Chapter XXVIII: Section I: Spies, or Informers

Who will not be surprised to find in this case the odious practice of employing hired informers? Branded with infamy, as they are in modern times, they will be still more so when we carry back their origin to the trial of Christ. It will be seen presently, whether I have not properly characterized by the name of hired informers those emissaries, whom the chief priests sent out to be about Jesus.

We read in the evangelist Luke, chap. xx. 20: _Et observantes miserunt insidiatores, qui se justos simularent, ut caperent eum in sermone, et traderent illum principatui et potestati præsidis_. I will not translate this text myself, but will take the language of a translator whose accuracy is well known, Mr. De Sacy: “As they only sought occasions for his destruction, they sent to him _apostate persons who feigned themselves just men_, in order to _take hold_ of his words, that they might deliver him unto magistrate and into the power of the governor.” And Mr. De Sacy adds—“if there should escape from him the least word against the public authorities.”

This first artifice has escaped the sagacity of Mr. Salvador.