“14. Rabinth. Whether he be just or not, inasmuch as he will neither obey nor submit to the precepts of our forefathers, he should not be tolerated in the land.
“15. Josaphat. Let him be bound with chains and be perpetually imprisoned.
“16. Ptolomée. Though it be not clear whether he is just or unjust, why do we hesitate: why not at once condemn him to death or banish him?
“17. Teras. It is right he should be banished or sent to the emperor.
“18. Mesa. If he is a just man, why do we not yield to his teachings: if wicked, why not send him away?
“19. Samech. Let us weigh the case, so he have no cause to contradict us. Whatever he does, let us chastise him.
“20. Caïphas Pontifex. Ye know not well what ye would have. It is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.
“21. The People To Pilate. If thou let this man go, thou art not the friend of Cæsar. Crucify him! crucify him! His blood be on us and on our children!”
On the large scroll in the centre of the picture is the sentence of Pilate:
“I, Pontius Pilate, pretor and judge in Jerusalem under the thrice powerful Emperor Tiberius, whose reign be eternally blessed and prospered, in this tribunal, or judicial chair, in order to pronounce and declare sentence for the synagogue of the Jewish nation with respect to Jesus Christ here present, by them led and accused before me, that, being born of father and mother of poor and base extraction, he made himself by lofty and blasphemous words the Son of God and King of the Jews, and boasted he could rebuild the temple of Solomon, having heard and examined the case, do say and declare on my conscience he shall be crucified between two thieves.”