It was irregular for the Sanhedrin to meet In the middle of the night, so this hastily convened meeting of leaders at the High Priest's house indicated their determination to get rid of Jesus by any means. It should have been possible for the Sanhedrin to accuse Jesus of blasphemy according to Leviticus 24: 13-16 and execute him accordingly, but it is thought that under Roman rule the Jews had been prevented from carrying out executions of this kind. Mark's account of what took place gives a picture of a disorganized meeting in which witnesses told lies (14:55-59). Jesus refused to speak or defend himself, answering only when the High Priest asked him if he were the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed God (14:61). Jesus' answer (14:62) caused the High Priest to accuse him of blasphemy, because the High Priest did not believe what Jesus said.