And while He yet spake Judas came with a band of soldiers and the servants of the chief priests, having weapons and torches. Judas had said: He whom I shall kiss, that is He: take Him. And he went up to Jesus and said: Hail, Master! And he kissed Him. Jesus answered: Judas, betrayest thou the Son of Man with a kiss? Then the band stepped forth and laid hold on Jesus. But all the disciples forsook Him and fled. (All the Gospels.)
[91. Jesus Before the Council]
Jesus was brought to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the council was assembled. The council consisted of the chief priests, scribes and elders of the people, in all seventy-one members. They at first sought to convict Jesus by false witnesses; but the witnesses did not agree. Then the high priest arose and said: I adjure Thee by the living God that Thou tell us if Thou art Christ, the Son of God. Jesus answered: I am. Then the high priest rent his clothes and said: He has blasphemed God. What further need have we of witnesses? They all answered: He is worthy of death. And the servants struck Him in the face and mocked Him. (All the Gospels.)
[92. Peter’s Denial. The Suicide of Judas]
When Jesus had suffered them to take Him and lead Him away, Peter had followed Him afar off and had come into the court of the palace of the high priest. A maid said to him: Art not thou one of this Man’s disciples? He said: I know Him not. He went over to the servants, who sat by the fire warming themselves. Here another seeing him, said: This man also was with Him. But Peter denied again. Then a third one said: Verily, thou art one of them; for thou art a Galilean, thy speech betrays thee. Then Peter began to swear, saying: I know not this Man ye speak of. Then the cock crowed, and at the same time they brought Jesus through the court, and He turned and looked on Peter. And Peter remembered the Savior’s words, and he went out and wept bitterly. (All the Gospels.)
When Judas saw that Jesus was condemned to death, he regretted what he had done, and came to the priests with the thirty pieces of silver and said: I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood. But they answered: What is that to us? See thou to it. And he cast the pieces of silver into the temple, and went and hanged himself, and falling headlong his bowels gushed out. (Matt. 27:3-5; Acts 1:18.)
[93. Jesus before Pilate]
Early in the morning of the day afterwards called Good Friday the Jews brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, to have the sentence of death confirmed. Not wishing to defile themselves, the Jews kept outside of the hall of judgment, and Pilate came out to them and asked: What accusation bring ye against this Man? They answered: He perverts the people and forbids paying tribute to Caesar, and calls Himself Christ, a King. Pilate took him into the hall of judgment and asked: Art Thou a King? Jesus answered: I am King; but my kingdom is not of this world; for then my servants would have fought for me. I came into the world to bear witness unto the truth. Every one who is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate perceived that Jesus was innocent and would gladly have set Him free; but he feared the priests and the scribes, therefore he dared not do it openly, but went out to the people and said: Ye have a custom that I should release a prisoner at the Passover. Whom will ye have, Jesus or Barabbas? The priests stirred up the people against Jesus, and they cried: Away with Him! But give us Barabbas. Now, Barabbas was a murderer and robber.
Pilate then, hoping to excite the pity of the people, delivered Jesus to the soldiers to be scourged. And the soldiers stripped off His clothes and scourged Him; then they threw around Him a purple robe, put a reed in His hand and a crown of thorns upon His head, and fell down before Him and shouted: Hail, Thou King of the Jews! And they struck Him on the head with the reed. And Pilate brought Him out to the people and said: Behold the Man! But the Jews cried: Crucify Him, crucify Him! Pilate still sought to set Him free, but they cried: If thou release this Man, thou art not Caesar’s friend! Then Pilate took water and washed his hands before the people and said: I am innocent of the blood of this righteous Man! They said: His blood be upon us and upon our children! Then he delivered Jesus to be crucified. (All the Gospels.)