18: 28.

did not go in, so that they might not be defiled, but might eat the Passover.

them.

So Pilate went out to

"What charge are you bringing against this man ? he said.

"If he had not been a criminal, we should not have handed him over to you."

"Take him yourselves and try him according to your law."

"It is not lawful for us to put any one to death," the Jews answered to this, so that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled when he spoke intimating by what death he was going to die.

So Pilate went into the governor's quarters again and called Jesus.

"You are the King of the Jews?" he asked. "On your own authority, are you saying this or did others tell you about me?"

66

Surely I am not a Jew? Your own people and the Chief Priests handed you over to me.

have you done?"

What

"My Kingdom is not of this world. If my Kingdom had been of this world then my followers would have gone on fighting so that I should not be handed over to the Jews. But, as it is, my Kingdom is not from here."

"Then you are a King, are you?"

"You say it, because I am a King.

18: 37.

For this

purpose have I been born and for this purpose have I come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears my voice."

"What is truth?"

When Pilate had said this he went out again to the Jews.

"I do not find even a single cause for bringing a charge against him," he said. "But you have a custom that I should release you one at the Passover. So do you want me to release you the King of the Jews?"

"Not this man, but Barabbas ! " they again cried

out.

Now Barabbas was a robber.

So Pilate then took Jesus and beat him, and the soldiers platted a crown of thorns and

his head, and a purple robe on him.

kept coming up to him and saying:

put it on

And they

"Long live the King of the Jews!" and they struck him with their hands.

Pilate went out again.

“Look,” he said, "I am bringing him out to you so that you may know I find no cause for a charge against him."

Jesus came out wearing the purple robe.

"Look, here is the man," said Pilate.

19: 6.

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Crucify him!" the Chief Priests and their followers cried out when they saw him.

him!"

"Crucify

"Take him yourselves and crucify him. For I find no cause for a charge against him."

"We have a law, and by that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God."

So when Pilate heard this he was the more afraid, and went into the governor's quarters again. "Where do you come from?" he asked Jesus. He gave him no answer.

Do you

"Do you refuse to speak even to me? not know I have authority to release you, and I have authority to crucify you?"

"You would have no authority at all against me, if it had not been given to you from above. So he who handed me over to you has greater sin."

From that time Pilate kept trying to release him.

"If you let this man go you are not Cæsar's friend," the Jews cried out. "Whoever makes himself a King opposes Cæsar."

So when Pilate heard this he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called the Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha.

Now it was the Preparation of the Passover and about noon.

19: 14.

"Look, your King! said Pilate to the Jews.

"Away with him!

him!'

Away with him! Crucify

"Shall I crucify your King?"

"We have no King but Cæsar!

It was the Chief Priests who answered. So Pilate then handed him over to them to be crucified.

19: 16.

VI.

So they took Jesus and led him away. And carrying the cross for himself he went out to the place called, The Place of a Skull, but in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified him and two others with him, on each side one, and Jesus between them. Pilate wrote a title also and put it on the cross. It was this:

JESUS, THE NAZARENE,

THE KING OF THE JEWS.

So many of the Jews read it. For the place. where Jesus was crucified was near the city. It was written in Hebrew and Latin and Greek.

"Do not write, The King of the Jews," said the Chief Priests of the Jews to Pilate, "but that he said, I am King of the Jews."

"What I have written, I have written," answered Pilate.

So when they had crucified Jesus, the soldiers took his clothes, made four parts, to every soldier a part, and also the coat. Now the coat was seamless, woven from the top throughout.