Page images
PDF
EPUB

Matt. xxvi, 58-69. Mark xiv, 54-66. Luke xxii, 55, 63–65. John xviii, 18-25.

*coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.

*The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in 5 secret have I said nothing. 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? Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the 10 evil: but if well, why sinitest thou me? Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.

*And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them, 'with the servants, to see the end, and 15 warmed himself at the fire.

And now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; 'but found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. 2For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together. At the last 20 came, there arose certain, 1two false witnesses, and bare false witness against him, saying, 'This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days. We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands. But neither so did their witness agree together. 25 1And the high priest arose, and stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? 'But Jesus held his peace, and answered nothing.

2Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? I adjure thee by the living God, that 30 thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. And Jesus said 'unto him, 'I am and 1hereafter 'ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have 35 heard his blasphemy. What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.

And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.

And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. And some began to spit on him, 'in his face, and to cover his face, and when 40 they had blindfolded him, to buffet him; 'and others smote him, and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, 'Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee? And many other things blasphemously spake they against him.

1Now Peter sat without in the palace, and as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh 'a damsel, a certain maid, 'came unto him,

Р

45

Matt. xxvi, 69-75; xxvii, 1-5. Mark xiv, 66-72; xv, 1. Luke xxii, 56-62, 66–71; xxiii, 1. John xviii, 26, 27.

"one of the maids of the high priest, and beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth, 1of Galilee, this man was also with him. But he denied 3him 1before them all, saying, I know not, neither understand I what 5 thou sayest, woman, I know him not. And he went out into the porch ; and the cock crew.

1And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him again, and began to say to them 'that were there, that stood by, this is one of them, 'this fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth; 3after a 10 little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them, and Peter said, Man, I am not, 'and again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a while, a little after, about the space of one hour after, another confidently affirmed, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilæan, 15 and thy speech agreeth thereto, for thy speech bewrayeth thee, 3of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilæan. 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? Peter then denied again, and Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest, 'then began 20 he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man, I know not this man of whom ye speak. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew, 2the second time the cock crew.

And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter called to mind, remembered the word of the Lord 'Jesus, the word that Je- 25 sus had said unto him, 'Before the cock crow, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and when he thought thereon, he wept, and wept bitterly.

2And straightway in the morning, when the morning was come, as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and 30 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 God. Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he 35 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 'all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, 'to put him to death: and when 40 they had bound him, 'the whole multitude of them arose, 1they led, and carried him away.

1Then 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 be- 45 trayed 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

Matt. xxvii, 5-14. Mark xv, 1-5. Luke xxiii, 1-5. John xviii, 28-38.

'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 potter's field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field

was called, The field of blood, unto this day. Then was fulfilled that 5 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.

*Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas, and led, and delivered him 10 to 'Pontius Pilate the governor, 'unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment-hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.

*Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man? They answered and said unto him, If he were not 15 a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee. And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cæsar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.

"Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according 20 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, Land Jesus stood before the governor and the governor, Pilate asked 25 him, saying, 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 30 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 it, 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 35 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, then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man, I find in him no fault at all.

*And the chief priests accused him of many things, 'and when he was 40 accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? and Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee. But Jesus yet answered nothing, the answered him to never a word; insomuch that the 45 governor, 2Pilate 'marvelled greatly.

And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people,

Matt. xxvii, 15-21. Mark xv, 6-12. Luke xxiii, 5-20. John xviii, 39, 40.

teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place. 3When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilæan, 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.

5

Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently ac- 10 cused 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.

15

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, 20 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, he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired. And there was one, 'they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas, 25 which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection. And therefore when they were gathered together, 'the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them. (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.) But Pilate answered them, saying, 30 'ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover, 1whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews? For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy. 1When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, 35 saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

2But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them, 'the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. Then cried 40 they all again, and they cried out all at once, saying, 'Not this man, 3away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber, (who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.) The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They 45 said, Barabbas.

3Pilate, therefore, willing to release Jesus, answered and said again

Matt. xxvii, 22—30. Mark xv, 12-19. Luke xxiii, 21-25. John xix, 1-11.

2unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? what shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, and they cried out again, 'Let him be crucified, 'crucify him, crucify him.

Then Pilate, the governor, said unto them, the third time, Why, 5 what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. But they cried out the more, exceedingly, Crucify him. And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified.

When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a 10 tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.

And so Pilate, willing to content the people, gave sentence that it 15 should be as they required. And he released 2Barabbas unto them, him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus, 'when he had scourged him, 'to their will, to be crucified.

"Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.

'Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus, and the soldiers led him away into the 'common hall, called Prætorium; and they call together and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.

20

And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, 'and they stripped him, 2and they clothed him with purple, 'and put on him a scarlet, *a purple 25 robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon, 2about his head, 'and a reed in his right hand; and they bowed the knee before him, and began to salute him, 'and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands. And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head, and bow- 30 ing their knees worshipped him.

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 God.

35

40

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 45 couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above therefore he that delivered me unto thee bath the greater sin.

« PreviousContinue »