signifying what death he should die. And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cesar, saying that he himself is Christ a king. Then Pilate entered into the judgment-hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? Jesus answered him, "Sayest thou this

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thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of "me?" Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? Jesus answered, " My kingdom is not of this world : " if my kingdom were of this world, then "would my servants fight, that I should not "be delivered to the Jews: but now is my "kingdom not from hence." Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, "Thon sayest that I am a king. "To this end was I born, and for this cause

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came I into the world, that I should bear " witness unto the truth. Every one that is " of the truth heareth my voice." Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault

* He had signified (John iii. 14. xii. 32.) that he should die upon a cross.

b On the contrary, Christ commanded to render to Cesar whatever was his due. Matt. xxii. 21.

Not being a Jew, I do not concern myself about such questions.

d. In the sense in which I have explained the nature of my kingdom, I acknowledge I am a king.

• Pilate suddenly breaks off, as if afraid to pursue his inquiry.

at all. And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.

134. Pilate sends Jesus to Herod.

: WHEN Pilate heard of Galilee, he Place. asked whether the man were a Ga- Herod's palilean. And as soon as he knew that lace. he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time. And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate. And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.

• With his soldiers.

135. Herod sends Jesus again to Pilate. Pilate seeks to release him.

Pilate.

AND Pilate, when he had called Place. together the chief priests, and the The Judgrulers, and the people, said unto ment-hall of them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: no, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him." I will therefore chastise him, and release him.

Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection. And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them. But Pilate answered them, saying, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. When he was set down on the judgmentseat, his wife sent unto 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. But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should

• He has done nothing that deserves death.

I will therefore scourge him.

a

ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus, which is called Christ. But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.

136. Pilate, having scourged Jesus, and repeated his attempts to release him, delivers him to the clamours of the Jews. The soldiers insult Jesus, and lead him away to crucify him.

THEN Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. And the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, king of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed and smote him on the head. Pilate

• Ask to release Barabbas.

Hoping that the Jews might be satisfied with this punishment, and require no more.

• Dressed him up as a mock king, to make sport with him.

therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him. Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man! When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.

When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid : and went again into the judgment-hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, "Thou couldest have " no power at all against me, except it were "given thee from above: therefore he that " delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin." And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Cesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king, speaketh against Cesar.

d

a Look at the man, surely he is not able to give uneasiness to the Roman Emperor, for my part I entirely acquit him of the crime imputed to him.

b The Jews not able to make good the charge of sedition set up their own law against him.

• Afraid lest he should add impiety to injustice by condemning Jesus.

Boast not of thy power; all power is from God.