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Having denied here a second time, Peter was overcome in his promise, the weak flesh not being sufficient for the eagerness of the soul, as the evil one attacked him and shook him. 363 Jo 18, 28 On that very day, on which they were eating the typical lamb, it was necessary for the lamb of God also to be slain. They, having their hands defiled in their purpose for the most unjust murder, considered it a defilement to approach an inanimate place, yet were not able to harm at all the one who was pure of heart. 364 Jo 18, 29 Even though he was a Gentile, yet, moved by natural reasoning, he sought the charge for which they had handed him over for death. 365 Jo 18, 30 Having no sin to speak of against him, they spoke against him indefinitely, calling him an evildoer. 366 Jo 18, 31 He exposes their lawlessness through the things which he declines. 367 Jo 18, 31 Although they themselves were working the murder in deed, they said, "It is not lawful for us to kill." And they said this as having fallen from their ancient authority and rule, or they said this for this reason, because they did not have the custom of crucifying those who were being put to death. For this reason they also handed him over to the Romans, among whom the manner of execution by the cross was practiced. 368 Jo 18, 33 For among the faithful such a report was spread. And the chief priests, finding no occasion, slandered him as one who spoke against Caesar. 369 Jo 18, 35 For the chief priests, finding no occasion, slandered him as a king and one who rose up against Caesar. 370 Jo 18, 36 Christ, wishing to persuade Pilate, showed that he is indeed a king, but he was not handling a human rule, and so he persuades him from what is likely, that he does not have acquired strength or glory like the kings on earth, but has the things of power by nature. "If I were," he says, "an earthly king, my attendants would have been compelled to defend me as one being wronged and as one supposedly being led to death against my will; for the angels did not do this, but kept quiet, being astonished as they understood the economy of Christ's presence." 371 Jo 18, 37 Responding in part, he neither denied his own kingship nor did he consent to it as Pilate conceived it; for having been born to be king, he had the kingship not as acquired, but as natural. And he has become for us a witness and teacher of the true faith. 372 Jo 18, 37-38 The one who is dedicated to God and holds the truth in high regard recognized that all the things he spoke were true. But Pilate, being a stranger to this—for the knowledge of God had nearly vanished from humankind—said: "What is truth?" Thus he refuted him with these brief words, so as to say, "What is truth?"; for it had nearly vanished from humankind previously and was unknown by all who were still being examined in unbelief. 373 Jo 18, 38-40 For the time being, from what he says, he shows himself to be respectful and moved by natural law he thought it was just for him to be released. From which he also reminded them that it was also customary for them during those days to practice not being harsh. But they, being of a robber's mindset, sought for the one of like manner to themselves to be released, but for the just one to be killed as one who thought things contrary to them.

374 Jo 19, 1-3 Pilate, wishing to soften their anger, scourged him, but the soldiers, mocking him, put on him a supposedly royal attire, but he endured it. 375 Jo 19, 4-6 Through the examination of the facts Pilate wished to declare him guiltless publicly, but they savagely shouted "Crucify." 376 Jo 19, 6 Pilate, as they were shouting irrationally, and having many times said he was guiltless and not persuading them, disclaiming responsibility for the matter, says these things. 377 Jo 19, 7 Speaking things contrary to the law, they say these things; for if ordinary Israelites were called sons of God, they never had a law to bring a charge against the one who is truly the Son of God, because he said what he was, calling himself the Son of God. 378 Jo 19, 8-9 Hearing him to be the Son of God, he became more cautious. But Jesus, knowing that he was making his defense to people in vain

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ἀρνησάμενος ἐνταῦθα δεύτερον ὁ Πέτρος ἡττήθη τῆς ὑποσχέσεως τῆς ἀσθενοῦς σαρκὸς οὐκ ἀρκεσάσης πρὸς τὴν τῆς ψυχῆς προθυμίαν τοῦ πονηροῦ ἐπιθεμένου αὐτῷ καὶ δονήσαντος αὐτόν. 363 Jo 18, 28 Ἐν αὐτῇ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ, ἐν ᾗ τὸ τυπικὸν ἤσθιον πρόβατον, ἐχρῆν σφαγῆναι καὶ τὸν ἀμνὸν τοῦ θεοῦ. οἵτινες τῇ προαιρέσει μεμιασμένας ἔχοντες τὰς χεῖρας ἐπὶ τῷ ἀδικωτάτῳ φόνῳ μολυσμὸν ἡγοῦντο τὸ πλησιάσαι ἀψύχῳ τόπῳ, οὐδὲν λυμήνασθαι συνήμυναν τὸν τῆς καρδίας καθαρόν. 364 Jo 18, 29 Εἰ καὶ ἐθνικὸς ἦν, ἀλλὰ φυσικῷ λογισμῷ κινούμενος τὴν αἰτίαν ἐπεζήτει, δι' ἣν αὐτὸν εἰς θάνατον παρέδωκαν. 365 Jo 18, 30 Οὐκ ἔχοντες εἰπεῖν τι ἁμάρτημα κατ' αὐτοῦ ἀορίστως κατ' αὐτοῦ ἔλεγον κακοποιὸν ὀνομάζοντες. 366 Jo 18, 31 Ἐλέγχει αὐτῶν τὴν παρανομίαν δι' ὧν παραιτεῖται. 367 Jo 18, 31 Ἔργῳ αὐτοὶ τὸν φόνον ἐργαζόμενοι ἔλεγον, ὅτι οὐκ ἔξεστιν ἡμῖν ἀποκτεῖναι. τοῦτο δὲ ἔλεγον ὡς καὶ ἐκπεσόντες τῆς ἀρχαίας ἐξουσίας καὶ τῆς ἀρχῆς ἤτοι διὰ τοῦτο εἶπον τοῦτο, ἐπειδὴ οὐκ εἶχον ἔθος σταυροῦν τοὺς φονευομένους. διὸ καὶ Ῥωμαίοις παρέδωκαν, παρ' οἷς ὁ τρόπος τῆς διὰ σταυροῦ ἀναιρέσεως ἐπράττετο. 368 Jo 18, 33 Παρὰ γὰρ τοῖς πιστοῖς ἡ τοιαύτη διεφέρετο φήμη. καὶ οὐδεμίαν οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς εὑρίσκοντες ἀφορμὴν ὡς ἀντιλέγοντα Καίσαρι διέβαλλον. 369 Jo 18, 35 Οὐδεμίαν γὰρ οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς εὑρίσκοντες ἀφορμὴν ὡς βασιλέα καὶ ἀνταίροντα Καίσαρι διέβαλλον. 370 Jo 18, 36 Ὁ Χριστὸς βουλόμενος πεῖσαι τὸν Πιλᾶτον ἐδείκνυεν, ὅτι βασιλεὺς μέν ἐστι, ἀλλ' οὐκ ἀνθρωπίνην ἀρχὴν μετεχειρίζετο καὶ λοιπὸν ἐκ τῶν εἰκότων πείθει αὐτόν, ὅτι οὐκ ἐπίκτητον ἔχει ἰσχὺν ἢ δόξαν ὡς οἱ ἐπὶ γῆς βασιλεῖς , ἀλλὰ φυσικῶς ἔχει τὰ τῆς δυνάμεως. εἰ δὲ ἤμην, φησίν, βασιλεὺς ἐπίγειος, ἀνάγκην εἶχον οἱ ὑπασπισταί μου ἐπαμύνειν μοι ὡς ἀδικουμένῳ καὶ ὡς παρὰ προαίρεσιν δῆθεν ἀγομένῳ εἰς θάνατον· οἱ γὰρ ἄγγελοι οὐκ ἐποίησαν τοῦτο, ἀλλ' ἡσύχαζον ἐκπληττόμενοι ὡς νοοῦντες τὴν οἰκονομίαν τῆς τοῦ Χριστοῦ παρουσίας. 371 Jo 18, 37 ΜέJoς ἀποκριθεὶς οὔτε τὴν ἰδίαν ἠρνεῖτο βασιλείαν οὔτε ὡς ὁ Πιλᾶτος ἐνενόει, συνῄνει· εἰς γὰρ τὸ βασιλεύειν γεννηθεὶς οὐκ ἐπίκτητον, ἀλλὰ φυσικὴν εἶχε τὴν βασιλείαν. μάρτυς δὲ ἡμῖν γέγονε καὶ διδάσκαλος τῆς ἀληθοῦς πίστεως. 372 Jo 18, 37-38 Ὁ θεῷ ἀνακείμενος καὶ περὶ πολλοῦ ποιούμενος τὴν ἀλήθειαν ἐπε γίγνωσκεν, ὅτι πάντα, ὅσα ἐλάλει, ἀληθῆ ἦν. ὁ δὲ Πιλᾶτος ξένος ὢν τούτου-σχεδὸν γὰρ ἐξ ἀνθρώπων ἠφάνιστο ἡ θεογνωσία-εἶπεν· τί ἐστιν ἀλήθεια; Οὕτως αὐτὸν ἀνεῖλε τοῖς βραχέσι ῥήμασιν ὡς εἰπεῖν τί ἐστιν ἀλήθεια· σχεδὸν γὰρ ἐξ ἀνθρώπων ἠφάνιστο τὸ πρὶν καὶ ἠγνοεῖτο ὑπὸ πάντων ἔτι ἐν ἀπιστίᾳ ἐξεταζομένων. 373 Jo 18, 38-40 Τέως αἰδοῖον ἑαυτὸν ἐξ ὧν λέγει ἀποφαίνει καὶ φυσικῷ νόμῳ κινούμενος δίκαιον εἶναι ᾤετο ἀπολυθῆναι αὐτόν. ἐξ ὧν καὶ ὑπεμίμνῃσκεν αὐτούς, ὅτι καὶ σύνηθες ἦν αὐτοῖς κατὰ τὰς ἡμέρας ἐκείνας ἐπιτηδεύειν μὴ εἶναι ἀπηνεῖς. οἱ δὲ λῃστρικοῦ ὄντες φρονήματος τὸν ὁμοιότροπον ἑαυτοῖς ἐζήτουν ἀπολυθῆναι, τὸν δὲ δίκαιον ἀποκτανθῆναι ὡς ἐναντία αὐτοῖς φρονοῦντα.

374 Jo 19, 1-3 Ὁ μὲν Πιλᾶτος βουλόμενος αὐτῶν τὸν θυμὸν μαλάξαι ἐμάστιξεν αὐτόν, οἱ δὲ στρατιῶται διασύροντες αὐτὸν ἐπετίθεσαν αὐτῷ δῆθεν βασιλικὸν σχῆμα, ὁ δὲ ἠνείχετο. 375 Jo 19, 4-6 ∆ιὰ τῆς τῶν πραγμάτων ἐξετάσεως ὁ Πιλᾶτος δημοσίᾳ ἠβούλετο αὐτὸν ἀναίτιον ἀποφήνασθαι, οἱ δὲ ἀγρίως ἐπεφώνησαν τὸ σταύρωJoν. 376 Jo 19, 6 Ὁ Πιλᾶτος ἀλόγως αὐτῶν ἐπιβοώντων πολλάκις τε αὐτὸν ἀναίτιον εἰπὼν καὶ μὴ πείσας ἀφοσιούμενος τὸ πρᾶγμά φησι ταῦτα. 377 Jo 19, 7 Ἐναντία τοῦ νόμου φθεγγόμενοί φασι ταῦτα· εἰ γὰρ οἱ τυχόντες Ἰσραηλῖται υἱοὶ θεοῦ ἐκαλοῦντο, οὐδέποτε νόμον εἶχον ἐγκαλέσαι τῷ ὄντι θεοῦ υἱῷ κατ' ἀλήθειαν, ὅτι τὸ ὂν ἔλεγεν υἱὸν ἑαυτὸν ὀνομάζων θεοῦ. 378 Jo 19, 8-9 Ἀκούσας αὐτὸν υἱὸν θεοῦ εὐλαβέστερον διετέθη. ὁ δὲ ἸηJoῦς εἰδώς, ὅτι εἰς μάτην ἀπελογεῖτο ἀνθρώποις