Part 38

022:061 The Master turned and looked on Peter; and Peter recollected the Master's words, how He had said to him, "This very day, before the cock crows, you will disown me three times."

022:062 And he went out and wept aloud bitterly.

022:063 Meanwhile the men who held Jesus in custody repeatedly beat Him in cruel sport,

022:064 or blindfolded Him, and then challenged Him. "Prove to us," they said, "that you are a prophet, by telling us who it was that struck you."

022:065 And they said many other insulting things to Him.

022:066 As soon as it was day, the whole body of the Elders, both High Priests and Scribes, assembled. Then He was brought into their Sanhedrin, and they asked Him,

022:067 "Are you the Christ? Tell us." "If I tell you," He replied, "you will certainly not believe;

022:068 and if I ask you questions, you will certainly not answer.

022:069 But from this time forward the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of God's omnipotence."

022:070 Thereupon they cried out with one voice, "You, then, are the Son of God?" "It is as you say," He answered; "I am He."

022:071 "What need have we of further evidence?" they said; "for we ourselves have heard it from his own lips."

023:001 Then the whole assembly rose and brought Him to Pilate, and began to accuse Him.

023:002 "We have found this man," they said, "an agitator among our nation, forbidding the payment of tribute to Caesar, and claiming to be himself an anointed king."

023:003 Then Pilate asked Him, "You, then, are the King of the Jews?" "It is as you say," He replied.

023:004 Pilate said to the High Priests and to the crowd, "I can find no crime in this man."

023:005 But they violently insisted. "He stirs up the people," they said, "throughout all Judaea with His teaching--even from Galilee (where He first started) to this city."

023:006 On hearing this, Pilate inquired, "Is this man a Galilaean?"

023:007 And learning that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction he sent Him to Herod, for he too was in Jerusalem at that time.

023:008 To Herod the sight of Jesus was a great gratification, for, for a long time, he had been wanting to see Him, because he had heard so much about Him. He hoped also to see some miracle performed by Him.

023:009 So he put a number of questions to Him, but Jesus gave him no reply.

023:010 Meanwhile the High Priests and the Scribes were standing there and vehemently accusing Him.

023:011 Then, laughing to scorn the claims of Jesus, Herod (and his soldiers with him) made sport of Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous costume, and sent Him back to Pilate.

023:012 And on that very day Herod and Pilate became friends again, for they had been for some time at enmity.

023:013 Then calling together the High Priests and the Rulers and the people, Pilate said,

023:014 "You have brought this man to me on a charge of corrupting the loyalty of the people. But, you see, I have examined him in your presence and have discovered in the man no ground for the accusations which you bring against him.

023:015 No, nor does Herod; for he has sent him back to us; and, you see, there is nothing he has done that deserves death.

023:016 I will therefore give him a light punishment and release him."

023:017 []