faid; tho' I appear to you a mean and contemptible Perfon, yet tis true that I am a King; only my Kingdom is not indeed of this World. 12. But when the chief Priests and Elders, continued ftill to accufe him, and lay many things to his Charge; Jefus, knowing their unreasonable malice, and the manifeft improbability of their Accufations, refused to return any more Answers. 13. Then faid Pilate ; Why do you not Answer? Do you not hear how many Accufations they bring against you? 14. But Jefus ftill continued Silent; fo that Pilate greatly wondred what his meaning fhould be. 15. Now it was the Cuftom, that at every Paffover, the Governor gratified the People with pardoning and releafing one of the Prifoners ; whom they fhould choose. 12 And when he was accused of the chief priefts and elders, he answered nothing. 13 Then faith Pilate unto him, Heareft thou not how many things they witness against thee? 14 And he anfwered to never a word, infomuch that the gouernor marvelled greatly. 15 Now at that was wont to release feaft the governor unto the People a Prifoner, whom they would. 16 And they had then a notable Priso ner, called Barabbas. 17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate faid unto them, Whom will ye that I release or Jefus, which is cal unto you? Barabbas, led Chrift? 18 For he knew 16. And it happened that there was at that pime a notorious MaleFactor, called Barabbas in Prifon for having been at the head of a great Sedition. 17.When therefore Pilate faw, that tho' no Capital Crime was prov'd against Jefus, yet the Chief of the Jews were obftinately bent to have him put to Death, and would hear no reason; he thought of this expedient; to propofe to the Peo ple Jefus and Barabbas, that they might choofe which of them they would have released; thinking that surely they would choose Jefus, rather than fuch an infamous Malefactor as Barabbas. 18. For Pilate perceived that for envy they plainly, by the whole carri had delivered him. age of the Business, that Jefus was brought before him meerly through the Envy and Malice of the Chief Priefts and Scribes, who were enraged at the Efteem which his Works and and Doctrin had gained him among the People. 19. And Pilate was the more confirmed in his Opinion, by this Accident; As he was fitting upon the Bench, there came a Mef fenger from his Wife, to defire him not to have any Hand in any thing that fhould be done against that Innocent Perfon; for fhe had been much troubled in a Dream about him that Morning. God fo ordering things by his special Providence, that there fhould be from all fides Evidence of Jesus's Innocence and of the Jews invincible and Inexcufable Malice. 20 & 21. Pilate therefore hoping to get Jefus Released by this Expedient, propofed Jefus and Barabbas together, that the People might choose which of them they would have Releafed. But the Chief Priests and Elders ftrongly urged the People, and contrary to Pilates Expectati 22 Pilate faith un to them, What shall I do then with Je on, prevailed upon them to ask Barabbas and not Je fus. 22. Then faid Pilate; What fhall I do then with fus, which is call'd Jefus? They all faid with Chrift? They all - fay unto him, Let him be crucified. one confent, let him be Crucified. 23. Pilate faid; Why, what Capital Crime have ye Convicted him of? I do not fee that any thing Worthy of Death, according to the Roman Laws, is proved against him. But they cried out with fo much the greater Rage and Madness; Away with him, Crucify him. 24. Then Pilate, feeing that he could not prevail with the People to fet Jefus free,but that the Tumult increafed to fuch a degree as even to endanger a Sedition, yielded to their Importunity; yet with a Proteftation of his own diflike of the Fact. For taking Water, and washing his Hands openly before the Multitude, he faid; I am not guilty of B b this this innocent Mans Death; 26.Pilate then released unto them Barabbas;and when he had fcourged Jefus, and found that neither would that fatisfy the People, Fob. 19. he delivered him up to be Crucified. see * 27. Then the Soldiers came about Jefus, and took him into the Governor's Hall, and gathered together their whole Com pany, to abuse and make fport with him. 28. And because they had heard that he had been ftiled King of the Jews, they ftript him of his own, Cloaths, and in derifion put upon him a Scarlet Robe. *It appears from the Hiftory, fohn 19. that fome of these things were done before Pilate Condemned Fefus: But St. Matthew for methods fake relates all these Circumftances together. |