The procession then went off, leading Jesus to the palace of Annas. The Temple Watch formed behind Jesus, who with his hands bound before him, was thrown violently forward by Malchus and Balbus, who held the other ends of the cords which bound him, and marched behind him. They cried, "On with thee! In Jerusalem they will settle your affair!"
Selpha, who marched at the head of his band, cried, "Let us hasten; lead him away carefully."
And all the band shouted, "Ha, run now as thou hast hitherto run to and fro about the land of Judea."
"Spare him not!" said Selpha, "drive him on!"
"Forward," shouted the soldiers, shouting together; "otherwise thou shalt be driven on with staves."
And as they marched away, driving Jesus before them the traders derided him, saying, "Doth Beelzebub, then, aid thee no longer?"
It was dark night and there was silence in the street before the house of Annas, the high priest, when his door opened and Annas, attended by Esdras, Sidrach and Missel, came upon the balcony. "I can find no rest this night," said Annas, looking impatiently down the street, "until I know that this disturber of the peace is in our hands. Oh, if he were only safe, and in fetters. Full of longing and anxiety I await the arrival of my servants with the joyful news."
Then said Esdras, "They cannot be much longer, for it is a good while since they went away."
"In vain has my troubled gaze looked up and down the street of Kedron. But nothing can I see and nothing hear. Go, my Esdras, go toward the Kedron gate and see."