Matthew 26 · Verse 60

Matthew 26:60

But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,
Matthew 26:60, King James Version

Matthew 26:60 in other translations

BSBBut they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward
WEBand they found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward
ASVand they found it not, though many false witnesses came. But afterward came two,
YLTand they did not find; and many false witnesses having come near, they did not find; and at last two false witnesses having come near,
DARBYAnd they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. But at the last two false witnesses came forward
BBEAnd they were not able to get it, though a number of false witnesses came.
WebsterBut found none: and, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,

What does Matthew 26:60 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 60. False witnesses. Witnesses that would accuse him of crime; of violation of the laws of the land or of God. We are not to suppose that they wished them to be false witnesses. They were indifferent, probably, whether they were true or false, if they could succeed in condemning him. The evangelist calls it false testimony, Before these witnesses were sought, we learn from Jn 18:19-23 that the high priest asked Jesus of his disciples, and his doctrine. Jesus replied, that he had taught openly in the temple, and in secret had said nothing; that is, he had no secret doctrines which he had not been willing openly to teach, and he referred them to those who had heard him. In a firm, dignified manner, he put himself on trial, and insisted on his rights. "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why smitest thou me?" This conversation took place probably before the council was assembled, and during this time the denials by Peter occurred. Luke informs us, Lk 22:66 that the council came together as soon as it was day; that is, probably near the morning, or not far from break of day--after Peter had denied him, and gone out.

Found they none. That is, they found none on whose testimony they could with any show of reason convict him. The reason was, as Mark says, Mk 14:56 that "their witness agreed not together." They differed about facts, times, and circumstances, as all false witnesses do. Two witnesses were required by their law, and they did not dare to condemn him without conforming, in appearance at least, to the requirements of the law.

(a) "the last" Ps 27:12, 35:11

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 60 Though many false witnesses came - There is an unaccountable confusion in the MSS. in this verse: without stating the variations, which may be seen in Griesbach, I shall give that which I believe to be the genuine sense of the evangelist. Then the chief priests and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; but they found it not, though many false witnesses came up. At last two false witnesses came up, saying; This man said, etc. It is the property of falsity to be ever inconsistent, and to contradict itself; therefore they could not find two consistent testimonies, without which the Jewish law did not permit any person to be put to death. However, the hand of God was in this business: for the credit of Jesus, and the honor of the Christian religion, he would not permit him to be condemned on a false accusation; and, therefore, at last they were obliged to change their ground, and, to the eternal confusion of the unrighteous council, he is condemned on the very evidence of his own innocence, purity, and truth!

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 26:57-68

Jesus was hurried into Jerusalem. It looks ill, and bodes worse, when those who are willing to be Christ's disciples, are not willing to be known to be so. Here began Peter's denying him: for to follow Christ afar off, is to begin to go back from him. It is more our concern to prepare for the end, whatever it may be, than curiously to ask what the end will be. The event is God's, but the duty is ours. Now the…

Read the full comment on Matthew 26:57-68 →

Matthew 26:60 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaibutG2532
οὐχouchnot anyG3756
εὗρονheuronthey foundG2147
πολλῶνpollōnof manyG4183
προσελθόντωνproselthontōnhaving come forward asG4334
ψευδομαρτύρωνpseudomarturōnfalse witnessesG5575
ὕστερονhusteronFinallyG5306
δὲdethenG1161
προσελθόντεςproselthonteshaving come forwardG4334
δύοduotwoG1417

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 26:60

  • Deuteronomy 19:15

    One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

  • Psalms 27:12

    Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

  • Psalms 35:11

    False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.

  • Mark 14:57-59

    And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying, We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands. But neither so did their witness agree together.

  • Titus 2:8

    Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

  • 1 Peter 3:16

    Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

  • Daniel 6:4-5

    Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
found none.
Da 6:4,5; Tit 2:8; 1Pe 3:16
At.
De 19:15; Mr 14:57-59

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 26:59

    Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;

  • Matthew 26:60

    But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,

  • Matthew 26:61

    And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

Read all of Matthew 26

Matthew 26:60 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y no lo hallaron, aunque muchos testigos falsos se llegaban; mas á la postre vinieron dos testigos falsos,
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et ils n’en trouvèrent point, – bien que plusieurs faux témoins soient venus. Mais, à la fin, deux faux témoins vinrent,
German
Elberfelder 1871		und sie fanden keines, wiewohl viele falsche Zeugen herzutraten. Zuletzt aber traten zwei falsche Zeugen herzu
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		et non invenerunt, cum multi falsi testes accessissent. Novissime autem venerunt duo falsi testes,