So, as the priests, the rulers, and the elders gathered together for consultation, it was their fixed determination to silence this man who did such marvelous works that all men wondered. Nicodemus and Joseph had, in former councils, prevented the condemnation of Jesus, and for this reason they were not summoned on this occasion. Caiaphas, who acted as high priest that year, was a proud and cruel man; he was by nature overbearing and intolerant; he had studied the prophecies, and, although his mind was shrouded in darkness as to their true meaning, he spoke with great authority and apparent knowledge. {2SP 369.1}

Idet præsterne og de øverste og ældste samledes for at rådslå, var det altså deres faste beslutning at dræbe dette menneske, som udrettede sådanne vidunderlige gerninger, at alle mennesker måtte forundre sig derover. Nikodemus og Josef havde i et foregående råd forebygget Jesu fordømmelse, og af denne grund blev de ikke tilkaldte ved denne anledning. Kaifas, som var ypperstepræst dette år, var et stolt og grusomt menneske. Han var af naturen herskesyg og utålsom. Han havde ransaget profetierne, og selvom hans sjæl var indhyllet i mørke angående deres sande betydning, så talte han dog med stor myndighed og tilsyneladende kundskab.