Patiently Jesus listened to the conflicting testimonies. No word did He utter in self-defense. At last His accusers were entangled, confused, and maddened. The trial was making no headway; it seemed that their plottings were to fail. Caiaphas was desperate. One last resort remained; Christ must be forced to condemn Himself. The high priest started from the judgment seat, his face contorted with passion, his voice and demeanor plainly indicating that were it in his power he would strike down the prisoner before him. "Answerest Thou nothing?" he exclaimed; "what is it which these witness against Thee?"

Jesus lyttede tålmodigt til de modstridende vidnesbyrd. Han sagde ikke et ord til sit forsvar. Til sidst blev hans anklagere forvirrede og rasende. Man kom ingen vegne med forhøret. Det så ud til, at deres snedige planer skulle slå fejl. Kajfas var ude af sig selv. Endnu en sidste udvej var tilbage: Kristus måtte tvinges til at dømme sig selv. Ypperstepræsten rejste sig fra dommersædet med et ansigt, der var fordrejet af raseri, og hans stemme og optræden viste tydeligt, at hvis det stod i hans magt, så ville han slå fangen, der stod foran ham, til jorden. Han udbrød: "Har du intet at svare på det, de vidner imod dig?"