Now the ones who had arrested Jesus led him to Caiaphas, the high priest, in whose house ¹  the experts in the law ²  and the elders had gathered.

When ¹  it was early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people plotted against Jesus to execute him.

The people there ¹  were amazed by his teaching, because he taught them like one who had authority, ²  not like the experts in the law. ³ 

The experts in the law ¹  who came down from Jerusalem ²  said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” ³  and, “By the ruler ⁴  of demons he casts out demons.”

He also said to them, “You neatly reject the commandment of God in order to set up ¹  your tradition.

They came again to Jerusalem. ¹  While Jesus ²  was walking in the temple courts, ³  the chief priests, the experts in the law, ⁴  and the elders came up to him

The expert in the law said to him, “That is true, Teacher; you are right to say that he is one, and there is no one else besides him. ¹ 

While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he said, “How is it that the experts in the law ¹  say that the Christ ²  is David’s son? ³ 

In his teaching Jesus ¹  also said, “Watch out for the experts in the law. ²  They like walking ³  around in long robes and elaborate greetings ⁴  in the marketplaces,

In the same way even the chief priests – together with the experts in the law ¹  – were mocking him among themselves: ²  “He saved others, but he cannot save himself!

After ¹  three days ²  they found him in the temple courts, ³  sitting among the teachers, ⁴  listening to them and asking them questions.

Then ¹  the experts in the law ²  and the Pharisees began to think ³  to themselves, ⁴  “Who is this man ⁵  who is uttering blasphemies? ⁶  Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

But ¹  the Pharisees ²  and their experts in the law ³  complained ⁴  to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” ⁵ 

The experts in the law ¹  and the Pharisees ²  watched ³  Jesus ⁴  closely to see if ⁵  he would heal on the Sabbath, ⁶  so that they could find a reason to accuse him.

When he went out from there, the experts in the law ¹  and the Pharisees began to oppose him bitterly, ²  and to ask him hostile questions ³  about many things,

“I ¹  tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, ²  and after that have nothing more they can do.

saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house will be a house of prayer,’ ¹  but you have turned it into a den ²  of robbers!” ³ 

Jesus ¹  was teaching daily in the temple courts. The chief priests and the experts in the law ²  and the prominent leaders among the people were seeking to assassinate ³  him,

The ¹  chief priests and the experts in the law ²  were trying to find some way ³  to execute ⁴  Jesus, ⁵  for they were afraid of the people. ⁶ 

(He ¹  had not consented ²  to their plan and action.) He ³  was from the Judean town ⁴  of Arimathea, and was looking forward to ⁵  the kingdom of God. ⁶