Then said Selpha, "Caiaphas will soon explain this dream to him."
And Balbus, seeing that Jesus opened not his mouth, and was silent, shouted in his ear, "Dost thou hear? Caiaphas will announce to thee thy exaltation to a high position!"
A great burst of hoarse laughter from the watch followed, as they shouted, "An exalted position between heaven and earth!"
"Look out, you fellows!" cried Selpha, "there through the hall of Pilate's lies our nearest way to the palace of Caiaphas. There, station yourselves in the courtyard until further orders."
The soldiers answered, "Thy command shall be fully obeyed!"
Hardly had the noisy soldiery passed with their prisoner out of the street than Peter and John appeared before the house of Annas. Then said Peter, "How will it fare here with our good master? Oh, John, how anxious I am about him!"
John answered, "He is certain to have to suffer here scorn and ill treatment. I am very much afraid of approaching the house."
Peter said, "But it is so silent about here."
John replied, "One hears not a sound in the place. Could they have taken him away again?"
As they were talking Esdras came out from the house of Annas and asked, "What do you want at the palace at this time of night?"