26: 57.

Now those who had secured Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.

But Peter followed him at a distance to the house of the high priest, and went inside, and was sitting with the constables to see the end.

Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false witness against Jesus to put him to death. And they found none, though many false witnesses came.

But afterwards two false witnesses came, and said:

"This man said, I can destroy the temple of God and build it in three days."

"Do you make no answer," the high priest stood up and said to him, "what is it these are witnessing against you?"

But Jesus kept still.

"On your oath, and before the Living God," the high priest said to him, "tell us if you are the Christ the Son of God."

66

"It is as you say.

you will see

Yet I tell you, hereafter

The Son of man sitting on the right of power,

And coming on the clouds of heaven."

Then the high priest tore his clothes, and said:

"He has blasphemed. What further need

26:65.

of witnesses have we? See, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?"

"He ought to be put to death.”

Then they spat in his face and cuffed him, and some struck him with rods, and said:

66

Prophesy to us, O Christ, who is he who struck you?"

Now Peter was sitting outside in the court, and a maid came to him and said:

"Why, you were with Jesus the Galilean." But he denied it before them all and said: "I do not know what you are saying."

And when he had gone out into the porch another maid saw him, and said to those there : "This man was with Jesus the Nazarene."

And he again denied with an oath :

"I do not know the man."

And after a little those standing by came and said to Peter:

"Surely you are one of them. For your talk betrays you."

Then he began to curse and to swear:

"I do not know the man."

And at once the cock crew.

And Peter remembered the declaration of Jesus: "Before the cock crows you will deny me three times."

He went out and wept bitterly.

26: 75.

Now when the morning had come, all the chief priests and elders of the people deliberated against Jesus to put him to death. And when they had bound him, they led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the Governor.

Then when Judah, the traitor, saw he was condemned, he was sorry, and brought back the hundred dollars to the chief priests and the elders, and said:

"I sinned. I betrayed innocent blood." "What is that to us?" they said.

to that."

"You see

He threw down the silver pieces in the Holy Place and left there and went away and hung himself.

But the chief priests took the silver and said:

"It is not right to put them into the treasury, since it is the price of blood."

So they deliberated and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. So that field has been called The Field of Blood, to this day. Then was fulfilled the saying by Jeremiah the prophet:

They took the thirty pieces of silver,

The price of him who was valued,

Whom they of the children of Israel valued,

1

27; 10.

And gave them for the potter's fieid,

As the Lord appointed me.

Meanwhile Jesus was brought before the Gover

nor.

And the Governor asked him :

"Are you the King of the Jews?" "It is as you say."

And while the charges were being brought against him by the chief priest and the elders he made no

answer.

Then Pilate said to him:

"Do you not hear how many charges they are bringing against you?"

And he did not answer him,-not even a word, so that the Governor was greatly astonished.

Now at the feast the Governor was accustomed to release to the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. So when they were gathered together, Pilate said to them:

"Whom do you want me to release for you, Barabbas or Jesus, who is called the Christ?"

For he knew that for envy they had handed him over. And while he was sitting on the judgment seat his wife sent to him, and said:

"Have nothing to do with that good man,

27: 19.

for I have suffered a great deal to-day in a dream because of him."

Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas, and to destroy Jesus.

But the Governor answered:

"Which of the two do you want me to release for you?"

"Barabbas."

"What then shall I do with Jesus who is called the Christ?"

"Why, what harm has he done?"

"Let him be crucified !!"

So when Pilate saw he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was being stirred up, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, and said:

"I will not answer for this bloodshed. You must see to it yourselves."

And all the people answered:

"His blood be on us and on our children."

Then he released for them Barabbas, but he beat Jesus and handed him over to be crucified.

Then the soldiers of the Governor took Jesus into the Governor's quarters and gathered to