When every step thus far taken by the council had been illegal, why should it have been so particular in regard to the witnesses? The fact is the Evangelists were ignorant of Jewish laws. They believed that while the prosecution of Jesus was unjust it was yet conducted according to the established rules of Jewish courts. Referring to Mark, Dr. Wise says: "In his ignorance of Jewish law, he imagined the trial which he described was lawful among the Jews. He proves this, in the first place, by the very statement that witnesses were sought and produced. A court convoked and acting in rebellion to law and custom can be considered only a band of rebels. What use have such men of witnesses? Being lawless from the beginning, no legal restraint makes the presence of witnesses necessary.... He certainly thought of an honest, lawful trial, in the legal form; an honest and legal examination of witnesses, a fair consideration of the testimony, and after mature reflection the rejection thereof on account of insufficiency" (Martyrdom of Jesus, pp. 69, 70). 302 What did the so-called false witnesses that appeared against him testify that he had said? "I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days" (Matthew xxvi, 61). "I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands" (Mark xiv, 58). 303 What had Jesus said? "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up" (John ii, 19). Passing over the discrepancies of Matthew and Mark, if they have given the substance of these witnesses' testimony, then they were not false, but truthful witnesses; for Jesus, it is seen, had given utterance to such a declaration. If he referred to the temple of his body, as John affirms, and the Jews misunderstood him, the fault was his, not theirs. Josephus gives an account of a so-called prophet who, a few years later, boasted of his supernatural powers in much the same manner that Jesus is said to have done: "There came out of Egypt about this time to Jerusalem, one that said that he was a prophet, and advised the multitude of the common people to go along to the Mount of Olives, as it was called, which lay over against the city, and at the distance of five furlongs. He said further, that he would show them from hence, how, at his command, the walls of Jerusalem would fall down" (Antiquities, Book xx, chap. viii, sec. 6). 304 Was he questioned by the Sanhedrim? Synoptics: He was. They tried to convict him by his own testimony (Matt. xxvi, 62-64; Mark xiv, 60-63; Luke xxii, 66-71). A Jewish court did not question a prisoner. A prisoner could not even plead guilty. 305 To the priest's question, "Art thou the Christ?" what answer did he give? Mark: "Jesus said, I am" (xiv, 61, 62). Luke: "He said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe" (xxii, 67). 306 When did his trial before the Sanhedrim take place?