Part 8 (1/2)
(59)And the chief priests, and the elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, that they might put him to death; (60)and found none, though many false witnesses came. But at last came two, (61)and said: This man said, I am able to destroy the temple of G.o.d, and to build it in three days. (62)And the high priest arose, and said to him: Answerest thou nothing? What do these witness against thee?
(63)But Jesus was silent. And the high priest answering said to him: I adjure thee by the living G.o.d, that thou tell us whether thou art the Christ, the Son of G.o.d. (64)Jesus says to him: Thou saidst it. But I say to you, hereafter ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming on the clouds of heaven. (65)Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying: He blasphemed! What further need have we of witnesses? Behold, ye now heard his blasphemy. (66)What think ye? They answering said: He is guilty of death. (67)Then they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him, (68)saying: Prophesy to us, O Christ, who is he that struck thee?
(69)And Peter was sitting without, in the court. And a damsel came to him, saying: Thou also wast with Jesus the Galilaean. (70)But he denied before all, saying: I know not what thou sayest. (71)And he having gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said to those who were there: This man also was with Jesus the Nazarene.
(72)And again he denied, with an oath: I do not know the man. (73)And after a little while, they that stood by came and said to Peter: Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech betrays thee.
(74)Then he began to invoke curses, and to swear: I do not know the man. And immediately a c.o.c.k crowed. (75)And Peter remembered the word of Jesus when he said: Before a c.o.c.k crows, thou wilt thrice deny me.
And he went out, and wept bitterly.
XXVII.
AND when morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus, so as to put him to death. (2)And having bound him, they led him away, and delivered him up to Pontius Pilate the governor.
(3)Then Judas, who betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repenting brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, (4)saying: I sinned in betraying innocent blood. And they said: What is it to us? Look thou to it. (5)And casting down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went away and hanged himself. (6)And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said: It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is the price of blood. (7)And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. (8)Wherefore that field was called the field of blood, unto this day.
(9)Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying:
And they took the thirty pieces of silver, The price of him that was priced, Whom they of the sons of Israel did price, (10)And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed to me.
(11)And Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor questioned him, saying: Art thou the king of the Jews? And Jesus said to him: Thou sayest it. (12)And when he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he made no answer. (13)Then says Pilate to him: Hearest thou not what things they witness against thee? (14)And he made him no answer, not even to one word; so that the governor greatly wondered.
(15)Now at the feast the governor was wont to release to the mult.i.tude one prisoner, whom they would. (16)And they had then a noted prisoner, called Barabbas. (17)When therefore they were a.s.sembled, Pilate said to them: Whom will ye that I release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ? (18)For he knew that through envy they delivered him up.
(19)And as he sat on the judgment-seat, his wife sent to him, saying: Have nothing to do with that just man; for I suffered much this day, in a dream, because of him.
(20)And the chief priests and the elders persuaded the mult.i.tudes, that they should ask for Barabbas, and should destroy Jesus. (21)And the governor answering said to them: Which of the two will ye that I release to you? And they said: Barabbas. (22)Pilate says to them: What then shall I do with Jesus, who is called Christ? They all say to him: Let him be crucified. (23)And the governor said: What evil then did he? But they cried the more, saying: Let him be crucified.
(24)And Pilate, seeing that it avails nothing, but rather that a tumult is made, took water and washed his hands before the mult.i.tude, saying: I am innocent of the blood of this just man. Look ye to it.
(25)And all the people answering said: His blood be on us, and on our children. (26)Then he released to them Barabbas; but Jesus, having scourged him, he delivered up to be crucified.
(27)Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Pretorium, and gathered to him the whole band. (28)And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. (29)And having platted a crown of thorns, they put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand; and bowing the knee before him, they mocked him, saying: Hail, King of the Jews! (30)And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
(31)And when they had mocked him, they took off the robe from him, and put on him his own garments, and led him away to crucify him. (32)And as they came out they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name; him they compelled to bear his cross.
(33)And having come to a place called Golgotha (which is called, Place of a skull), (34)they gave him vinegar to drink[27:34], mingled with gall; and tasting it, he would not drink. (35)And having crucified him, they divided his garments among them, casting lots. (36)And sitting down, they watched him there. (37)And they set up over his head his accusation, written: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
(38)Two robbers are then crucified with him, one on the right hand, and one on the left. (39)And those pa.s.sing by reviled him, wagging their heads, (40)and saying: Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou art the Son of G.o.d, come down from the cross. (41)Likewise also the chief priests mocking, with the scribes and elders, said: (42)Others he saved, himself he can not save. If he is King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe on him. (43)He trusts in G.o.d; let him now deliver him, if he desires him; for he said I am the Son of G.o.d.
(44)And also the robbers, who were crucified with him, reproached him with the same thing.
(45)And from the sixth hour, there was darkness over all the land, unto the ninth hour. (46)And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying: Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani? That is: My G.o.d, my G.o.d, why didst thou forsake me? (47)Some of those standing there, hearing it, said: This man calls for Elijah[27:47]. (48)And straightway one of them ran and took a sponge, and having filled it with vinegar and put it on a reed, gave him to drink. (49)But the rest said: Let alone; let us see whether Elijah comes to save him.
(50)And Jesus, again crying with a loud voice, yielded up his spirit.
(51)And behold, the vail of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were rent; (52)and the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who have fallen asleep arose, (53)and coming out of the tombs, after his resurrection, went into the holy city, and appeared to many.
(54)And the centurion, and they that with him were watching Jesus, on seeing the earthquake, and the things that were done, were exceedingly afraid, saying: Truly this was the Son of G.o.d.
(55)And many women were there, beholding afar off, they who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him; (56)among whom was Mary the Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.