280 Pilate seeks in vain to release Christ.

same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.

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, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. I will therefore chastise him, and release him 2.

Pilate seeks in vain to release Christ.

Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection. And 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.) Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I Matt. xxvii. 11-14. Mark xv. 2—5. Luke xxiii. 2-16.

2

Pilate seeks in vain to release Christ. 281

release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.

When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas. Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, answered and said again unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? him whom ye call the King of the Jews? And they all cried out again, Crucify him, crucify him. And Pilate said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. And they cried out the more exceedingly, and were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.

282 Christ is delivered to the Jews.

When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a 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 so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; and took Jesus and scourged him '.

Christ is delivered to the Jews. The Soldiers insult Him. Pilate again attempts to release Him.

THEN the soldiers of the governor took Jesus and led him away into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.

And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and smote him with their hands, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.

3 Matt. xxvii. 15-26. Mark xv. 6-15. Luke xxiii. 17-25. John xviii. 39-xix. 1.

Pilate again attempts to release Him. 283

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.

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 couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Cæsar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Cæsar.

284 Christ is led away to be Crucified.

When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold 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 Cæsar.

Christ is led away to be Crucified.

AND Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required, and he delivered Jesus to their will to be crucified. And the soldiers after they had mocked him, took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him. And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha : and as they led him away, they laid hold upon a man of Cyrene, by name Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, who passed by, coming out of the country; and on him they laid the cross, and compelled him to bear it after Jesus.

Matt. xxvii. 27-30.

Mark xv.

xix. 2-15.

16-19. John