and cut off his right ear. The servant's name 11 was Malchus. Then Jesus said unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not 12 drink it? Then the band, and the captain, and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound 13 him, and led him first to Annas (for he was

father-in-law to Caiaphas, who was the high 14 priest that year.) Now it was Caiaphas who gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient one man should die for the people.

15

And Simon Peter and one other disciple followed Jesus. That disciple was known to the high priest, and he went in with Jesus into 16 the palace of the high priest.* But Peter stood at the door without. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spake to her who kept the door, and 17 brought in Peter. Then the damsel who kept the door said unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not. 18 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.

19

Then the high priest asked Jesus of his dis20 ciples, and of his doctrine. Jesus answered him, I spoke openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secrét

*By "the other disciple," is meant John, who wrote this gospel. He was of a family of high birth: some relation of the high priest. His father had servants and vessels, &c. as we read in first chapter of Mark, 20th verse.

391

21 I have said nothing. Why askest thou me ? ask them who heard me, what I have said unto 22 them: behold they know what I said. And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers who stood by, struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high 23 priest so? Jesus replied, If I have spoken evil,

bear witness of the evil: but if well, why dost 24 thou smite me? (Now Annas had sent him 25 bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.) And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Then they said unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am 26 not. One of the servants of the high priest (being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off) saith, Did I not see thee in the garden with 27 him? Peter then denied again, and immediately the cock crew.

38

Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment, while it was yet early; but they themselves went not into the judgmenthall, lest they should be defiled; but that they 29 might eat the passover. Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation do ye 30 bring against this man? They answered and

said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee. 31 Then Pilate said unto them, Take ye him,

and judge him according to your law. The Jews said unto him, It is not lawful for us to 32 put any man to death :* That the saying of

*This was true. The Romans had power in all capital offences. Yet the charge for which Christ was condenined, was preferred by the Jews, which was blasphemy.

Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, 33 signifying what death he should die. Then Pilate entered into the judgment-hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the 34 king of the Jews?* Jesus answered him,

Dost thou say this of thyself, or did others tell 35 it thee of me ?t Pilate replied, Am I a

Jew? Thine own nation, and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me. What hast thou 36 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 my 37 kingdom is not from hence. Then Pilate 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 38 my voice. Pilate said unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went

out again unto the Jews, and said unto them, . 39 I find in him no fault at all. But ye have a

custom, that I should release one unto you at the passover will ye therefore that I release 40 unto you the king of the Jews? Then they

* Do you pretend to be a king? or to exercise civil power in opposition to Cæsar, my master, the emperor of Rome ? + Did this inquiry originate with yourself, or did the Jews suggest it to you?

Though Christ acknowledges himself a king; yet he declares it was in a moral and spiritual sense.

Not, perhaps, truth, abstractly considered, but what is the truth of which you speak.

all cried again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.*

CHAP. XIX.

1

THEN Pilate took Jesus, and scourged him. 2 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a 3 purple robe, and said, Hail, King of the Jews! 4 And they smote him with their hands. Then

Pilate went out again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may 5 know that I find no fault in him. Then Jesus came forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, 6 Behold the man! But when the chief priests and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I 7 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.†

8

Now when Pilate heard that saying, he was 9 the more afraid and went again into the judgment-hall, and said unto Jesus, Whence

* Barabbas, i. e. the son of Abbas-and there was a tradition in the church, that this son of Abbas was also named Jesus.

The law of Moses directed, that all false prophets should be put to death. The Jews, indeed, pretended that by saying he was the Son of God, Christ made himself equal to God, and was therefore guilty of blasphemy.

art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 Then Pilate saith unto him, Wilt thou not speak to me? Dost thou not know that I have power to crucify thee, and power to release 11 thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest not have any power against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. 12 From that time Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Cæsar's friend. Whoever maketh himself a king, speaketh against Cæsar.*

13

When Pilate heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment-seat, in a place that is called the pavement, but in 14e Hebrew, Gabbatha. And it was the pre

paration of the passover, and about the sixth hour. And he saith unto the Jews, Behold 15 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 16 Cæsar. Then he delivered Jesus unto them to be crucified. And they took him and led 17 him away. And he, bearing his cross, went

Any accusation, that would serve their purpose. They had just before charged him with blasphemy in saying that he was the Son of God; and they pleaded that he ought to die for that. But when this failed, they accused him of sedition, and pretended that he was a rival to Cæsar. That is, noon. The Jews began to reckon the hours of the day from 6 o'clock in the morning.

1

They seem to have renounced both their Savior and their God.