But he denied before _them_ all, saying, Woman, I know him not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the c.o.c.k crew.

And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals: for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself. And after a little while, when he was gone out into the porch, another _maid_ saw him, and said unto them that were there, This is _one_ of them, this _fellow_ was also with Jesus of Nazareth.

They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also _one_ of his disciples?

And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.

And about the s.p.a.ce of an hour after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely, thou art _one_ of them: for thou art a Galileean, and thy speech agreeth _thereto_. One of the servants of the high priest, being _his_ kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him? But he began to curse and to swear, _saying_, I know not this man of whom ye speak. And immediately the second time, while he yet spake, the c.o.c.k crew.

And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the c.o.c.k crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he went out, and wept bitterly.

CHAPTER LXXI.

EXAMINATION CONTINUED--JUDAS REPENTS--JESUS SCOURGED.

And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying, Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them,

If I tell you, ye will not believe: and if I also ask _you_, ye will not answer me, nor let _me_ go. Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of G.o.d.

Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of G.o.d? And he said unto them,

Ye say that I am.

And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.

And straightway, when the morning was come, all the chief priests held a consultation with the elders of the people, and scribes, and the whole council, against Jesus, to put him to death: And when they had bound him, the whole mult.i.tude of them arose and led him away from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor: and it was early.

Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What _is that_ to us? see thou _to that_. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. And they took counsel, and bought with them the potters field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.

Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value, and gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me.

And they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the pa.s.sover. Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man? They answered and saith unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee. Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death; that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.

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 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,

Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause 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 _at all_. But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the pa.s.sover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews? Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.

Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged _him_. And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put _it_ on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, and said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.

Pilate 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 G.o.d.

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.

When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. And it was the preparation of the pa.s.sover, and about the sixth hour.

CHAPTER LXXII.

JESUS BEFORE HEROD--MESSAGE TO PILATE FROM HIS WIFE.

And Jesus stood before the governor: 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. And Pilate the governor, asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews?

And Jesus saith unto him,

Thou sayest.

And the chief priests accused him of many things: and when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.

And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.

Then said Pilate to the chief priests and _to_ the people, I find no fault in this man. And they were the more fierce, saying, He stireth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.

When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galileean.

And as soon as he knew that 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.

And he saith unto the Jews, Behold, your King! But they cried out, Away with _him_, away with _him_, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Cesar.

And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, said unto 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 one prisoner, whomsoever they desired. (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.) And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas, _which lay_ bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.