CHAPTER LXXII.
JESUS BEFORE HEROD—MESSAGE TO PILATE FROM HIS WIFE.
AND Jesus stood before the governor: and they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King. And Pilate the governor, asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus saith unto him,
Thou sayest.
And the chief priests accused him of many things: and when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.
And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? hearest thou not how many things
they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.
Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man. And they were the more fierce, saying, He stireth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.
When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galileean. And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time. And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.
And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.
And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.
And he saith unto the Jews, Behold, your King! But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Cesar.
And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one
that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: No, nor yet Herod, for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. I will therefore chastise him, and release him.
Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people one prisoner, whomsoever they desired. (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.) And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.
And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them. Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ, the king of the Jews? For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.
When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them, and destroy Jesus. And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas: (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)
Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said Barabbas. Pilate
saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? And they cried out again, saying, Crucify him; let him be crucified.
And the governor said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.
When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. And so Pilate, willing to content the people, gave sentence that it should be as they required.
And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to their will, to be crucified.