have spoken evil, give testimony of the evil; but if well, why strikest thou Me?'

In the mean time the chief priests and all the council sought for evidence against Jesus, that they might put Him to death, and found none. For many bore false witness against Him, and their evidences did not agree. And some rising up, bore false witness against Him, saying: 'We heard Him say, "I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another not made with hands." And their witness did not agree. And the high-priest rising up in the midst, asked Jesus, saying: 'Answerest Thou nothing to the things that are laid to Thy charge by these men? But He held His peace, and answered nothing. Again the high-priest asked Him, and said to Him: 'Art Thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed God?' And Jesus said to him: 'I am. And you shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the power of God, and coming with the clouds of heaven.' Then the high-priest rending his garments, saith: What need we any further witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy. What think you?' And they all answered: 'He is guilty of death.'

Then the men that held Him, mocked Him and struck Him. And some began to spit upon Him; and they blindfolded Him, and smote His face. And they asked Him, saying: 'Prophesy unto us, Thou Christ, who is it that struck Thee? Others also smote Him on the face with the palms of their hands. And after the space as it were of one hour, another certain man affirmed, saying: 'Of a truth this man was also with Him; for he also is a Galilean.' They said therefore to him: Art thou not also one of His disciples?' He denied it, and said: 'I am not.' One of the servants of the high-priest (a kinsman to him whose ear Peter cut off) saith to him: 'Did not I see thee in the garden with Him?' Peter therefore denied again, saying: 'Man, I know not what thou sayest.' And immediately, as he was yet speaking, the cock crew. And the Lord turning, looked on Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, as He had said: 'Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny Me thrice.' And Peter going out, wept bitterly.

§ 32. Jesus is removed to the house of Caiphas. But before this, the chief priests and members of the Sanhedrim begin to assemble in the house of Annas, and plot together to make up an indictment against Jesus by means of false witnesses. Further scenes in the house of Caiphas. Jesus is condemned to death. Despair of Judas. And Annas sent Jesus bound to Caiphas. And when morning was come, all the chief priests and ancients of the people took counsel against Jesus that they might put Him to death. And they brought Him into their council, saying: If Thou be the Christ, tell us.' And He saith to them: 'If I shall tell you, you will not believe Me. And if I shall also ask you, you will not answer Me, nor let Me go. But hereafter the Son of Man shall be sitting on the right hand of the power of God.'

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Then said they all: Art Thou, then, the Son of God? Who said: 'You say, that I am.' And they said: 'What need we any further testimony? For we ourselves have heard it from His own mouth.'

Then Judas, who betrayed Him, seeing that He was condemned, repenting himself, brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and ancients, saying: 'I have sinned in betraying innocent blood.' But they said: 'What is that to us? look thou to it.' And casting down the pieces of silver in the Temple, he departed; and went and hanged himself with an halter. But the chief priests having taken the pieces of silver, said: 'It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.' And after they had consulted together, they bought with them the potter's field, to be a burying-place for strangers. For this cause that field was called Haceldama, that is, the field of blood, even to this day. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremias the prophet, saying: 'And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of Him that was priced, whom they priced of the children of Israel. And they gave them unto the potter's field, as the Lord appointed to me.'

§ 33. Jesus is brought to the judgment hall of Pilate. Then they led Jesus from Caiphas to the governor's hall. And it was morning; and they went not into the hall, that they might not be defiled, but that they might eat the pasch. Pilate therefore went out to them, and said: 'What accusation bring you against this Man? They answered, and said to him: 'If He were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered Him up to thee.' Pilate therefore said to them: 'Take Him you, and judge Him according to your law.' The Jews therefore said to him: 'It is not lawful for us to put any man to death.' That the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which He said, signifying what death He should die. And they began to accuse Him, saying: 'We have found this Man perverting our nation, and forbidding to give tribute, and saying that He is Christ the King.' Pilate therefore went into the hall again, and called Jesus, and said to Him: Art Thou the King of the Jews? Jesus answered: 'Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or have others told it thee of Me?' Pilate answered: 'Am I a Jew? Thy own nation, and the chief priests, have delivered Thee up to me: what hast Thou done? Jesus answered: 'My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would certainly fight that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now My kingdom is not from hence.' Pilate therefore said to Him: Art Thou a King, then?' Jesus answered: Thou sayest that I am a King. For this was I born, and for this came I into the world, that I should give testimony to the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth My voice.' Pilate saith to Him: 'What is truth? And when he said this, he went out again to the Jews, and saith to them: 'I find no cause in Him.' And when He was accused by the chief priests and ancients, He

answered nothing. Then Pilate saith to Him: "Dost not Thou hear how great testimonies they allege against Thee? And He answered him never a word; so that the governor wondered exceedingly. But they were more earnest, saying: 'He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place.'

§ 34. Pilate sends Jesus to be tried by Herod. Herod mocks Him, and sends Him back to Pilate. The people choose Barabbas.

But Pilate hearing of Galilee, asked if the Man were of Galilee. And when he understood that He was of Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him away to Herod, who was also himself at Jerusalem in those days. And Herod seeing Jesus, was very glad; for he was desirous of a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things of Him; and he hoped to see some sign wrought by Him. And he questioned Him in many words. But He answered him nothing. And the chief priests and the scribes stood by, earnestly accusing Him. And Herod with his army set Him at nought, mocked Him, and putting on Him a white garment, sent Him back to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate were made friends that same day; for before they were enemies one to another.

Now upon the solemn day the governor was accustomed to release to the people one prisoner, whom they would. And he had then a notorious prisoner that was called Barabbas. They therefore being gathered together, Pilate said: 'Whom will you that I release to you, Barabbas, or Jesus that is called Christ? For he knew that for envy they had delivered Him. And as he was sitting in the place of judgment, his wife sent to him, saying: Have thou nothing to do with that just Man; for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of Him.' And Pilate, calling together the chief priests, and the magistrates, and the people, said to them: "You have presented to me this Man, as one that perverteth the people; and behold I, having examined Him before you, find no cause in this Man, in those things wherein you accuse Him. No, nor Herod neither. For I sent you to him, and behold, nothing worthy of death is done to Him. I will chastise Him therefore, and release Him.' But the chief priests and ancients persuaded the people that they should ask Barabbas, and make Jesus away. And the governor answering, said to them: 'Whether will you of the two to be released unto you?' But they said, 'Barabbas.' Pilate saith to them: What shall I do then with Jesus that is called Christ? They all say: 'Let Him be crucified.' The governor said to them: 'Why, what evil hath He done?' And Pilate again spoke to them, desiring to release Jesus. But they cried again, saying: 'Crucify Him, crucify Him.' Pilate said to them the third time: Why, what evil hath He done? I find no cause of death in Him. I will chastise Him, and let Him go.'

§ 35. Jesus is scourged at the pillar, and crowned with thorns. Pilate therefore took Jesus and scourged Him. Then the soldiers of

the governor, taking Jesus into the hall, gathered together unto Him the whole band; and stripping Him, they put a scarlet cloak about Him. And platting a crown of thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed in His right hand. And bowing the knee before Him, they mocked Him, saying: Hail, King of the Jews.' And spitting upon Him, they took the reed, and struck His head. Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith to them: Behold, I bring Him forth unto you, that you may know that I find no cause in Him.'

JESUS, BY THE COMMAND OF PILATE, IS SCOURGED AT THE PILLAR.

Jesus therefore came forth, bearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment. And he saith to them: 'Behold the Man.' When the chief priests therefore and the servants had seen Him, they cried out, saying: 'Crucify Him, crucify Him.' Pilate saith to them: Take Him you, and crucify Him; for I find no cause in Him.' The Jews answered him: We have a law; and according to the law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.'

§ 36. Pilate's last session in the judgment hall, where he yields at length to the cry for the crucifixion of Jesus.

When Pilate therefore had heard this saying, he feared the more. And he entered into the hall again, and he said to Jesus: Whence art

Thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.

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Pilate therefore saith to Him: Speakest Thou not to me? Knowest Thou not that I have power to crucify Thee, and I have power to release Thee? Jesus answered: Thou shouldst not have any power against Me, unless it were given thee from above. Therefore, he that hath delivered Me to thee hath the greater sin.' And from henceforth Pilate sought to release Him. But the Jews cried out, saying: 'If thou release this Man, thou art not Cæsar's friend. For whosoever maketh himself a king, speaketh against Cæsar.' Now when Pilate had heard these words, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment-seat, in the place that is called Lithostrotos, and in the Hebrew Gabbatha. And it was the preparation of the pasch, about the sixth hour, and he saith to the Jews: Behold your king.' But they cried out: Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him.' Pilate saith to them: 'Shall I crucify your king? The chief priests answered: We have no king but Cæsar.?

And they cried out the more, saying: 'Let Him be crucified.' And Pilate seeing that he prevailed nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, taking water washed his hands before the people, saying: 'I am innocent of the blood of this just Man; look you to it.' And the whole