John Gill Commentary Mark 14:55

"Now the chief priests and the whole council sought witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found it not." — Mark 14:55 (ASV)

And the chief priests, and all the council
Especially the former, who were of all most busy and active in this matter:

sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death ;
on which they were determined, right or wrong; in this they went contrary to one of their own canons, which runs thus ^F11 :

``in pecuniary causes, they begin either for absolution, or condemnation; but in capital causes, they begin for absolution, and do not begin for condemnation.'' That is, they began with such evidences as tended to acquit a man, and not with such as served to condemn him; whereas this court was only seeking for such evidence to begin with, that they might condemn Jesus to death:

and found none ;
that would answer their purpose; (See Gill on Matthew 26:59).

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FOOTNOTES:

• F11: Misn. Sanhedrin, c. 4. sect. 1.