The Chosen Season 6 Episode 3: Recap, Review, & Analysis
Episode 3 of The Chosen Season 6 (“4:00 AM – 5:00 AM”) brings us to the heart of Jesus' questioning before Caiaphas and the religious leaders (Matthew 26:57-62, Mark 14:53-59), where false witnesses line up against Jesus but their testimonies don't hold together. It also depicts Peter's three denials (Mark 14:66-72) and a very raw confrontation between Peter and Judas. Meanwhile, Thomas stumbles onto the secret proceedings, the women sneak into Jerusalem, and Nicodemus prepares for a trial that has basically already happened without him. Below I'll offer an in-depth recap of the plot (SPOILER WARNING) and then review The Chosen Season 6 Episode 3 and analyze its key themes.
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What Happened in The Chosen Season 6 Episode 3? (Plot Summary)
Mary & Joseph Flashback
Episode 3 opens with a flashback to Mary and Joseph on the road to Jerusalem, bringing the infant Jesus to the Temple for his dedication (Luke 2:22-24). Mary thinks Joseph should ask the priests for a lamb, given who their son is, but Joseph doesn't think they'll give out lambs for free. Jesus will announce himself to the world on his own timeline. Mary jokes that she shouldn't need purification at all, since Jesus' birth didn't make her unclean, but Joseph can’t imagine explaining that to the priest. Still, there's no skipping the dedication: every male who opens the womb is holy to the Lord (Exodus 13:2). And while they can't afford a lamb (Leviticus 12:8), their son owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10).
Along the way, Mary runs into Rachel, a friend from Nazareth who also gave birth during the census. Rachel introduces her son, Samuel ("God has heard"), and Mary introduces hers, Jesus ("Adonai saves"). The two couples walk and catch up together as they go to dedicate their sons.
Peter, John, & Judas in The Chosen Season 6 Episode 3
After the credits, Malchus brings John inside, warning him not to talk to or look at anyone, while Peter is left out in the courtyard. Spotting a pile of wood, Peter throws a shawl over his head, picks up an armful, and slips toward the door disguised as a servant.
As the trial begins, a servant recognizes Peter and accuses him of being with the Nazarene, having seen him preaching earlier. Peter claims he doesn't know what he's talking about. He's just trying to watch (Mark 14:66-68).
After the verdict, John and Peter are reeling. Peter wants to get Simon Z while there's still time, and when they realize the Pharisees' men are headed to Lazarus' house, John resolves to go to Bethany while Peter stays with Jesus. But as Shmuel orders the arrest of Jesus' followers, a servant girl points out Peter is one of them. Another saw him at Lazarus' house, and they point out his Galilean accent. Peter insists they're wrong and that he does not know the man (Mark 14:69-71). In that moment, he locks eyes with Jesus, who looks at him sadly (Luke 22:61). Peter lingers, then slips away in the confusion as Shmuel hurries off to the assembly. In the night, the rooster crows.
As Peter sits distraught, Judas finds him and questions how he could deny knowing Jesus. In rage, Peter throws a box at Judas, insisting his betrayal is far worse. Peter grabs him by the throat and shoves him against a wall, recalling Jesus’ warning, “The Son of Man goes as it is written, and woe to the man who betrays him” (Matthew 26:24). But Judas insists that Jesus told him to do what he did.
When guards approach, Peter drops Judas and hides. The guards ask Judas if he's seen any followers in the area, having heard from Shmuel that Peter was nearby. But Judas says no. When they leave, Peter emerges, and the two sit together, too exhausted to keep fighting.
Peter asks how Judas could do this after seeing the healings and the raising of Lazarus. Peter even watched Judas heal people in Jesus' name when the two of them were sent out on mission together back in Season 3. They shared so much. Judas insists he thought he was doing Jesus' will. When he suggests that maybe Jesus' warning about a betrayer meant Peter, Peter cuts him off.
Judas thought he would save Israel by either forcing Jesus to use his might and seize the throne, or saving the nation from a false prophet. But he didn't understand the third option: Jesus may be the Son of God, and yet he may be letting these things happen. Judas recalls how Jesus told him to listen closely to the Good Shepherd sermon at the Feast of Dedication, just before they were nearly stoned (John 10:22-39), and this seems to give him an idea. When Peter asks Judas where he's going, he says he has to set things right (Matthew 27:3-5).
The Trial of Jesus in The Chosen Season 6 Episode 3
Inside the home of Caiaphas, groups of Pharisees chatter. Only those who are opposed to Jesus have been summoned – Yussif, Nicodemus, and Shimon, grandson of Hillel, have been intentionally excluded.
Before the proceedings, Judas presses Malchus about the trial, questioning whether it will be fair. Malchus tells him he doesn't know what Judas had in mind when he betrayed Jesus, but the council will do what it does.
Bringing order to the room, Caiaphas recalls his prophecy – how one man shall die so the nation will not perish. Humble-bragging, he insists he is not a conduit of salvation but merely a servant responding to the revelation he received. Nevertheless, he insists that he alone has the right to question witnesses and the accused, though he extends that right to those he calls. Jesus is then brought in.
The witnesses begin to bring accusations against Jesus. Two testify that Jesus healed a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath (Mark 3:1-6), even though it wasn't a matter of life and death, and that he excused his disciples for picking grain on the Sabbath, calling himself Lord of (or over) the Sabbath (Mark 2:23-28). When Caiaphas asks Jesus to clarify, whether he said of or over, Jesus remains silent (Matthew 26:62-63), and Shmuel urges them to seek more consistent testimony. Rabbi Benjamin from Nazareth testifies that Jesus identified himself with Isaiah's prophecy (Luke 4:16-21) and called himself the Messiah and the embodiment of the Law itself. Jesus again refuses to respond. The accusation is noted, but Benjamin’s corroborating witness is not present and they don't want to wait until morning to summon him. Next, a vendor is brought out to describe the destruction of his property during the cleansing of the Temple.
As Malchus steps out of the room, he is followed by Judas, who questions why they are wasting time on small incidents, some of which aren't even true. He wishes they would ask Jesus about his mission or his vision for the future. Malchus suggests that maybe Judas has it wrong and walks away. Undeterred, Judas speaks up, declaring that he knows Jesus better than any of the witnesses. He's quickly shut down, however, since he's neither a witness nor a member of the Sanhedrin.
Yanni then testifies that Jesus said, "I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another" (Mark 14:58). But the details don't line up with what others remember. One man insists Jesus didn't say "I am able," and others are unsure of other aspects of the wording (Mark 14:59). Still, Caiaphas insists that all seven witnesses spoke of destroying the Temple, which amounts to blasphemy and dissident political speech that threatens social order. Again, Judas butts in, pointing out that if Jesus could destroy the Temple, maybe he could use that same power to dethrone Rome.
At that moment, Shimon arrives and accuses the council of conducting an illegal proceeding and the room erupts into argument. But Caiaphas cuts through the chaos. Having conferred with Annas, he announces the verdict: seven witnesses confirm that Jesus threatened to destroy the Temple. If they're seen sheltering violent speech, Rome will not be pleased. Jesus is to be delivered to Pilate. His followers and their families are to be rooted out, rounded up, and questioned. The document declaring this will be sealed at the assembly at first light. Outside, Kafni overhears this and is pleased.
Thomas & the Disciples in The Chosen Season 6 Episode 3
At Mark's house, the disciples pray the Lord's Prayer as they wait for the others to arrive. Simon Z and Little James note that the city is starting to wake. Thomas, who left before them, still isn't there. They wonder if he took a longer route to think. Andrew is nervous, but they keep praying.
Meanwhile, a cloaked Thomas is walking through the Temple when he overhears Shimon talking to another member of the House of Hillel. Shimon is troubled by how Caiaphas responded to Nicodemus’ appearance by postponing further discussion until the morning. Sensing that something is off, Shimon decides to go to check it out, and Thomas follows.
When Shimon and his companions arrive at Caiaphas' house, they discover that Caiaphas has secretly assembled his allies to question Jesus, excluding the House of Hillel and Nicodemus. Barging in, they accuse the assembly of being illegal. Following them in, Thomas watches in sorrow as Caiaphas announces his decision to hand Jesus over. When Caiaphas calls for the followers to be rounded up, Thomas flees.
The Women in The Chosen Season 6 Episode 3
On their way into the city, the women encounter Jesse (Z’s brother) and Veronica (the woman with the issue of blood), who inform them that no one knows where Jesus is being held, and the guards have stopped letting groups through the gate. Joanna comes up with a plan. Greeting the Roman officer in Latin, she claims that she fell asleep under a tree and these kind women found her and brought her back to safety. Now she insists on repaying them at her house. The women protest that it isn't necessary, but the officer orders them to go with the noble lady and accept her gratitude.
Once inside, the women split up to cover more ground, since they can't take everyone to Claudia's house. Mary and Martha take the upper city, Tamar and Veronica go to the lower city to find Shula and Barnaby. They agree to meet in the Court of Women at first cockcrow. Mary Magdalene offers to lead Mother Mary, who admits she feels sick. Her hands are freezing, she can't think, and she's afraid that if she sits down, she'll die. Mary Magdalene tells her that she feels it too, but they have to keep going. Mother Mary knows this is God's will and that she was prepared for it, but now that it's here, she's shaky. She insists on seeing Jesus. They take heart, recalling how God brought him to them before.
Nicodemus in The Chosen Season 6 Episode 3
The episode closes with Nicodemus, Yussif, and Matthias finishing their preparations to defend Jesus on legal grounds. Nicodemus has had Yussif rehearse every possible question with him. He's ready, with precedents and testimony lined up. A whole career's worth of argument, research, and detail has led to this moment. With twenty-five minutes until the Sanhedrin's session, they depart, not knowing that the real trial has already taken place.
The Chosen Season 6 Episode 3 Review
Episode 3 (“4:00 AM – 5:00 AM”) brings the premiere of The Chosen Season 6 to a solid conclusion and sets up the next stage of the season. A few things I really appreciate:
The Faulty Case Against Jesus: If you asked the average Christian why Jesus was tried by the Sanhedrin, they would probably say it’s because he claimed to be the Son of God. That is why he was ultimately condemned (Mark 14:61-63), but only after the initial case against him fell apart, because the witnesses couldn’t agree (Mark 14:55-59). I’m glad that the show preserves this aspect of the story and shows what it might have looked like. Shmuel has had a smaller role this season, but I appreciate how we see his stickler nature on display, insisting that the testimonies against Jesus must agree. The trial scenes move so quickly that it’s sometimes hard to track everything, but that’s completely appropriate and will reward those who rewatch. Jonathan Roumie and Richard Fancy continue to anchor the proceedings with solid performances.
Peter and Judas: Many pastors have drawn comparisons between Peter and Judas, but this episode really hammers home the similarities (and differences) between the two. I appreciate how we see the confrontation between them shift through different emotional stages, from violent anger to shared sorrow and reflection. I also love how Judas starts out taking the moral high ground and is even given the opportunity to show compassion for Peter by concealing him. Both actors do a great job with the material.
Malchus: I continue to be a fan of the journey he’s going through and the way the show uses him in relation to Judas and other characters.
Nicodemus and Shimon Tricked: Christians are often told that there were aspects of Jesus’ trial that were illegal or deceitful. But the show really emphasizes this by having Nicodemus toiling away at preparations for a trial that has secretly already taken place without him.
Multi-Season Payoffs: This episode really drives home the value of what The Chosen has accomplished in telling the story of Jesus over multiple seasons. We get so many callbacks and payoffs that were set up two, sometimes three seasons ago: the Peter-Judas partnership in Season 3 Episode 4, Jesse (Season 2 Episode 4), Veronica (Season 3 Episode 4-5), the smalltown rabbis that Shmuel despises (Season 2 Episode 6), Jesus’ rabbi in Nazareth (Season 3, Episode 3), Jesus’ warning to Judas during the Good Shepherd speech (Season 4 Episode 6) – the list goes on. The effect of callbacks like these is that a few words can add entire layers of significance or resonance that you could never get in a standalone film of the same events.
There were a couple bits of the episode that I think could have been improved.
The Women Storyline: I don’t hate the women storyline – at least it gives them something active to do. At this point though, it does kind of feel like filler.
The Prologue: You can find connections between the prologue and the episode, especially if you dig into the Psalm 50 reference, but on the surface level it felt a little out of place and like a slow start to the episode.
Trimming: I think the Peter and Judas confrontation gets a little repetitive. I would have trimmed it down a bit.
All of that said, I still think this was a solid episode that left me eager to see what happens next in The Chosen Season 6.
The Chosen Season 6 Episode 3 Themes & Analysis
Humility vs. Pride
One of the functions of the opening prologue is that it emphasizes the humility of Jesus, the Son of God, who possesses the cattle on a thousand hills and yet humbled himself to become a little baby whose parents couldn’t even afford a lamb for sacrifice. That same humility is what allows him to stand by silently as he is slandered and maligned by lesser men. By contrast the episode shows us the feigned humility of Caiaphas, who humble-brags about being a conduit of divine revelation – even as he tramples over what the law requires of prosecutions due to his prideful confidence in his own understanding of what must be done.
Both Peter and Judas have a degree of pride and arrogance, although Judas’ seems much deeper seated. Peter can at least acknowledge his own shortcomings and failure. Judas clings to his understanding of what’s happening – until it finally occurs to him (too late) that he might be overlooking an option.
False Justice & God’s Silence
The focus of Episode 3 is a legal proceeding in which those who sit in judgment are the lawbreakers and the one who stands in the dock is righteous. The episode highlights various aspects of injustice:
The hearing is rushed and done at night
Only enemies of the accused are invited and potential allies or sympathizers are deceived into thinking it will be later
Unreliable witnesses are brought in
Jesus isn’t questioned about his actual goals, etc.
When Judas tries to testify, he is shut down
When discrepancies in testimony emerge, it’s brushed off
A conclusion is reached without proper deliberation
The allusion to Psalm 50 in the prologue is significant. In it, God chastises the leaders of Israel who give free rein to injustice and falsehood, while offering sacrifices to please God. When God says the cattle on a thousand hills belongs to him (v. 10), it’s a rebuke to this mindset. The point is that God doesn’t need sacrifices, and so he isn’t going to be bribed into ignoring the blatant miscarriages of justice happening in the midst of his people. Verse 21 is particularly relevant: “These things you have done, and I have been silent; you thought that I was one like yourself. But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you” (ESV). Jesus is silent throughout the trial. But that silence will one day end and those who use their religious and political authority in the name of God will face true justice for all the false justice that they have perpetrated.
What did you think of the episode? Let me know if there's anything I missed and if you agree – or disagree – with my The Chosen Season 6 Episode 3 review and analysis.
More The Chosen Season 6 Resources
Bonus Content for Supporters
Has my content helped you explore and enjoy Bible adaptations? My resources are used by thousands of Christians like you, as well as church communities and ministries across the globe.
Support my work for $5/monthly or $50/annually you can get access to exclusive content, including pdf versions of my Bible study/discussion guides, The Bible Artist App, ReMake: Bible Edition, bi-monthly blogs, and more.
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