27:1–2 At daybreak the chief priests and elders met in full council to plan the death of Jesus. The morning session also served to legalize the clandestine meeting that had taken place the previous night. Since their concerns about Jesus’ religious claims would carry little weight with Roman authorities, it was necessary to develop a charge that would appear revolutionary from a political standpoint. Luke cites a threefold charge of seditious teaching, opposition to taxation, and claim of kingship (23:2). Having formulated their plans, they marched him off in chains to Pilate, the governor. Pilate was the fifth procurator of Judea (which also included Samaria and Idumea), serving the emperor in that capacity from A.D. 26 until 36. He was a cruel and corrupt official, who was not at all sen…