338
Who smote Jesus after his trial?
Mark: “The servants did strike him with the palms of their hands” ([xiv, 65]).
John: “One of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand” ([xviii, 22]).
The stories of these mockings, revilings, and brutal assaults cannot be accepted as historical. They are self-evidently false. Were they alleged to have been committed by an irresponsible Jewish or Roman mob they might be credited; but when they are declared to have been committed by, or while in the custody of the highest Jewish and Roman officials they must be rejected.