American Bible, New Century Version, NET Bible, New International Version, New Living Translation, New Revised Standard Version, Revised Standard Version, Good News Bible)
(2) It indicates that Peter began to weep. For example, the New American Standard Bible says:
And he began to weep.
(Contemporary English Version, God’s Word, New American Standard Bible)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) with the majority of English versions.
Paragraph 15:1–5
15:1a
Early in the morning: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Early in the morning refers to dawn or sunrise. Your language may have a special word or phrase for this.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
Early the next morning (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
As soon as it was morning (Revised Standard Version)
15:1b
the chief priests, elders, scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin devised a plan: This part of the verse indicates that the whole Jewish council (the Sanhedrin) met together. The Greek has a word that literally translates as “with” (as in the New International Version). Although the Berean Standard Bible does not translate this word, it probably indicates that the chief priests took the main responsibility in making the decision about what to do next with Jesus. Although the chief priests took the main responsibility for the decision, the elders, scribes, and other members of the Sanhedrin were also at the meeting.
The phrase the whole Sanhedrin emphasizes that the whole Sanhedrin decided what to do about Jesus. It may be necessary to reword the phrases to make this clearer. For example:
…the chief priests met with the elders and the teachers of the law. Together, every member of the Sanhedrin reached a decision.
chief priests: A Jewish priest was a man who offered sacrifices to God on behalf of the people. He also performed other rituals for them. The phrase chief priests refers to the leaders among these priests.
Here are some other ways to translate this:
the leading/ruling priests
-or-
the elders among the Jewish sacrificers
-or-
the most prominent priests
The term chief priests first occurs in Mark in 8:31c. See how you translated it there.
elders: The elders were the civil leaders or rulers. They were generally older men. See how you translated elders in 8:31c and 11:27c.
scribes: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible literally translates as scribes is sometimes translated as “teachers of the law” (as in the New International Version). The original work of these men was to copy the laws of Moses by hand. In New Testament times, their main task was to study, interpret, and teach the law of Moses and related Jewish laws and traditions.
Here are some other ways to translate this term:
teachers of the Law of Moses (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
teachers of religious law (New Living Translation)
-or-
teachers of the law of the Jews
-or-
the experts on the law
See how you translated scribes in 14:43d and 14:53b. See also teacher of the law in the Glossary.
Sanhedrin: The word Sanhedrin is a Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible has borrowed. It means “council” and refers to the court with the highest authority over the Jews.
Here are some other ways to translate Sanhedrin:
council (Revised Standard Version, Good News Bible)
-or-
Jewish council (New Century Version)
-or-
highest group of Jewish leaders
See how you translated Sanhedrin in 14:55a.
devised a plan: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as devised a plan:
(1) It means “made a decision” or “formed a plan.” For example:
made their plans (Good News Bible)
-or-
decided what to do with Jesus (New Century Version)
(God’s Word, New Century Version, NET Bible, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible, Good News Bible)
(2) It means “held a council session” or “consulted together.” For example:
met together (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
called together a meeting (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
(Contemporary English Version, English Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, New Living Translation, Revised Standard Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).
15:1c
They bound Jesus: The clause They bound Jesus means that the Jewish leaders tied Jesus’ hands together with ropes or chains. It was most likely the temple guards who actually tied Jesus up and not the leaders themselves.
led Him away: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as led…away also means “took away” or simply “took .” The council led Jesus away from the house of the high priest and took him to Pilate.
In some languages, it may be necessary to make some of this information explicit. For example:
…?they? led him away ?from the high priest’s house? ?and took him to where Pilate the governor was?.
15:1d
handed Him over to Pilate: The expression handed Him over to Pilate means that the Jewish leaders “delivered Jesus into the control of Pilate.” In this context it indicates that the leaders brought Jesus to Pilate so that Pilate could judge him and condemn him to death. Pilate was the Roman governor. He had the power to order that Jesus be killed.
Here are some other ways to translate this expression:
gave him to Pilate
-or-
turned him over to Pilate (New Century Version)
Pilate: This is Pontius Pilate, who was the Roman governor of the district of Judea. Here are some other ways to translate this:
Governor Pilate
-or-
Pilate the Roman leader
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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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