At the end of the Passover meal, after reciting the Hallel Jesus crossed the Kidron valley to a place called Gethsemane where there was a garden. cf. John 18:1
There “he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray,” He took with him Peter, James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. He said to them. “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here and keep awake.” Mark 14:32-34.
“And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. „Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.‟” Mark:14:35-36
He came and found them sleeping and said: “Simon are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour. Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial…” Mark 14:37-38
“Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas one of the twelve, arrived: and with him was a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes and the elders.” “Now the betrayer had given them a sign saying: „The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.‟ So when he came, he went up to him at once and said „Rabbi‟ and kissed him. Then they laid hands on him and arrested him.”‟ Mark 14: 43-46
They took Jesus to the house of Annas and then to Caiphas. The church of St Peter in Gallicantu is venerated as a possible site of the palace of the high priest Caiphas.
Underground caves close to Caiphas palace may have been part of a public jail. Jesus would have been scourged not only by Pilate but also by Caiphas. Later, the apostles Peter and John were held and scourged for preaching in the name of Jesus. Acts 5:9-42. Tradition associates this place with the passion of Jesus, where he was imprisoned the night before he was crucified.
The path by the side of the Church, thought to be the route taken by Jesus on his way to Gethsemane.
They took Jesus to the house of Annas. Annas sent him on to the high priest Caiphas. It was Caiphas who had said that one man should be put to death to save the people. One of those guarding Jesus hit him. All the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes were assembled. They were looking for evidence against Jesus to put him to death but found none. When the Sanhedrin dispersed, the servants of the high priest spat, mocked and ill treated Jesus.
Peter followed at a distance into the courtyard of the high priest warming himself at a fire. A servant-girl seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said: “This, man also was with him.” Three times Peter denied Jesus. A cock crew and “Going out he wept bitterly.” From the 7th century Peter‟s denial has been associated with the church of St Peter in Gallicantu.
When morning broke the whole Sanhedrin was called together. It did not have the power to impose the death sentence. They had to produce a religious charge to justify the death penalty. They questioned Jesus: “Are you the Christ,…?” Jesus said: “I am…” Mark 14:62-63.
