"You are like whitewashed tombs: clean on the outside, but inside they stink with rotten bones! You put on a show of goodness—but your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and wickedness!"
The disciples were horrified. Jesus was attacking the very priests themselves! Did he realize what would happen?
"God will punish you for killing the prophets, just as he condemned your wicked fathers for their sins! You snakes! You nest of vipers! There is no way for you to escape eternal fire!"
The priests flushed crimson. The people watched them stalk into the inner court. Judas saw the hatred on their faces and knew that they would never be satisfied until they had killed Jesus. He was glad now that he had gone over to their side.
"We had better leave this place!" whispered Andrew to Peter. He looked toward the gate where the priests had gone. But Jesus was talking to the people again.
"He will never leave!" answered Peter.
Panic seized the Zealot. "Come on! We must get out of here!" He kept looking at the guards in the tower.
"What are you thinking of?" demanded Peter, turning on him. "We can't leave the Master alone!"
"I'm not going to be caught like a rat in a trap!" The Zealot looked at the high walls around them.
"I will not leave this place until the Master does," declared James firmly.