Part 256 (2/2)

Pilate therefore said unto them, ”Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law.”

The Jews said unto him, ”It is not lawful for us to put any man to death.”

Pilate therefore entered again into the palace, and called Jesus, and said unto him, ”Art thou the King of the Jews?”

Jesus answered, ”Sayest thou this of thyself, or did others tell it thee concerning me?”

Pilate answered, ”Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?”

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[Ill.u.s.tration]

CHRIST BEFORE PILATE.

By Munkacsy [End ill.u.s.tration]

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Jesus answered, ”My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then 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 that I am a king. To this end have I been born, and to this end am I come into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every 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, ”I find no fault in this man.”

But they were the more urgent, saying, ”He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Judaea, and beginning from Galilee even unto this place.”

But when Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.

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.

_The Trial Before Herod_.

Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he had been for a long time desirous of seeing him, because he had heard concerning him; and he hoped to see some miracle done by him. And he questioned him in many words; but he answered him nothing. And the chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him. And Herod with his soldiers treated him as one of no account, and mocked him, and arraying him in gorgeous apparel sent him back to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate became {276} friends with each other that very day: for before they were at enmity between themselves.

_The Sentence of Death_.

Now at the feast it was Pilate's custom to release unto them one prisoner, whom they asked of him. And there was one called Barabbas, lying bound with them that had made insurrection, men who in the insurrection had committed murder. And the mult.i.tude 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 while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, ”Have thou nothing to do with that righteous man: for I have been much disturbed to-day in a dream because of him.” But the chief priests stirred up the mult.i.tude, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. And Pilate again answered and said unto them, ”What then shall I do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?”

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