Section L.

[1] 3387And Pilate said unto the chief priests and the multitude, I have not found [2] against this man anything.  3388But they cried out and said, He hath disquieted3389 our people with his teaching in all Judæa, and he began3390 from Galilee and unto this [3] place.  3391And Pilate, when he heard the name of Galilee, asked, Is this man a Galilæan?  [4] 3392And when he learned that he was under the jurisdiction of Herod, he sent him to Herod:  for he was in Jerusalem in those days.

[5] 3393And Herod, when he saw Jesus, rejoiced exceedingly:  for he had desired to see him for a long time, because he had heard regarding him many things; and he counted on3394 [6] [Arabic, p. 189] seeing some sign from him.  3395And he questioned him with many words; but [7] Jesus answered him not a word.  3396And the scribes and chief priests were [8] standing by, and they accused him vehemently.  3397And Herod scoffed at him, he and his servants; and when he had scoffed at him, he clothed him in robes of scarlet, [9] and sent him to Pilate.  3398And on that day Pilate and Herod became friends, there having been3399 enmity between them before that.

[10, 11] 3400And Pilate called the chief priests and the rulers of the people, 3401and said unto them, Ye brought unto me this man, as the perverter of your people:  and I have tried him before you, and have not found in this man any cause3402 of all that ye [12] seek3403 against him:  3404nor yet Herod:  for I sent him unto him; and he hath done [13] nothing for which he should deserve death.  3405So now I will chastise him, and let [14, 15] him go.  3406The multitude all cried out and said, Take him from us, take him.  3407And [16] the chief priests and the elders accused him of many things.  3408And during their [17] accusation he answered not a word.  3409Then Pilate said unto him, Hearest thou not [18] how many things they witness against thee?  3410And he answered him not, not even one word:  and Pilate marvelled at that.

[19] 3411And when the judge sat on his tribune, his wife sent unto him, and said unto him, See that thou have nothing to do with that righteous man:  for I have suffered much in my dream3412 to-day because of him.

[20] 3413And at every feast the custom of the judge was to release to the people one [21] prisoner, him whom they would.  3414And there was in their prison a well-known prisoner, [22, 23] called Barabbas.  3415And when they assembled, Pilate said unto them, 3416Ye have a custom, that I should release unto you a prisoner at the passover:  will ye that I [24] release unto you the King of the Jews?  3417And they all cried out and said, Release not [Arabic, p. 190] unto us this man, but release unto us Barabbas.  And this Barabbas was a [25] robber, 3418who for sedition3419 and murder, which was in the city, was cast into the [26] prison.  3420And all the people cried out and began to ask him to do as the custom was [27] that he should do with them.  3421And Pilate answered and said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you?  Barabbas, or Jesus which is called the Messiah, the [28] King of the Jews?  3422For Pilate knew that envy had moved them to deliver him up. [29] 3423And the chief priests and the elders asked the multitudes to deliver Barabbas, and [30] to destroy Jesus.  3424The judge answered and said unto them, Whom of the two will [31] ye that I release unto you?  They said, Barabbas.  3425Pilate said unto them, And [32] Jesus which is called the Messiah, what shall I do with him?  3426They all cried out [33] and said, Crucify him.  3427And Pilate spake to them again, for he desired to release [34] Jesus; 3428but they cried out and said, Crucify him, crucify him, and release unto us [35] Barabbas.  3429And Pilate said unto them a third time, What evil hath this man done?  I have not found in him any cause3430 to necessitate death:  I will chastise him and [36] let him go.  3431But they increased in importunity3432 with a loud voice, and asked him to crucify him.  And their voice, and the voice of the chief priests, prevailed.  [37] 3433Then Pilate released unto them that one who was cast into prison for sedition and murder, Barabbas, whom they asked for:  3434and he scourged Jesus with whips.3435

[38] 3436Then the footsoldiers of the judge took Jesus, and went into the prætorium, and [39] [Arabic, p. 191] gathered unto him all of the footsoldiers.  3437And they stripped him, and put on [40] him a scarlet cloak.  3438And they clothed him in garments of purple, and plaited [41] a crown of thorns, and placed it on his head, and a reed in his right hand; 3439and while they mocked at him and laughed, they fell down on their knees before him, and bowed [42] down to3440 him, and said, Hail,3441 King of the Jews!  3442And they spat in his face, and took the reed from his hand, and struck him on his head, 3443and smote his cheeks.  [43] 3444And Pilate went forth without again, and said unto the Jews, I bring him forth to [44] you, that ye may know that I do not find, in examining3445 him, even one crime.3446  3447And Jesus went forth without, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple garments.  [45] 3448Pilate said unto them, Behold, the man!  A