The scene passed from the priest's vision. Christ's words cut him, the Sadducee, to the quick. Caiaphas had denied the doctrine of the resurrection, the judgment, and a future life. Now he was maddened by satanic fury. Was this man, a prisoner before him, to assail his most cherished theories? Rending his robe, that the people might see his pretended horror, he demanded that without further preliminaries the prisoner be condemned for blasphemy. "What further need have we of witnesses?" he said; "behold, now ye have heard His blasphemy. What think ye?" And they all condemned Him.

Synet forsvandt atter for ypperstepræstens blik. Kristi ord ramte ham, saddukæeren, på det ømmeste sted. Kajfas havde forkastet læren om opstandelsen, dommen og et fremtidigt liv. Nu blev han grebet af et djævelsk raseri. Skulle denne mand, der stod som fange foran ham, gøre angreb på hans mest skattede teorier Han sønderrev sin kappe, for at folk kunne se hans foregivne rædsel, og krævede, at fangen uden yderligere bevismateriale skulle dømmes for gudsbespottelse. "Hvad skal vi mere med vidner" sagde han. "Se, nu har I hørt hans bespottelse. Hvad mener I?" Og de fordømte ham alle sammen.