Chapter XXIX: Part XIII: The Arrest, Trial, Crucifixion and Burial of Jesus (1)

_Thursday Night, Friday, and Saturday of Passion Week (Days of Darkness for the Kingdom of God[a]). Sects. 153-168._

[Footnote a: "Your hour and the power of darkness" (Luke 22:53). Friday, the Day of Suffering, has become for Christians the Day of the Cross and of Glory.]

Sect. 153. JESUS IS BETRAYED, ARRESTED AND FORSAKEN

Garden of Gethsemane. Friday, long before dawn

Mark 14:43-52 |Matt. 26:47-56 |Luke 22:47-53 |John 18:2-12
| | |
43 And |47 And while |47 While he | 2 Now Judas
straightway, | he yet spake,| yet spake, | also, which
while he yet | lo, Judas, | behold, a | betrayed him,
spake, cometh| one of the | multitude, | knew the place:
Judas, one | twelve, came,| and he that | for Jesus
the twelve, | and with him | was called | oft-times
and with him | a great | Judas, one of| resorted thither
a multitude | multitude | the twelve, | with his
with swords | with swords | went before | 3 disciples. Judas
and staves, | and staves, | them; | then, having
from the | from the | | received the
chief priests| chief priests| | [3]band _of
and the | and elders of| soldiers_, and officers from the
scribes and | the people. | chief priests and the Pharisees,
the elders. | | cometh thither with lanterns and
| | 4 torches and weapons. Jesus
| | therefore, knowing all the
| | things that were coming upon
| | him, went forth, and saith unto
| | 5 them, Whom seek ye? They
| | answered him, Jesus of Nazareth.
| | Jesus saith unto them, I am
| | _he_. And Judas also, which
| | betrayed him, was standing with
| | 6 them. When therefore he said
| | unto them, I am _he_, they went
| | backward, and fell to the
| | 7 ground. Again therefore he asked
| | them, Whom seek ye? And they
| | 8 said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus
| | answered, I told you that I am
| | _he_: if therefore ye seek me,
| | 9 let these go their way: that the
| | word might be fulfilled which he
| | spake, Of those whom thou hast
| | given me I lost not one.
44 Now he that |48 Now he that | |
betrayed him | betrayed him | |
had given | gave them a | |
them a token,| sign, saying,| |
saying, | Whomsoever I | |
Whomsoever I | shall kiss, | |
shall kiss, | that is he: | |
that is he; | take him. | |
take him, and| | |
lead him away| | |
45 safely. And | | |
when he was | | |
come, |49 And | and he drew |
straightway | straightway | near unto |
he came to | he came to | Jesus to |
him, and | Jesus, and |48 kiss him. But|
saith, Rabbi;| said, Hail, | Jesus said |
and | Rabbi; and | unto him, |
[1]kissed | [1]kissed | Judas, |
him. | him. | betrayest |
| | thou the Son |
| | of man with a|
|50 And Jesus |49 kiss? And |
| said unto | when they |
| him, Friend, | that were |
| _do_ that for| about him saw|
| which thou | what would |
| art come. | follow, they |
| Then they | said, Lord, |
46 And they laid| came and laid| shall we |
hands on him,| hands on | smite with |
and took him.| Jesus, and | the sword? |
47 But a certain|51 took him. And|50 And a certain|10 Simon Peter
one of them | behold, one | one of them | therefore
that stood by| of them that | smote the | having a sword
drew his | were with | [2]servant of| drew it, and
sword, and | Jesus | the high | struck the high
smote the | stretched out| priest, and | priest's
[2]servant of| his hand, and| struck off | [2]servant, and
the high | drew his | his right | cut off his
priest, and | sword, and | ear. | right ear. Now
struck off | smote the | | the
his ear. | [2]servant of| | [2]servant's
| the high | | name was
| priest, and | |11 Malchus. Jesus
| struck off |51 But | therefore said
|52 his ear. Then| Jesus | unto Peter, Put
| saith Jesus | answered and | up the sword
| unto him, Put| said, Suffer | into the
| up again thy | ye thus far. | sheath: the cup
| sword into | And he | which the
| its place: | touched his | Father hath
| for all they | ear, and | given me, shall
| that take the| healed him. | I not drink it?
| sword shall | |
| perish with | |12 So the [3]band
|53 the sword. Or| | and the
| thinkest thou| | [4]chief
| that I cannot| | captain, and
| beseech my | | the officers of
| Father, and | | the Jews,
| he shall even| | seized Jesus
| now send me | | and bound him.
| more than | |
| twelve | |
| legions of | |
|54 angels? How | |
| then should | |
| the | |
| scriptures be| |
| fulfilled, | |
| that thus it | |
|55 must be? In |52 And Jesus |
48 And Jesus | that hour | said unto the|
answered and | said Jesus to| chief |
said unto | the | priests, and |
them, Are ye | multitudes, | captains of |
come out, as | Are ye come | the temple, |
against a | out as | and elders, |
robber, with | against a | which were |
swords and | robber with | come against |
staves to | swords and | him, Are ye |
49 seize me? I | staves to | come out, as |
was daily | seize me? I | against a |
with you in | sat daily in | robber, with |
the temple | the temple | swords and |
teaching, and| teaching, and|53 staves? When |
ye took me | ye took be | I was daily |
not: but |56 not. But all | with you in |
_this is | this is come | the temple, |
done_ that | to pass, that| ye stretched |
the | the | not forth |
scriptures | scriptures of| your hands |
might be | the prophets | against me: |
fulfilled. | might be | but this is |
50 And they all | fulfilled. | your hour, |
left him, and| Then all the | and the power|
fled. | disciples | of darkness. |
| left him, and| |
51 And a | fled. | |
certain |
young man |
followed with|
him, having a linen cloth cast about him, over _his_ naked _body_:
52 and they lay hold on him; but he left the linen cloth, and fled
naked.

[Footnote 1: Gr. _kissed him much_.]

[Footnote 2: Gr. _bondservant_.]

[Footnote 3: Or, _cohort_.]

[Footnote 4: Or, _military tribune_. Gr. _chiliarch_.]

Sect. 154. JESUS FIRST[a] EXAMINED BY ANNAS, THE EX-HIGH-PRIEST

_The Jewish Trial and related occurrences, Sects. 154-162._

Friday before dawn

John 18:12-14, 19-23

12 So the [1]band and the [2]chief captain, and the officers of the
13 Jews, seized Jesus and bound him, and led him to Annas first; for
he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was high priest that year.
14 Now Caiaphas was he which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was
expedient that one man should die for the people.
19 The high priest therefore asked Jesus of his disciples, and of
20 his teaching. Jesus answered him, I have spoken openly to the
world; I ever taught in [3]synagogues, and in the temple, where all
21 the Jews come together; and in secret spake I nothing. Why askest
thou me? ask them that have heard _me_, what I spake unto them:
22 behold, these know the things which I said. And when he had said
this, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus [4]with his
23 hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so? Jesus answered
him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well,
why smitest thou me?

[Footnote 1: Or, _cohort_.]

[Footnote 2: Or, _military tribune_. Gr. _chiliarch_.]

[Footnote 3: Gr. _synagogue_.]

[Footnote 4: Or, _with a rod_.]

[Footnote a: The _Jewish trial_ comprised three stages, the preliminary examination by Annas (Sect. 154), the informal trial by the Sanhedrin, probably before dawn, and the formal trial after dawn. With these are narrated two related matters, the denial by Peter and the suicide of Judas.]

Sect. 155. JESUS HURRIEDLY TRIED AND CONDEMNED BY CAIAPHAS AND THE SANHEDRIN, WHO MOCK AND BUFFET HIM

Residence of the High-priest Caiaphas. Before dawn on Friday

Mark 14:53, |Matt. 26:57, |Luke 22:54, |John 18:24
55-65 | 59-68 | 63-65 |
53 And they led|57 And they |54 And they |24 Annas
Jesus away to | that had taken| seized him, | therefore
the high | Jesus led him | and led him | sent him
priest: and | away to _the | _away_, and | bound unto
there come | house of_ | brought him | Caiaphas the
together with | Caiaphas the | into the high | high priest.
him all the | high priest, | priest's |
chief priests | where the | house. |
and the elders| scribes and |
and the | the elders |
scribes. | were gathered together. |
55 Now the chief |59 Now the chief |
priests and the | priests and the |
whole council sought| whole council sought|
witness against | false witness |
Jesus to put him to | against Jesus, that |
death; and found it | they might put him |
56 not. For many bare |60 to death; and they |
false witness | found it not, though|
against him, and | many false witnesses|
their witness agreed| came. But afterward |
57 not together. And | came two, |
there stood up | |
certain, and bare | |
false witness | |
against him, saying,|61 and said, |
58 We heard him say, I | This man said, I am |
will destroy this | able to destroy the |
[1]temple that is | [1]temple of God, |
made with hands, and| and to build it in |
in three days I will| three days [_see |
build another made | John 2:19_]. |
59 without hands. And | |
not even so did | |
their witness agree | |
60 together. And the |62 And the high priest |
high priest stood up| stood up, and said |
in the midst, and | unto him, Answerest |
asked Jesus, saying,| thou nothing? what |
Answerest thou | is it which these |
nothing? what is it | witness against |
which these witness |63 thee? But Jesus held|
61 against thee? But he| his peace. And the |
held his peace, and | high priest said |
answered nothing. | unto him, I adjure |
Again the high | thee by the living |
priest asked him, | God, that thou tell |
and saith unto him, | us whether thou be |
Art thou the Christ,| the Christ, the Son |
the Son of the |64 of God. Jesus saith |
62 Blessed? And Jesus | unto him, Thou hast |
said, I am: and ye | said: nevertheless I|
shall see the Son of| say unto you, |
man sitting at the | Henceforth ye shall |
right hand of power,| see the Son of man |
and coming with the | sitting at the right|
clouds of heaven | hand of power, and |
[_see Ps. 110:1; | coming on the clouds|
63 Dan. 7:13_]. And the|65 of heaven. Then the |
high priest rent his| high priest rent his|
clothes, and saith, | garments, saying, He|
What further need | hath spoken |
have we of | blasphemy: what |
64 witnesses? Ye have | further need have we|
heard the blasphemy | of witnesses? |
[_see Lev. 24:16_]: | behold, now ye have |
what think ye? And | heard the blasphemy:|
they all condemned |66 what think ye? They |63 And the men that
him to be [2]worthy | answered and said, | held [5]_Jesus_
65 of death. And some | He is [2]worthy of | mocked him, and
began to spit on |67 death. Then did they|64 beat him. And they
him, and to cover | spit in his face and| blindfolded him,
his face, and to | buffet him: and some| and asked him,
buffet him, and to | smote him [2]with | saying, Prophesy:
say unto him, | the palms of their | who is he that
Prophesy: and the |68 hands, saying, |65 struck thee? And
officers received | Prophesy unto us, | many other things
him with [4]blows of| thou Christ: who is | spake they against
their hands. | he that struck thee?| him, reviling him.

[Footnote 1: Or, _sanctuary_: as in Matt. 23:35; and chap. 27:5.]

[Footnote 2: Gr. _liable to_.]

[Footnote 3: Or, _with rods_.]

[Footnote 4: Or, _strokes of rods_.]

[Footnote 5: Gr. _him_.]

Sect. 156. PETER THRICE[a] DENIES HIS LORD

COURT OF THE HIGH-PRIEST'S RESIDENCE, DURING THE SERIES OF TRIALS

Friday before and about dawn

Mark 14:54, |Matt. 26:58, |Luke 22:54-62 |John 18:15-18,
66-72 | 69-75 | | 25-27
54 And Peter had|58 But Peter |54 But Peter |15 And Simon
followed him | followed him | followed afar| Peter followed
afar off, | afar off, | off. | Jesus, and _so
| | | did_ another
| | | disciple. Now
| | | that disciple
| | | was known unto
| | | the high
| | | priest, and
| | | entered in with
| | | Jesus into the
| | | court of the
| | | high priest;
| | |16 but Peter was
| | | standing at the
| | | door without.
| | | So the other
| | | disciple, which
even within, | unto the | | was known unto
into the | court of the | | the high
court of the | high priest, | | priest, went
high priest; | and entered | | out and spake
| in, | | unto her that
| | | kept the door,
| | | and brought in
| | |17 Peter. The maid
| | | therefore that
| | | kept the door
| | | saith unto
| | | Peter, Art thou
| | | also _one_ of
| | | this man's
| | | disciples? He
| | | saith, I am
| | |18 not. Now the
| | | [5]servants and
| | | the officers
| | | were standing
| | | _there_, having
and he was | | | made [6]a fire
sitting with | and sat with | | of coals; for
the officers,| the officers,| | it was cold;
and warming | to see the | | and they were
himself in | end. |55 And when they| warming
the light _of| | had kindled a| themselves: and
the fire_. | | fire in the | Peter also was
| | midst of the | with them,
| | court, and | standing and
66 And as Peter |69 Now Peter was| had sat down | warming
was beneath | sitting | together, | himself.
in the court,| without in | Peter sat in |
there cometh | the court: | the midst of |
one of the | and a maid |56 them. And a |
maids of the | came unto | certain maid |
high priest; | him, saying, | seeing him as|25 Now Simon Peter
67 and seeing | | he sat in the| was standing
Peter warming| | light _of the| and warming
himself, she | | fire_, and | himself. They
looked upon | | looking | said therefore
him, and | | stedfastly | unto him, Art
saith, Thou | Thou also | upon him, | thou also _one_
also wast | wast with | said, This | of his
with the | Jesus the | man also was | disciples?
Nazarene, | Galilean. | with him. |
_even_ Jesus.| | |
68 But he | | |
denied, |70 But| |
saying, [1]I | he denied |57 But | He
neither know,| before them | he denied, | denied, and
nor | all, saying, | saying, | said, I am not.
understand | I know not | Woman, I know|
what thou | what thou | him not. |
sayest: and | sayest. | |
he went out | | |
into the | | |
[2]porch; | | |
[3]and the | | |
cock crew. | | |
|71 And | |
| when he was |58 And |
| gone out into| after a |
| the porch, | little while |
| another | another saw |
69 And the maid | _maid_ saw | him, and |
saw him, and | him, and | said, Thou |
began again | saith unto | also art |
to say to | them that | _one_ of |
them that | were there, | them. But |
stood by, | This man also| Peter said, |
This is _one_| was with | Man, I am |
of them. | Jesus the | not. |
|72 Nazarene. And| |
70 But | again he | |
he again | denied with | |
denied it. | an oath, I | |
| know not the |59 And |26 One of the
|73 man. And | after the | [5]servants of
And after a | after a | space of | the high priest,
little while | little while | about one | being a kinsman
again they | they that | hour another | of him whose
that stood by| stood by came| confidently | ear Peter cut
said to | and said to | affirmed, | off, saith, Did
Peter, Of a | Peter, Of a | saying, Of a | not I see thee
truth thou | truth thou | truth this | in the garden
art _one_ of | also art | man also was |27 with him? Peter
them; for | _one_ of | with him: for| therefore
thou art a | them; for thy| he is a | denied again:
Galilean. | speech |60 Galilean. But|
| bewrayeth | Peter said, |
71 But |74 thee. Then | Man, I know |
he began to | began he to | not what thou|
curse, and to| curse and to | sayest. |
swear, I know| swear, I know| |
not this man | not the man. | |
of whom ye | | |
72 speak. And | And | And |
straightway | straightway | immediately, | and straightway
the second | | while he yet | the cock crew.
time the cock| the cock | spake, the |
crew. | crew. | cock crew. |
| |61 And the Lord |
| | turned, and |
| | looked upon |
| | Peter. And |
| | Peter |
And |75 And | remembered |
Peter called | Peter | the word of |
to mind the | remembered | the Lord, how|
word, how | the word | that he said |
that Jesus | which Jesus | unto him, |
said unto | had said, | Before the |
him, Before | Before the | cock crow |
the cock crow| cock crow, | this day, |
twice, thou | thou shalt | thou shalt |
shalt deny me| deny me | deny me |
thrice. | thrice. | thrice. |
[4]And when | And |62 And |
he thought | he went out, | he went out, |
thereon, he | and wept | and wept |
wept. | bitterly. | bitterly. |

[Footnote 1: Or, _I neither know, nor understand: thou, what
sayest thou?_]

[Footnote 2: Gr. _forecourt_.]

[Footnote 3: Many ancient authorities omit _and the cock crew_.]

[Footnote 4: Or, _And he began to weep._]

[Footnote 5: Gr. _bondservants_.]

[Footnote 6: Gr. _a fire of charcoal_.]

[Footnote a: Each of the four Gospels records three denials; but the details differ considerably, as must always be the case where in each narrative a few facts are selected out of many sayings and doings. We have seen (footnote on Sect. 154) that there were _three stages_ of the Jewish trial, (l) before Annas, (2) before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin for informal examination, (3) before them in a formal trial. Now John gives only the first of the three stages, Luke only the last, Matthew and Mark give the second stage fully, and the third in brief mention. If Peter's denials ran through all three (and Luke says in ver. 59 that there was an hour between his second and third denials), then no one of the four Gospels could give each of the denials precisely at the time of its occurrence; and so each Gospel merely throws them together, as in another way we here bring them together in one section. There is no difficulty about the substantial fact of the denials; and we must be content with our inability to arrange all the circumstances into a complete programme.]

Sect. 157. AFTER DAWN, JESUS IS FORMALLY[a] CONDEMNED BY THE SANHEDRIN

Friday

Mark 15:1 |Matt. 27:1 |Luke 22:66-71
| |
1 And straightway | 1 Now when morning |66 And as soon as
in the morning the | was come, all the | it was day, the
chief priests with | chief priests and | assembly of the
the elders and | the elders of the | elders of the
scribes, and the | people took counsel | people was
whole council, held | against Jesus to put| gathered together,
a consultation, | him to death: | both chief priests
| | and scribes; and
| | they led him away
67 into their council, saying, If thou art the Christ, tell us. But
68 he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe: and if I
69 ask _you_, ye will not answer. But from henceforth shall the Son
of man be seated on the right hand of the power of God [_see Ps.
70 110:1; Dan. 7:13_]. And they all said, Art thou then the Son of
71 God? And he said unto them, [1]Ye say that I am. And they said,
What further need have we of witness? for we ourselves have heard
from his own mouth.

[Footnote 1: Or, _Ye say_ it, _because I am._]

[Footnote a: This ratification of the condemnation after dawn was an effort to make the action legal. But no ratification of a wrong can make it right. Some modern Jewish writers admit the illegalities and argue the unhistorical character of the narrative. But the hate of the Sanhedrin for Jesus made them violate their own rules of legal procedure. See my book, _The Pharisees and Jesus_.]

Sect. 158. REMORSE AND SUICIDE OF JUDAS THE BETRAYER

IN THE TEMPLE AND IN A PLACE WITHOUT THE WALLS OF JERUSALEM

Friday morning

Matt. 27:3-10 |Acts 1:18, 19
|
3 Then Judas, which betrayed |18 (Now this man obtained a
him, when he saw that he was | field with the reward of his
condemned, repented himself, | iniquity; and falling headlong,
and brought back the thirty | he burst asunder in the midst,
pieces of silver to the chief | and all his bowels gushed out.
4 priests and elders, saying, I |19 And it became known to all the
have sinned in that I betrayed | dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch
[1]innocent blood. But they | that in their language that
said, What is that to us? see | field was called Akeldama, that
5 thou _to it_. And he cast down | is, The field of blood.)
the pieces of silver into the |
sanctuary, and departed; and he|
6 went away and hanged himself. And the chief priests took the
pieces of silver, and said, It is not lawful to put them into the
[2]treasury, since it is the price of blood [_see Deut. 23:18_].
7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to
8 bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called, The field of
9 blood, unto this day. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken
[3]by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, And [4]they took the thirty
pieces of silver, the price of him that was priced, [5]whom
10 _certain_ of the children of Israel did price; and [6]they gave
them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me [_see Zech.
11:13; Jer. 18:2; 19:2; 32:6-15_].

[Footnote 1: Many ancient authorities read _righteous_.]

[Footnote 2: Gr. _corbanas_, that is, _sacred treasury_. Comp.
Mark 7:11.]

[Footnote 3: Or, _through_.]

[Footnote 4: Or, _I took_.]

[Footnote 5: Or, _whom they priced on the part of the sons of
Israel_.]

[Footnote 6: Some ancient authorities read _I gave_.]

Sect. 159. JESUS BEFORE PILATE THE FIRST[a] TIME

Jerusalem. Friday, early morning

Mark 15:1-5 |Matt. 27:2, |Luke 23:1-5 |John 18:28-38
| 11-14 | |
1 and bound | 2 and they | 1 And the |28 They lead
Jesus, and | bound him, | whole company| Jesus therefore
carried him | and led him | of them rose | from Caiaphas
away, and | away, and | up, and | into the
delivered him| delivered him| brought him | [2]palace: and
up to Pilate.| up to Pilate | before | it was early;
| the governor.| Pilate. | and they
| | | themselves
| | | entered not
| | | into the
| | | [2]palace, that
| | | they might not
| | | be defiled, but
| | | might eat the
| | | passover.
| | 2 And they |29 Pilate
| | began to | therefore went
| | accuse him, | out unto them,
| | saying, We | and saith, What
| | found this | accusation
| | man | bring ye
| | perverting | against this
| | our nation, |30 man? They
| | and | answered and
| | forbidding to| said unto him,
| | give tribute | If this man
| | to Caesar, | were not an
| | and saying | evil-doer, we
| | that he | should not have
| | himself is | delivered him up
| | [1]Christ a | unto thee.
| | king. |31 Pilate therefore
| | | said unto them,
Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law. The Jews
said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:
32 that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake,
signifying by what manner of death he should die.
| | |33 Pilate
|11 Now Jesus | | therefore
| stood before | | entered again
| the governor:| | into the
| and the | | [2]palace, and
2 And Pilate | governor | 3 And Pilate | called Jesus,
asked him, | asked him, | asked him, | and said unto
Art thou the | saying, Art | saying, Art | him, Art thou
King of the | thou the King| thou the King| the King of the
Jews? And he | of the Jews? | of the Jews? |34 Jews? Jesus
answering | And Jesus | And he | answered,
saith unto | said unto | answered him | Sayest thou
him, Thou | him, Thou | and said, | this of
sayest. | sayest. | Thou sayest. | thyself, or did
| | | others tell it
| | | thee concerning
35 me? Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief
36 priests delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? Jesus
answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of
this world, then would my [3]servants fight, that I should not be
delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus
answered, [4]Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end have I been
born, and to this end am I come into the world, that I should bear
witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my
38 voice. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said
| | | this, he went
| | | out again unto
| | 4 And Pilate | the Jews, and
| | said unto the| saith unto
| | chief priests| them, I find no
| | and the | crime in him.
| | multitudes, I|
| | find no fault|
| | in this man. |
3 And the chief|12 And when he | |
priests | was accused | |
accused him | by the chief | |
of many | priests and | |
4 things. And | elders, he | |
Pilate again | answered | |
asked him, |13 nothing. Then| |
saying, | saith Pilate | |
Answerest | unto him, | |
thou nothing?| Hearest thou | |
behold how | not how many | |
many things | things they | |
they accuse | witness | |
5 thee of. But | against thee?| |
Jesus no more|14 And he gave | |
answered | him no | |
anything; | answer, not | |
insomuch that| even to one | |
Pilate | word: | |
marvelled. | insomuch that| |
| the governor | |
| marvelled | |
| greatly. | |
| | 5 But they were|
| | the more |
| | urgent, |
| | saying, He |
| | stirreth up |
| | the people, |
| | teaching |
| | throughout |
| | all Judea, |
| | and beginning|
| | from Galilee |
| | even unto |
| | this place. |

[Footnote 1: Or, _an anointed king_.]

[Footnote 2: Gr. _Praetorium_.]

[Footnote 3: Or, _officers_: as in verses 3, 12, 18, 22.]

[Footnote 4: Or, _Thou sayest_ it, _because I am a king._]

[Footnote a: The Roman Trial also comprised three stages, (1) the first appearance before the Roman procurator Pilate (Sect. 159), (2) the appearance before Herod Antipas, the native ruler of Galilee appointed by the Romans (Sect. 160), and (3) the final appearance before Pilate (Sect. 161).]

Sect. 160. JESUS BEFORE HEROD ANTIPAS THE TETRARCH

Jerusalem. Friday, early morning

Luke 23:6-12

6 But when Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man were a
7 Galilean. And when he knew that he was of Herod's jurisdiction, he
sent him unto Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem in these
days.
8 Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was of a
long time desirous to see him, because he had heard concerning
9 him;[a] and he hoped to see some [1]miracle done by him. And he
10 questioned him in many words; but he answered him nothing. And the
11 chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him. And
Herod with his soldiers set him at nought, and mocked him, and
12 arraying him in gorgeous apparel sent him back to Pilate. And
Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day: for
before they were at enmity between themselves.

[Footnote 1: Gr. _sign_.]

[Footnote a: See Sect. 71.]

Sect. 161. JESUS THE SECOND TIME BEFORE PILATE

_Pilate slowly and reluctantly and in fear surrenders to the demand of the Sanhedrin for the crucifixion of Christ._

Friday toward sunrise (John 19:14)

Mark 15:6-15 |Matt. 27:15-26 |Luke 23:13-25 |John 18:39-19:16
| | |
6 Now at |15 Now at | |
[1]the feast | [1]the feast | |
he used to | the governor | |
release unto | was wont to | |
them one | release unto | |
prisoner, | the multitude| |
whom they | one prisoner,| |
asked of him.| whom they | |
7 And there was|16 would. And | |
one called | they had then| |
Barabbas, | a notable | |
_lying_ bound| prisoner, | |
with them | called | |
that had made| Barabbas. | |
insurrection,| | |
men who in | | |
the | | |
insurrection | | |
had committed| | |
8 murder. And | | |
the multitude| | |
went up and | | |
began to ask | | |
him _to do_ | | |
as he was | | |
wont to do | | |
unto them. | | |
| |13 And Pilate |
| | called |
| | together the |
| | chief priests |
| | and the rulers|
| | and the |
| |14 people, and |
| | said unto |
| | them, Ye |
| | brought unto |
| | me this man, |
| | as one that |
| | perverteth the|
| | people: and |
| | behold, I, |
| | having |
| | examined him |
| | before you, |
| | found no fault|
| | in this man |
| | touching those|
| | things whereof|
| | ye accuse him:|
| |15 no, nor yet |
| | Herod: for he |
| | sent him back |
| | unto us; and |
| | behold, |
| | nothing worthy|
| | of death hath |
| | been done by |
|17 When |16 him. I will |
| therefore | therefore |39 But ye have a
| they were | chastise him, | custom, that I
| gathered | and release | should release
| together, | him.[5] | unto you one
9 And Pilate | Pilate said | | at the
answered | unto them, | | passover: will
them, saying,| Whom will ye | | ye therefore
Will ye that | that I | | that I release
I release | release unto | | unto you the
unto you the | you? | | King of the
King of the | Barabbas, or | | Jews?
10 Jews? For he | Jesus which | |
perceived | is called | |
that for envy|18 Christ? For | |
the chief | he knew that | |
priests had | for envy they| |
delivered him| had delivered| |
up. |19 him up. And | |
| while he was | |
| sitting on | |
| the | |
| judgement- | |
| seat, his | |
| wife sent | |
| unto him, | |
| saying, Have | |
| thou nothing | |
| to do with | |
| that | |
| righteous | |
| man: for I | |
| have suffered| |
| many things | |
| this day in a| |
| dream because| |
11 But the chief|20 of him. Now | |
priests | the chief | |
stirred up | priests and | |
the | the elders | |
multitude, | persuaded the| |
that he | multitudes | |
should rather| that they | |
release | should ask | |
Barabbas unto| for Barabbas,| |
them. | and destroy | |
|21 Jesus. But | |
| the governor | |
| answered and | |
| said unto | |
| them, Whether| |
| of the twain | |
| will ye that | |
| I release | |
| unto you? And|18 But they cried|40 They cried out
| they said, | out all | therefore
| Barabbas. | together, | again, saying,
| | saying, Away | Not this man,
| | with this man,| but Barabbas.
| | and release | Now Barabbas
| | unto us | was a robber.
| |19 Barabbas: one |
| | who for a |
| | certain |
| | insurrection |
| | made in the |
| | city, and for |
| | murder, was |
| | cast into |
| | prison. | 1 Then Pilate
| | | therefore took
| | | Jesus, and
2 scourged him. And the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns, and put
3 it on his head, and arrayed him in a purple garment; and they came
unto him, and said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they struck him
4 [6]with their hands. And Pilate went out again, and saith unto
them, Behold, I bring him out to you, that ye may know that I find
| | | no crime in
| | | 5 him. Jesus
| | | therefore came
| | | out, wearing
| | | the crown of
| | | thorns and the
| | | purple
| | | garment. And
12 And Pilate |22 Pilate |20 And Pilate | _Pilate_ saith
again | saith unto | spake unto | unto them,
answered and | them, | them again, | Behold, the
said unto | | desiring to | 6 man! When
them, What | What | release Jesus;| therefore the
then shall I | then shall I |21 but they | chief priests
do unto him | do unto Jesus| shouted, | and the
whom ye call | which is | saying, | officers saw
the King of | called | Crucify, | him, they
13 the Jews? And| Christ? They | crucify him. | cried out,
they cried | all say, |22 And he said | saying,
out again, | Let him be | unto them the | Crucify _him_,
Crucify him. | crucified. | third time, | crucify _him_.
14 And Pilate | | Why, what evil| Pilate saith
said unto |23 And he said, | hath this man | unto them,
them, Why, | Why, what | done? I have | Take him
what evil | evil hath he | found no cause| yourselves,
hath he done?| done? | of death in | and crucify
| | him: I will | him: for I
| | therefore | find no crime
| | chastise him | 7 in him. The
| | and release | Jews answered
But they | But they | him. | him, We have a
cried out | cried out | | law, and by
exceedingly, | exceedingly, | | that law he
Crucify him. | saying, Let | | ought to die,
| him be | | because he
| crucified. | | made himself
| | | the Son of
| | | 8 God. When
9 Pilate therefore heard this saying, he was the more afraid; and he
entered into the [3]palace again, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art
10 thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate therefore saith unto
him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have
11 [7]power to release thee, and have [7]power to crucify thee? Jesus
answered him, Thou wouldest have no [7]power against me, except it
were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto
thee hath greater sin.
12 Upon this Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out,
saying, If thou release this man, thou art not Caesar's friend:
every one that maketh himself a king [8]speaketh against Caesar.
13 When Pilate therefore heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and
sat down on the judgement-seat at a place called The Pavement, but
14 in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the Preparation of the passover:
it was about the sixth hour.[a] And he saith unto the Jews,
| | | Behold, your
| | |15 King! They
| |23 But they were | therefore
| | instant with | cried out,
| | loud voices, | Away with
| | asking that he| _him_, away
| | might be | with _him_,
| | crucified. | crucify him.
| | | Pilate saith
| | | unto them,
| | | Shall I
| | | crucify your
| | | King? The
| | | chief priests
| | | answered, We
| | | have no king
| | | but Caesar.
|24 So when | And their |
| Pilate saw | voices |
| that he | prevailed. |
| prevailed | |
| nothing, but | |
| rather that a| |
| tumult was | |
| arising, he | |
| took water, | |
| and washed | |
| his hands | |
| before the | |
| multitude | |
| [_see Deut. | |
| 21:6-9_], | |
| saying, I am | |
| innocent | |
| [2]of the | |
| blood of this| |
| righteous | |
| man: see ye | |
|25 _to it_. And | |
| all the | |
| people | |
| answered and | |
| said, His | |
| blood _be_ on|24 And Pilate |
| us, and on | gave sentence |
| our | that what they|
| children.[b] | asked for |
15 And Pilate, | | should be |
wishing to | |25 done. And he |
content the | | released him |
multitude, |26 Then released| that for |
released unto| he unto them | insurrection |
them | Barabbas: but| and murder had|
Barabbas, and| Jesus he | been cast into|
delivered | scourged and | prison, whom |16 Then therefore
Jesus, when | delivered to | they asked | he delivered
he had | be crucified.| for; but Jesus| him unto them
scourged him,| | he delivered | to be
to be | | up to their | crucified.
crucified. | | will. |

[Footnote 1: Or, _a feast_.]

[Footnote 2: Some ancient authorities read _of this blood: see ye
etc._]

[Footnote 3: Gr. _Praetorium_. See Mark 15:16.]

[Footnote 4: Or, _palace_.]

[Footnote 5: Many ancient authorities insert ver. 17 _Now he must
needs release unto them at the feast one_ prisoner. Others add the
same words after ver. 19.]

[Footnote 6: Or, _with rods_.]

[Footnote 7: Or, _authority_.]

[Footnote 8: Or, _opposeth Caesar_.]

[Footnote a: It appears that John, who wrote in Asia Minor, long after the destruction of Jerusalem, makes the day begin at midnight, as the Greeks and Romans did. We seem compelled so to understand him in 20:19 (comp. Luke 24:29-39); and in no passage of his Gospel is that view unsuitable. Here then we understand that Pilate passed the sentence about sunrise, which at the Passover, near the vernal equinox, would be 6 o'clock. The intervening three hours might be occupied in preparations, and the Crucifixion occurred at 9 o'clock, viz. the third hour as counted by the Jews (Mark 15:25).]

[Footnote b: Pilate, of course, could not escape full legal and moral responsibility for his cowardly surrender to the Sanhedrin to keep his own office. The guilt of the Sanhedrin (both Pharisees and Sadducees unite in the demand for the blood of Jesus) is beyond dispute. It is impossible to make a mere political issue out of it and to lay all the blame on the Sadducees, who feared a revolution. The Pharisees began the attacks against Jesus on theological and ecclesiastical grounds. The Sadducees later joined the conspiracy against Christ. Judas was a mere tool of the Sanhedrin, who had his resentments and grievances to avenge. There is guilt enough for all the plotters in the greatest wrong of the ages.]

Sect. 162. THE ROMAN SOLDIERS MOCK[a] JESUS

Friday, between 6 and 9 A.M.

Mark 15:16-19 |Matt. 27:27-30
|
16 And the soldiers led him away|27 Then the soldiers of the
within the court, which is the | governor took Jesus into the
[4]Praetorium; and they call | [1]palace, and gathered unto
17 together the whole [2]band. And|28 him the whole [2]band. And they
they clothe him with purple, | [3]stripped him, and put on him
and plaiting a crown of thorns,|29 a scarlet robe. And they
18 they put it on him; and they | plaited a crown of thorns and
began to salute him, Hail, King| put it upon his head, and a
19 of the Jews! And they smote his| reed in his right hand; and
head with a reed, and did spit | they kneeled down before him,
upon him, and bowing their | and mocked him, saying, Hail,
knees worshipped him. |30 King of the Jews! And they spat
| upon him, and took the reed and
| smote him on the head.

[Footnote 1: Gr. _Praetorium_.]

[Footnote 2: Or, _cohort_.]

[Footnote 3: Some ancient authorities read _clothed him_.]

[Footnote 4: Or, _palace_.]

[Footnote a: The Sanhedrin likewise had mocked Jesus when they had condemned him to death (Sect. 155).]

Sect. 163. JESUS ON THE WAY TO THE CROSS (_VIA DOLOROSA_) ON GOLGOTHA[a]

Before 9 A.M. Friday

Mark 15:20-23 |Matt. 27:31-34 |Luke 23:26-33 |John 19:16-17
| | |
20 And when they|31 And when they| |16 They took
had mocked | had mocked | | Jesus
him, they | him, they | |17 therefore: and
took off from| took off from| | he went out,
him the | him the robe,| | bearing the
purple, and | and put on | | cross for
put on him | him his | | himself,
his garments.| garments, and| |
And they lead| led him away | |
him out to | to crucify | |
crucify him. | him. | |
21 And they |32 And as they|26 And when |
[2]compel one| came out, | they led him |
passing by, | they found a | away, they |
Simon of | man of | laid hold upon|
Cyrene, | Cyrene, Simon| one Simon of |
coming from | by name: him | Cyrene, coming|
the country, | they | from the |
the father of| [1]compelled | country, and |
Alexander and| to go _with | laid on him |
Rufus, to go | them_, that | the cross, to |
_with them_, | he might bear| bear it after |
that he might| his cross. | Jesus. |
bear his | |27 And there followed him a great
cross. | | multitude of the people, and of
| | women who bewailed and lamented
| |28 him. But Jesus turning unto them
said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for
29 yourselves, and for your children. For behold, the days are
coming, in which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the
30 wombs that never bare, and the breasts that never gave suck. Then
shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the
31 hills, Cover us [_see Hos. 10:8_]. For if they do these things in
the green tree, what shall be done in the dry?
| |32 And there |
| | were also two |
| | others, |
| | malefactors, |
| | led with him |
| | to be put to |
| | death. |
22 And they |33 And when they|33 And when | unto the place
bring him | were come | they came unto| called The
unto the | unto a place | the place | place of a
place | called | which is | skull, which
Golgotha, | Golgotha, | called [3]The | is called in
which is, | that is to | skull, | Hebrew
being | say, The | | Golgotha:
interpreted, | place of a | |
The place of |34 skull, they | |
23 a skull. And | gave him wine| |
they offered | to drink | |
him wine | mingled with | |
mingled with | gall [_see | |
myrrh: but he| Ps. 69:21_]: | |
received it | and when he | |
not. | had tasted | |
| it, he would | |
| not drink. | |

[Footnote 1: Gr. _impressed_.]

[Footnote 2: Gr. _impress_.]

[Footnote 3: According to the Latin, _Calvary_, which has the same
meaning.]

[Footnote a: Golgotha is the Aramaic word for "skull," and Calvary is the Latin word. The place cannot have been where the so-called "Church of the Holy Sepulchre" stands, far within the walls. There is of late a rapidly growing agreement that it was the northern end of the Temple hill, whose rounded summit (without the city wall), and southern face with holes in the rock, looks at a little distance much like a skull. This place fulfils all the conditions.]

Sect. 164. THE FIRST THREE HOURS ON THE CROSS

_From nine A.M. till noon on Friday (three sayings of Jesus; the soldiers gambling for the garment of Jesus; the inscription on the Cross; the scoffing of Jesus by the multitude, the Sanhedrin, the soldiers, and even by the two robbers on each side of Christ)_[a]