Every Jew, and every other person acquainted with the Jewish history of that age, knows that this is false. The Sanhedrim was composed of the wisest and the best men of that race. Superstitious, bigoted and fanatical some of them doubtless were, but in that august court law and dignity and decorum reigned. These accounts of the trial of Christ before the Sanhedrim afford overwhelming proof that they were not written by apostles nor by residents of Palestine. They were written by Gentile Christians, or by Jewish converts living in foreign lands, and presumably the former, for even foreign Jews must have possessed a better knowledge of Jewish laws and customs than the Evangelists display. 315 During the trial Peter denied his master. What had Jesus predicted concerning his denial? Matthew, Luke and John: "Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, that this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice" (Matt. xxvi, 34; Luke xxii, 34; John xiii, 38). Mark: "And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, that this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice" (xiv, 30). 316 Did Peter deny him three times before the cock crew? Matthew, Luke and John: He did (Matt. xxvi, 69-75; Luke xxii, 54-62; John xviii, 15-27). Mark: He did not; he had denied him but once when the cock crew (xiv, 66-68). 317 Where were they when Jesus foretold Peter's denial? Matthew and Mark: At the Mount of Olives (Matt. xxvi, 30-35; Mark xiv, 26-30). Luke: In Jerusalem, at supper, before they went out to the Mount of Olives (xxii, 7-39). 318 What did Peter do when he entered the palace? Luke: "Peter sat down among them" (xxii, 55). John: "Peter stood with them" (xviii, 18). 319 When was he first accused of being the friend of Jesus? John: As he entered the room (xviii, 16, 17). Mark and Luke: As he sat by the fire (Mark xiv, 66, 67; Luke xxii, 54-57). 320 When was he accused the second time? John: In the house as he "stood and warmed himself" (xviii, 25). Matthew: "When he was gone out into the porch" (xxvi, 71). 321 By whom was he accused the second time? Matthew and Mark: By a "maid" (Matt. xxvi, 71; Mark xiv, 69). Luke: By a "man" (xxii, 59, 60). 322 Who accused him the third time? Matthew and Mark: "They that stood by" (Matt. xxvi, 73; Mark xiv, 70). John: "One of the servants of the high priest" (xviii, 26). 323 Was Jesus present when Peter denied him? Matthew and Mark: He was not. Luke: He was. "The Lord turned and looked upon Peter" (xxii, 60, 61). 324 Where was Jesus next sent for trial? Luke: To Herod, tetrarch of Galilee, who was attending the Passover at Jerusalem (xxiii, 6-11). In the matter of trials the Evangelists, as in everything else, have overdone things. Notwithstanding no trial was ever held during the Passover they give him four trials in one day, and not finding courts enough in Judea for the purpose, they import one from Galilee.