The harmony of the Gospels in the holy history of the humiliation and sufferings…

Here John maketh mention of the Captain, the Band, and the Officers, now this Captain was conducted by Judas, Luk. 22.47. he that was called Judas one of the twelve went before them. Why Judas led Jesus first unto Annas, is not said, but it may be gathered, at least probably, he was the ancientest of the great men, for he was Father in law to Caiaphas the High Priest, Josephus saith of him, that he was a wise man, and it is most probable that Judas had made his bargain with him, and sold his Master to him, and that the Band and Officers that Judas led, were gathered together at his house, and there Judas had his Commission, and from them marched upon his exploit to apprehend Jesus, and therefore when they had taken him, thither they brought him, and there Judas was discharged, for we hear no more of Judas, in what follows.

Here Iohn maketh mention of the Captain, the Band, and the Officers, now this Captain was conducted by Iudas, Luk. 22.47. he that was called Iudas one of the twelve went before them. Why Iudas led Iesus first unto Annas, is not said, but it may be gathered, at least probably, he was the ancientest of the great men, for he was Father in law to Caiaphas the High Priest, Iosephus saith of him, that he was a wise man, and it is most probable that Iudas had made his bargain with him, and sold his Master to him, and that the Band and Officers that Iudas led, were gathered together at his house, and there Iudas had his Commission, and from them marched upon his exploit to apprehend Iesus, and therefore when they had taken him, thither they brought him, and there Iudas was discharged, for we hear no more of Judas, in what follows.

But when they came there, Annas considered, that though they had successively acted thus far, and had got him into his hand and power, yet now their proceedings must be carried on under a fair colour of legal proceedings, the Council must be called together, Caiaphas was high Priest, at his Palace or Hall the Court must be kept, therefore when he had gloried over his Prisoner, and had the honour to apprehend him, he sent him away bound unto Caiaphas, but we read not that he sent him by, or under the hand of Judas, he had acted his part sufficiently. Annas sent him to Caiaphas, because he was a vehement prosecutor of this business of putting Jesus to death. John giveth us that Reason, viz. that it was he that had given the Jews that counsel, that it was necessary that one man should dye for the people, to be made a piaculum for his Country, to please the Romans. which was the manner of some Nations in those days, the record of this politic device of Caiaphas is,