Chapter 19
105. The Trial Before the Jewish Authorities
And they seized Jesus, and led him away, and brought him into the high priests house.
But Peter followed afar off. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the court, and had sat down together, Peter sat in the midst of them. And a certain maid seeing him as he sat in the light of the fire, and looking steadfastly upon him, said, This man also was with Jesus. But he denied, saying, Woman, I know him not. And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou also art one of them.
But Peter said, Man, I am not. And after the space of about one hour another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this man also was with Jesus: for he is a Galilean. But Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest.
And the Master turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Master, how that he said unto him, Before the cock crow this day, thou shalt deny me. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
And then men that held Jesus mocked him, and beat him. And they blindfolded him, and asked him, saying, Prophesy: who is he that struck thee? And many other things spake they against him, reviling him.
And as soon as it was day, the assembly of the elders of the people was gathered together, both chief priests and scribes, and they led Jesus away into their council.
Now the chief priests and the whole council sought witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found it not. For many bear false witness against him, and their witness agreed not together. And there stood up certain, and bare false witness against him, saying, We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands. And not even so did their witness agree together.
And the high priest 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.
Again the high priest asked Jesus, and saith unto him, If thou art the Christ, tell us. But he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe: and if I ask you, ye will not answer. And they all said, Art thou the Son of God? And Jesus said unto them, Ye say that I am.
And they said, What further need have we of witness? for we ourselves have heard from his own mouth. And they all condemned him to be worthy of death.
106. The Trial Before the Roman Authorities
And the whole company of them rose up, and brought Jesus before Pilate the governor. And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this man perverting our nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ a king. And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus answered him and said, Thou sayest.
And the chief priests accused him of many things. And Pilate again asked him, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they accuse you of. But Jesus no more answered anything; insomuch that Pilate marveled.
And Pilate said unto the chief priests, I find no fault in this man. But they were the more urgent, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, and beginning from Galilee even unto this place. But when Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man were a Galilean. And when he knew that he was of Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him unto Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem in these days.
Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was of a long time desirous to see him, because he had heard concerning him. And he questioned him in many words; but Jesus answered him nothing. And the chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him. And Herod with his soldiers set him at nought, and mocked him, and arraying him in gorgeous apparel sent him back to Pilate.
And Pilate called together the chief priests and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye brought unto me this man, as one that perverteth the people: and behold, I, having examined him before you, found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: no, nor yet Herod: for he sent him back unto us; and behold, nothing worthy of death hath been done by him. I will therefore chastise him and release him.
Now at the feast Pilate the governor used to release unto them one prisoner, whom they asked of him. And the multitude went up and began to ask him to do as he was wont to do unto them. And Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? For he perceived that for envy the chief priests had delivered him up.
And there was one called Barabbas, a notable prisoner, lying bound in prison with them that had made insurrection, men who in the insurrection had committed murder.
And the chief priests stirred up the multitude, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. And they cried out all together, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas. And Pilate again answered and said unto them, What then shall I do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? And they cried out, Crucify him. And Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him and release him. But they cried out exceedingly, Crucify, crucify him.
And their voices prevailed. And Pilate gave sentence that what they asked for should be done. And he released him that for insurrection and murder had been cast into prison, whom they asked for; but Jesus he delivered up to their will.
And the soldiers led Jesus away within the court, which is the Praetorium; and they call together the whole band. And they clothe him with purple, and plaiting a crown of thorns, they put it on him; and they began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! And they smote his head with a reed, and did spit upon him. And when they had mocked him, they took off from him the purple, and put on him his garments. And they led him out to crucify him.
And when they lead Jesus away, they laid hold upon one Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, and laid on him the cross, to bear it after Jesus.
And there followed Jesus a great multitude of the people, and of women who bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For behold, the days are coming, in which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the breasts that never gave suck. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. For if they do these things in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry?
And they bring Jesus unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull. And they offered him wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not. And they part his garments among them, casting lots upon them, what each should take. And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. And with him they crucify two robbers; one on his right hand, and one on his left. And the superscription of his accusation was written and set up over his head: THE KING OF THE JEWS. And they sat and watched him there.
And Jesus said, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ha! thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself, and come down from the cross. In like manner also the chief priests mocking him among themselves with the scribes said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, that we may see and believe. He trusteth on God; let him deliver him now, if he desireth him.
And it was now about the ninth hour. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said this, ye yielded up his spirit.
And when the centurion, which stood by over against Jesus, saw what was done, he said, Certainly this was a righteous man.