said nothing. But this is your hour and the power of darkness; and ye come out as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me. Why askest thou me? Ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.

And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so? And as Simon Peter stood by and warmed himself, they said unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? But he denied it, and said, I am not.

Then came unto Peter a certain maid, a damsel that kept the door: and as Peter sat by the fire, she earnestly looked upon him and said, Thou wast with Jesus of Nazareth, and even came thou with him up to Jerusalem from Galilee. Then Peter denied again, saying, I know not what thou sayest: and immediately, outside, the cock crew.

Then Peter went outside and sat on the porch of the palace, and the damsel came unto him again, saying, Thou wast with Jesus, for thou art a Galilean, and thy speech betrayeth thee. Then came unto Peter also them that stood by and said unto him, Surely thou art one of them: but he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak, neither understand I what ye say. And immediately, while Peter yet spake, the cock crew: and he called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt thrice deny me: and when he thought thereon, he wept.

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. And Caiaphas the high priest arose and said, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ. Art thou the Christ, tell us. And he said, If I tell you, ye will not believe.

And the chief priests and the council sought for witness against Jesus, to put him to death, but found none: for many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together. Then there arose two who said, We heard him say, I will destroy the temple of God and build it again in three days. But Jesus held his peace and answered nothing.

Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Hereafter shall the Son of man sit

on the right hand of the power of God. Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy: what need we any further witnesses? Behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.

And they did spit in his face and they buffeted him and blindfolded him and mocked him and smote him with the palms of their hands, and said, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, who it is that smote thee. And the whole multitude of them arose and led him, bound, unto Pilate.

CHRIST IS CRUCIFIED

And when they had brought Jesus from the palace of Caiaphas the high priest unto Pilate and had set him in the judgment hall they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King. And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest it. And the chief priests accused him of many things but he answered nothing. And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.

Pilate then said unto the priests, What accusation bring ye against this man? They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee. And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth 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 Galilean. 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.

So Jesus was brought before Herod who had beheaded John the Baptist, and who was also the successor of him, who, more than thirty years before had ordered that the children of Bethlehem of two years old and younger should be put to death. And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he

was desirous to see him for a long season, because he had heard many things of him: and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.

And Herod questioned Jesus in many words: but Jesus answered him never a word; insomuch that Herod marvelled greatly. And Herod with his men of war set Jesus 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 when Jesus was again brought before Pilate his wife sent unto him saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have this day suffered many things in a dream because of him. And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release Jesus. Then Pilate, when he had entered into the judgment hall, again 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?

Then said Pilate unto him, Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee and have power to release thee? 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

Pilate therefore

fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. said unto him, Art thou then a king?

Jesus answered,

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, hoping to free Jesus, said unto them, 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 Caesar. Then said Pilate unto them,

Take ye him and judge And the Jews thereupon

I find no fault in this man. him according to your law. said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death.

Now at the feast each year the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. And among the prisoners there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound because he had made insurrection and had committed murder in the insurrection. Therefore, when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you, Barabbas or Jesus, which is called Christ? And he knew that for envy they had delivered him. But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. Then said they all, Not this man, but Barabbas.

And Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus? They all cried unto him, Let him be

*Note 27