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answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation, and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: What hast thou done? Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: If my kingdom 66 were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: "but now is my kingdom. not from hence." Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, "Thou sayest that I am a king. "To this end was I born, and for this cause came "I into the world, that I should bear witness unto "the truth. Every one that is of the truth, hear"eth my voice." Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.

And the chief priests and elders accused him of many things: but he answered nothing. And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold, how many things they witness against thee. And he answered him to never a word, insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly. And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.

When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilean. And as soon as he knew that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself was also in Jerusalem at that time. And when Herod saw Jesus he was exceeding glad for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. And Herod with his men of war

set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate. And the same day, Pilate and Herod were made friends together; for before they were at enmity between themselves.

Matt. xxvii. 15-23. Mark xv. 6-14. Luke xxiii. 13-23. John xviii. 38-40.

And Pilate when he had called together the chief priests, and the rulers, and the people, said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and behold, I having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him; no, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him, and lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. I will therefore chastise him, and release him.

Now at the feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. And they had then a notable prisoner called Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection. And the multitude crying aloud, began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them. Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy. When he was set down on the judgment-seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release

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unto you? And the multitude cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas. Pilate therefore willing to release Jesus, spake again to them, saying, What shall I do then with Jesus, which is called Christ? They all cried out, Crucify him, crucify him. And Pilate said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him and let him go. And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified; and the voices of them, and of the chief priests prevailed.

Matt. xxvii. 24-30. Mark xv. 15-19. Luke xxiii. 24, 25.

When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then answered all the people, His blood be on us, and on our children. And so Pilate willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews. And they spit upon him, and smote him with their hands, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.

John xix. 4-15.

Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye

may know that I find no fault in him. Then came Jesus forth wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe, and Pilate saith unto them, Behold

the man.

When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the son of God. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid; and went again into the judgment-hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, "Thou couldst have no power at all against me, except it were given "thee from above: therefore he that delivered "me unto thee hath the greater sin." And from

thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Cæsar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king, speaketh against Cæsar. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment-seat, in a place that is called the pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. And it was the preparation of the passover. And he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King. But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? the chief priests answered, We have no king but Cæsar. Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified.

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Matt. xxvii. 31-34.

Mark xv. 20-23. Luke

xxiii. 26-34. John xix 16-18.

And the soldiers took off the purple robe from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him out to crucify him. And he bearing his cross, went forth into a place called the place of a scull, which is called in the Hebrew, Golgotha. And as they led him away, they laid hold upon a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus; on him they laid the cross, and compelled him to bear it after Jesus.

66

And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning unto them, said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For behold, the days are coming, in which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that "never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. "Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, "Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. For if

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they do these things in a green tree, what shall "be done in the dry?"

And there were also two other malefactors led with him to be put to death. And when they were come to the place called Golgotha, they gave him vinegar (sour wine) to drink, mingled with gall; and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. There they crucified him, and the two malefactors with him; one on the right hand, and the other on the left, and Jesus in the midst. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, He was numbered with the transgressors.

Then said Jesus, "Father, forgive them; for 66 they know not what they do."

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