Part 7 (1/2)

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 crime in him.”

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.

JESUS BEFORE HEROD.

Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad; for he was of a long time desirous to see 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 set him at nought, and mocked him, and arraying him in gorgeous apparel sent him back to Pilate.

And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day: for before they were at enmity between themselves.

THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE RESUMED.

And Pilate called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said unto them, ”Ye brought unto me this man, as one that perverteth the people: and behold, I, having examined him before you, found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: no, nor yet Herod: for he sent him back unto us; and behold, nothing worthy of death hath been done by him. I will therefore chastise him, and release him.”

Now at the feast the governor was wont to release unto the mult.i.tude one prisoner, whom they would. And they had then a notable prisoner, 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.

Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the mult.i.tudes that they should ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.

But the governor answered and said unto them, ”Which of the two will ye that I release unto you?”

And they said, ”Barabbas.”

Pilate saith unto them, ”What then shall I do unto Jesus who is called Christ?”

They all say, ”Let him be crucified.”

And he said unto them a third time, ”Why, what evil hath this man done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise and release him.”

Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.

And the soldiers led him away within the court, which is the Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.

And they stripped him, and arrayed him in a purple garment. And they platted a crown of thorns and put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they kneeled down before him, and mocked him, saying: ”Hail, King of the Jews!” and they struck him with their hands. And they spat upon him, and took the reed and smote him upon the head.

And Pilate went out again, and saith unto them, ”Behold, I bring him out to you, that ye may know that I find no crime in him.”

Jesus therefore came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment. And Pilate saith unto them, ”Behold, the man!”

When therefore the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, saying, ”Crucify him, crucify him!”