Part 22

014:045 So he came, and going straight to Jesus he said, "Rabbi!" and kissed Him with seeming affection;

014:046 whereupon they laid hands on Him and held Him firmly.

014:047 But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck a blow at the High Priest's servant, cutting off his ear.

014:048 "Have you come out," said Jesus, "with swords and cudgels to arrest me, as if you had to fight with a robber?

014:049 Day after day I used to be among you in the Temple teaching, and you never seized me. But this is happening in order that the Scriptures may be fulfilled.'

014:050 Then His friends all forsook Him and fled.

014:051 One youth indeed did follow Him, wearing only a linen cloth round his bare body. Of him they laid hold,

014:052 but he left the linen cloth in their hands and fled without it.

014:053 So they led Jesus away to the High Priest, and with him there assembled all the High Priests, Elders, and Scribes.

014:054 Peter followed Jesus at a distance, as far as the outer court of the High Priest's palace. But there he remained sitting among the officers, and warming himself by the fire.

014:055 Meanwhile the High Priests and the entire Sanhedrin were endeavouring to get evidence against Jesus in order to put Him to death, but could find none;

014:056 for though many gave false testimony against Him, their statements did not tally.

014:057 Then some came forward as witnesses and falsely declared,

014:058 "We have heard him say, 'I will pull down this Sanctuary built by human hands, and three days afterwards I will erect another built without hands.'"

014:059 But not even in this shape was their testimony consistent.

014:060 At last the High Priest stood up, and advancing into the midst of them all, asked Jesus, "Have you no answer to make? What is the meaning of all this that these witnesses allege against you?"

014:061 But He remained silent, and gave no reply. A second time the High Priest questioned Him. "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" he said.

014:062 "I am," replied Jesus, "and you and others will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the divine Power, and coming amid the clouds of the sky."

014:063 Rending his garments the High Priest exclaimed, "What need have we of witnesses after that?

014:064 You all heard his impious words. What is your judgement?" Then with one voice they condemned Him as deserving of death.

014:065 Thereupon some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, while striking Him with their fists and crying, "Prove that you are a prophet." The officers too struck Him with open hands as they took Him in charge.

014:066 Now while Peter was below in the quadrangle, one of the High Priest's maidservants came,

014:067 and seeing Peter warming himself she looked at him and said, "You also were with Jesus, the Nazarene."

014:068 But he denied it, and said, "I don't know--I don't understand-- What do you mean?" And then he went out into the outer court. Just then a cock crowed.

014:069 Again the maidservant saw him, and again began to say to the people standing by, "He is one of them."

014:070 A second time he repeatedly denied it. Soon afterwards the bystanders again accused Peter, saying, "You are surely one of them, for you too are a Galilaean."

014:071 But he broke out into curses and oaths, declaring, "I know nothing of the man you are talking about."

014:072 No sooner had he spoken than a cock crowed for the second time, and Peter recollected the words of Jesus, "Before the cock crows twice, you will three times disown me." And as he thought of it, he wept aloud.