Here are some of the details of this final night. Some of these are in the text, others are just a logical consideration of the events as we have them. If anything is purely conjecture, I will clearly state so. Walk with me through Jesus’ last hours (as given in John 18).

Jesus left Jerusalem and crossed the Kidron to the place of pressing. Here is where olives are pressed to create olive oil. There are three phases to pressing oil and it is not coincidental that Jesus takes three prayer time breaks to wake the disciples up! As He was praying, which was later at night, there would have been some gathering torches at the end of the valley by the pool of Siloam. After Judas left the supper, he went to the high priest and sold Jesus out. After selling Jesus out, he waited for things to get in place. The high priest then likely called the Sanhedrin together (who would have been staying nearby) and decided to in fact move forward with the execution. At this point, Caiaphas, the high priest, would go to get the governor involved and get some Roman troops for the arrest. This would take time. The night is rolling along at this point. Judas is still waiting. While all this is happening, Jesus is praying with the eleven others in Gethsemane (place of pressing).

The crowd of soldiers and disciples would have then gathered at the gate and headed to arrest Jesus, expecting a fight. Jesus not only does not fight, but gives Himself up and even heals the servant, Malchus, that Peter cuts. While this is happening, Caiaphas and the rest of the Sanhedrin are preparing for trial.

When Jesus arrived, Annas deals with Him first and then the Sanhedrin starts the mockery of a trial. Jesus is mocked, beaten and mistreated by them and then found guilty for blasphemy. This guilty verdict would lead to death. They think they have won. Caiaphas questions Him and confirms the verdict. Caiaphas was preparing for the Passover event and would likely have been seeking ceremonial cleanliness (why the guard hits Jesus and not Caiaphas himself). Pilate is then informed in the morning to make a decision and falters with the verdict. He has Jesus beaten and hopes that is enough. While all this is happening, Peter is denying Jesus three times in the courtyard. John is somehow in the courtyard and gets Peter in. This has led many to believe that this is because of some familial tie from James and John to Caiaphas or that they were in the priestly order.