The Seigneurs Baruch, Jonas, and Caiphus, having again spoken in an under tone with Pilate, the latter said to Jesus:
'Are you, yes or no, the son of God?'
'Yes,' replied Jesus, in his mild but firm voice; 'yes, I am.'
At these words, the priests, doctors and senators uttered exclamations which were repeated by the crowd.
'He has blasphemed! he has said he is the son of God!'
'And he who says he is the son of God also calls himself King of the Jews!'
'He is an enemy of the Emperor!'
'To death; to death with the Nazarene; crucify him!'
Pontius Pilate, a strange compound of cowardly weakness and equity, wishing no doubt to make a last effort to save Jesus, whom he did not think guilty, said to the crowd that it was customary on this feast day to set at liberty a criminal, and that the people had to choose for this act of clemency between a prisoner named Barabbas and Jesus, who had already been beaten with rods, he then added:
'Which of the two would you that I should release to you, Jesus or Barabbas?'