“What are we to do? Call the Priest here.”
Pilate went and fetched the High Priest Caiaphas.
Herod closed his eyes, and folded his hands over his breast. He regarded all matters of business as an interruption to his pleasures, and generally liked to cut them short. When Pilate returned with Caiaphas, the Tetrarch awoke from his doze, and did not know where he was, or what they were talking about. Pilate stepped forward, aroused him to consciousness, and directed his attention to the matter in hand.
“There is a tumult in the Temple,” was his first observation, for that disturbed his sleep. “Ah! the Priest is here. What is the meaning of the uproar below?”
“It is the Galilaean, who has taken to using force, and has driven the money-changers out of the Temple.”
Herod’s curiosity was aroused: “I should like to see him.”
“He has already gone.”
“Tell us, High Priest, who is this man? Is he the Messiah?”
“That is incredible. The son of a poor carpenter, who is weak in the head!”
“Is he a prophet?”