'Yes, yes!' exclaimed several, 'the Nazarene called himself King of the Jews!'
'He would overthrow the dominion of the Emperor Tiberius!'
'He would declare himself king, by exciting the populace against the Romans, our friends and allies.'
'Reply to that, Pontius Pilate!' cried, from the middle of the crowd, one of the two emissaries.
'How is it that we, Jews, are more devoted than you to the power of the Emperor Tiberius, your master? How is it that ‘tis we, Jews, who demand the death of the seditious who would destroy the Roman authority; and that ‘tis you, governor for Tiberius, who would pardon this rebel?'
This apostrophe appeared the more to trouble Pontius Pilate, as from all sides they cried:
'Yes, yes, it would be to betray the Emperor to deliver up the Nazarene!'
'Or prove, perhaps, that they have been accomplices!'
Pontius Pilate, despite the desire he had, perhaps, to save the young man, appeared more and more annoyed at these reproaches coming from the crowd, reproaches which placed in doubt his fidelity to the Emperor Tiberius. He went towards the pharisees, and conversed with them in an undertone, whilst the soldiers guarded Jesus, bound, in the midst of them. Then Caiphus, the high priest, said aloud, addressing Pilate, that he might be heard by the crowd, and pointing to Jesus:
'We have found that this man perverts our nation; that he prevents tribute being paid to Cæsar, and that he calls himself King of the Jews, as being the son of God.'