The house of Caiaphus

We walked to the parapet on Mt. Zion overlooking the city. We could see Bethlehem and the Separation Wall in the distance. Then we entered the Church of St. Peter Gallicantu (the cockcrow) where Peter denied Jesus three times. Mosaics on all the walls depict this event. In one, Jesus was looking at Peter with compassion as they stripped him.

This church has three floors -- the first is the church; the other floors were excavated in 1897 and a prison was discovered here. This site is thought to be the location of Caiaphus' house. On the second floor is a cave made for scourging. Holes in the wall signified where the victim's hands were chained. His feet were spread apart on the floor while he was being whipped. Non-Biblical sources based on tradition relate that Jesus was scourged here by Caiaphus' soldiers as well as by the Romans. The Jews had no right to execute prisoners; they could only punish for blasphemy, adultery, etc. When Jesus claimed to be the son of God and predicted destruction, that was enough for the charge of blasphemy.

The bottom floor is a dungeon -- only a dark pit where Jesus was lowered by ropes through a small hole in the ceiling. He was held here all Thursday night before being sent before Pilate. Our Lord suffered even more than was told in the New Testament!

This area is an archeological site with ruins. Steps that have been dated around 100 AD must have been trod by Jesus as he left the Cenacle and went to the Garden of Gethsemane.

The apostles abandoned Jesus for fear of their lives: if He was accused of sedition, they would be seen as co-conspirators. Those who fled were later martyred. John, who stayed at the cross, died a natural death.