14 They answered Pilate, We have a law whereby we are forbid to swear, it being a sin: Let them swear by the life of Caesar that it is not as we have said, and we will be contented to be put to death.
15 Then said Annas and Caiphas to Pilate, Those twelve men will not believe that we know him to be basely born, and to be a conjurer, although he pretends that he is the Son of God, and a king: which we are so far from believing, that we tremble to hear.
16 Then Pilate commanded every one to go out except the twelve men who said he was not born through fornication, and Jesus to withdraw to a distance, and said to them, Why have the Jews a mind to kill Jesus?
17 They answered him, They are angry because he wrought cures on the sabbath day. Pilate said, Will they kill him for a good work? They say unto him, Yes, Sir.
CHAPTER III
1 Is exonerated by Pilate. 11 Disputes with Pilate concerning truth.
THEN Pilate, filled with anger, went out of the hall, and said to the Jews, I call the whole world to witness that I find no fault in that man.
2 The Jews replied to Pilate, If he had not been a wicked person, we had not brought him before thee.
3 Pilate said to them, Do ye take him and try him by your law.
4 Then the Jews said, It is not lawful for us to put any one to death.
5 Pilate said to the Jews, The command, therefore, thou shalt not kill, belongs to you, but not to me.
6 And he went again into the hall, and called Jesus by himself, and said to him, Art thou the king of the Jews?
7 And Jesus answering, said to Pilate, Dost thou speak this of thyself, or did the Jews tell it thee concerning me?
8 Pilate answering, said to Jesus, Am I a Jew? The whole nation and rulers of the Jews have delivered thee up to me. What hast thou done?
9 Jesus answering, said, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, and I should not have been delivered to the Jews: but now my kingdom is not from hence.
10 Pilate said, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king: to this end was I born, and for this end came I into the world; and for this purpose I came, that I should bear witness to the truth; and every one who is of the truth, heareth my voice.
11 Pilate saith to him, What is truth?
12 Jesus said, Truth is from heaven.
13 Pilate said, Therefore truth is not on earth.
14 Jesus saith to Pilate, Believe that truth is on earth among those, who when they have the power of judgment, are governed by truth, and form right judgment.
CHAPTER IV
1 Pilate finds no fault in Jesus. 16 The Jews demand his crucifixion.
THEN Pilate left Jesus in the hall, and went out to the Jews, and said, I find not any one fault in Jesus.
2 The Jews say unto him, But he said, I can destroy the temple of God, and in three days build it up again.
3 Pilate saith to them, What sort of temple is that of which he speaketh?
4 The Jews say unto him, That which Solomon was forty-six years in building, he said he would destroy, and in three days build up.
5 Pilate said to them again, I am innocent from the blood of that man! do ye look to it.
6 The Jews say to him, His blood be upon us and our children. Then Pilate calling together the elders and scribes, priests and Levites, saith to them privately, Do not act thus; I have found nothing in your charge (against him) concerning his curing sick persons, and breaking the sabbath, worthy of death.
7 The priests and Levites replied to Pilate, By the life of Caesar, if any one be a blasphemer, he is worthy of death; but this man hath blasphemed against the Lord.
8 Then the governor again commanded the Jews to depart out of the hall; and calling Jesus, said to him, What shall I do with thee?
9 Jesus answered him, Do according as it is written.
10 Pilate said to him, How is it written?
11 Jesus saith to him, Moses and the prophets have prophesied concerning my suffering and resurrection.
12 The Jews hearing this, were provoked, and said to Pilate, Why wilt thou any longer hear the blasphemy of that man?
13 Pilate saith to them, If these words seem to you blasphemy, do ye take him, bring him to your court, and try him according to your law.
14 The Jews reply to Pilate, Our law saith, he shall be obliged to receive nine and thirty stripes, but if after this manner he shall blaspheme against the Lord, he shall be stoned.
15 Pilate saith unto them, If that speech of his was blasphemy, do ye try him according to your law.
16 The Jews say to Pilate, Our law command us not to put any one to death. We desire that he may be crucified, because he deserves the death of the cross.
17 Pilate saith to them, It is not fit he should be crucified: let him be only whipped and sent away.
18 But when the governor looked upon the people that were present and the Jews, he saw many of the Jews in tears, and said to the chief priests of the Jews, All the people do not desire his death.
19 The elders of the Jews answered to Pilate, We and all the people came hither for this very purpose, that he should die.
20 Pilate saith to them, Why should he die?
21 They said to him, Because he declares himself to be the Son of God and a King.
CHAP. V
1 Nicodemus speaks in defence of Christ, and relates his miracles. 12 Another Jew, 26 with Veronica, 34 Centurio, and others, testify of other miracles.
BUT Nicodemus, a certain Jew, stood before the governor, and said, I entreat thee, O righteous judge, that thou wouldst favour me with the liberty of speaking a few words.
2 Pilate said to him, Speak on.
3 Nicodemus said, I spake to the elders of the Jews, and the scribes, and priests and Levites, and all the multitude of the Jews, in their assembly; What is it ye would do with this man?
4 He is a man who hath wrought many useful and glorious miracles, such as no man on earth ever wrought before, nor will ever work. Let him go, and do him no harm; if he cometh from God, his miracles, (his miraculous cures) will continue; but if from men, they will come to nought.
5 Thus Moses, when he was sent by God into Egypt, wrought the miracles which God commanded him, before Pharaoh king of Egypt; and though the magicians of that country, Jannes and Jambres, wrought by their magic the same miracles which Moses did, yet they could not work all which he did;
6 And the miracles which the magicians wrought, were not of God, as ye know, O Scribes and Pharisees; but they who wrought them perished, and all who believed them.
7 And now let this man go; because the very miracles for which ye accuse him, are from God; and he is not worthy of death.
8 The Jews then said to Nicodemus, Art thou become his disciple, and making speeches in his favour?
9 Nicodemus said to them, Is the governor become his disciple also, and does he make speeches for him? Did not Caesar place him in that high post?
10 When the Jews heard this they trembled, and gnashed their teeth at Nicodemus, and said to him, Mayest thou receive his doctrine for truth, and have thy lot with Christ!
11 Nicodemus replied, Amen; I will receive his doctrine, and my lot with him, as ye have said.
12 Then another certain Jew rose up, and desired leave of the governor to hear him a few words.
13