human
What, said Pilate, hotly,
gpt
We have a law and by our law he ought to die because he made himself the Son of God, while all the people shouted,
human
We all have heard the blasphemy from his own lips, and Annas added,
gpt
And upon that account we must insist that he suffers the legal punishment.
human
On account of such a speech, which at the most is only the outcome of an enthusiastic imagination, a Roman can find no one guilty of death. Who knows also, he added, with a glance at Jesus,
gpt
Not only against our holy law, but also against Caesar himself has this man been guilty of serious offences. We have found him to be an insurgent and deceiver of the people.
human
He is an agitator and a rebel.
gpt
I have heard of one Jesus who was said to go about the country and teach and do extraordinary works, but I have never heard of any sedition stirred up by him. Were anything of that kind to happen I should have heard of it before you, who am appointed for the maintenance of peace in the land, and am perfectly well informed concerning the words and deeds of the Jews. But tell me, when and where has he stirred up any commotion?
human
He brings together multitudes by thousands around him and he has quite recently, surrounded by such a crowd, made a solemn entry into Jerusalem itself.
gpt
O I know that, said Pilate contemptuously,
human
Is it not sedition if he forbid the people to pay tribute to Caesar?
gpt
Where have you proof of that?
human
Proof enough, retorted Caiaphas,
gpt
I admire your suddenly awakened zeal for the authority of Caesar.
human
Hearest thou what serious accusations these bring against thee? What answerest thou?
gpt
See, said Caiaphas, eagerly,
human
He cannot deny it. His silence is an admission of his crime.
gpt
Sentence him then!
human
Patience, said Pilate,
gpt
Perhaps when he is no longer confused by the crowd and the fury of his accusers he will answer me. Then, speaking to his servants he said,
human
Lead him into the court. And turning to Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin, he said,
gpt
Go! my guard shall take charge of him, but do you examine the justice or injustice of your complaints, and be careful to investigate whether they do not perhaps come from a polluted source. Then let me know the result of your reflections.
human
Everything has been well considered and examined already. The law pronounces him worthy of death.
gpt
This is a troublesome delay,
human
Do not lose heart, victory belongs to the steadfast.
gpt
Thou hast heard the complaint of the council against thee. Give me an answer thereto. Thou hast, they say, called thyself a Son of God. Whence art thou? But Jesus made no answer. Then Pilate said unto him with some surprise,
human
Dost thou not speak even unto me? Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee and to release thee?
gpt
Thou couldst have no power at all against me except it were given unto thee from above. Therefore he that delivereth me unto thee hath the greater sin.
human
Frankly spoken, said Pilate, aside. Then, speaking to Jesus he said,
gpt
Art thou the king of the Jews?
human
Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or only because others have told it to thee?
gpt
Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me. They accuse thee that thou hast desired to be the king of Israel. What ground is there for this?
human
My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, so that I should not be delivered unto the hands of the Jews; but now is my kingdom not from hence.
gpt
Art thou a king then?
human
Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born and for this cause came I into the world, that I might bear witness unto the truth. Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice.
gpt
What is truth?
human
Lord, thy servant Claudius is here; he has to bring thee a pressing message from thy wife.
gpt
Let him come in. Lead the man hence for a moment into the hall. The attendants having led Jesus out, Claudius entered. Pilate asked him,
human
What bringest thou from my dear spouse?
gpt
My lord, said Claudius,
human
Go back and tell her that she need not disturb herself. I will have nothing to do with the proposals of the Jews, but do all that I can to save him.
gpt
Would that I had nothing to do with this business! What do you think, my friends, of the complaint of the Jewish priests?
human
It seems to me that they are only inspired by envy and jealousy. The most passionate hatred appears in their words and countenances.
gpt
The hypocrites pretend that they have the authority of Caesar at heart, whereas the matter concerns only their own authority, which they believe endangered by this famous teacher of the people.
human
I agree with you. I cannot believe that this man entertains any criminal schemes in his mind. There is so much that is noble in his features and in his demeanor. His speech displays so noble a candor and such high natural gifts that he seemed much more to be a very wise man, perhaps only too wise for these gloomy fanatics to be able to bear the light of his countenance. And then the dream which troubled my wife on his account! If he were really of higher origin? No, said Pilate decidedly, arriving at a resolution,
gpt
I will not let myself be induced to comply with the wishes of the priests. Then he ordered his servants, saying,
human
Let the chief priests appear here again, and let the accused be led out again from the judgment hall.
gpt
Here you have your prisoner again; he is without guilt.
human
We have Caesar's word that our law shall be upheld. How can he be without guilt who treads this very law beneath his feet?
gpt
He is worthy of death!
human
Is he not punishable by Caesar when he maliciously injures that which Caesar's will has guaranteed us?
gpt
I have told you already, if he hath done anything against your law, then punish him according to your law, in so far as you are authorized so to do. I cannot pronounce the death sentence upon him, because I find nothing in him which according to the laws upon which I have to act is deserving of death.
human
If any one proclaims himself as king, is he not a rebel? Does he not deserve the death punishment of high treason?
gpt
If, said Pilate,
human
Is it not a sufficient fact that through him the whole people are stirred up; that he fills the whole of Judea with his teaching, beginning from Galilee, where he first attracted followers to himself, until here in Jerusalem?
gpt
Has he come out of Galilee?
human
Yes, he is a Galilean, and the rabbi added,
gpt
His home is in Nazareth, in the jurisdiction of King Herod.
human
If that be so, then am I relieved of the jurisdiction. Herod, King of Galilee, has come hither for the feast; he can now judge his own subject. Take him away and bring him unto his own king. He shall be conducted thither by my body guard.
gpt
Off, then, to Herod! With Herod, who professeth the faith of our fathers, we shall find better protection for our holy law.
human
And if a thousand hindrances were to oppose themselves, the criminal must meet with the deserved punishment.
gpt
One hour sooner or later, what matters it? Thou must come to die, and this very day!
human
What! have they the famous man from Nazareth? And are they bringing him a prisoner here to me?
gpt
Yes, my Lord, said Zabulon,
human
I saw him and recognized him at the first glance.
gpt
I have for a long time desired to see this man, with whose wondrous works the whole land rings, to whom, as if by magic, people run in crowds. Can he be John, risen from the dead?
human
Oh, no, said Naason,
gpt
John worked no miracles; whereas they relate deeds done by this man which in truth are wonderful if they are not exaggerated.
human
As I have, said Herod,
gpt
He will be very willing, said Manasses,
human
Tell the priesthood they may bring their prisoner in.
gpt
They are probably coming with complaints against this man, said Manasses,
human
Let them do that before Pilate--here I have nothing to do--no judgment to pronounce.
gpt
Perhaps they have met with a refusal from the governor and are now siding another way.
human
I do not enter into their pious quarrels. I will see him for myself and test his alleged miraculous powers.
gpt
Most mighty king, and all the priests cried,
human
Prosperity and blessing upon thee from the Almighty!
gpt
A criminal is brought before thee here from the Sanhedrin, that thou mayest execute on him the judgment of the law.
human
The law, said Nathanael,
gpt
and Annas added,
human
May it please the king to confirm the sentence of the synagogue.
gpt
But, said Herod,
human
Pilate sent him hither, because being a Galilean he is thy subject.
gpt
Then this man belongeth to my jurisdiction? Who is he?
human
Jesus of Nazareth.
gpt
Pilate himself said, 'Go to King Herod; let him pronounce sentence upon his own subject.'
human
Did Pilate say that? Wonderful! said Herod. And turning to his courtiers he remarked,
gpt
Pilate sends him to me! Allows me to act as judge in his own province!
human
It seems as if he wished to make approaches to thee again.
gpt
I will accept it as a proof of his friendly feeling.
human
I have heard very much of thee by common report and have longed to see the man that has created such a sensation in this country.
gpt
He is a deceiver, said the rabbi;
human
I have heard, said Herod, taking no notice of the interruption,
gpt
O king, said Zadok,
human
That is all the same to me, said Herod. Then, addressing Jesus, he said,
gpt
I had last night a wonderful dream. If thou canst tell me what I have dreamed of I will esteem thee as a first-class reader of hearts.
human
Thou canst not do so much as that, continued Herod,
gpt
Art thou not experienced in this branch of the business? Well, then, show some of thy famous magic art. Cause it suddenly to become dark in this hall, or raise thyself and depart from us without touching the ground, or convert the roll on which thy death sentence is written into a snake. Thou wilt not, or thou canst not? Any of these things ought to be easy to thee; they relate much more wondrous miracles of thine. Then turning to the courtiers Herod said,
human
He does not stir. Ah, I see well that what has made him so notorious was only idle tittle-tattle. He knows nothing and can do nothing.
gpt
It is easy, said Naason,
human
Why should you not display your wisdom here? Why should your power vanish before the eyes of the king, even as a soap bubble?
gpt
There is nothing remarkable about him. He is a conceited fellow whom the applause of the people hath made crazy. Let him go. It is not worth while making so much trouble on his account.
human
O, King, said Caiaphas,
gpt
If he be put away, then would the peace of the kingdom also stand in danger, for he has presumed to exalt himself to be king.
human
What! said Herod,
gpt
Not this; he has deserved death.
human
O, King, protector of our holy law, remember thy duty to punish the transgressor as the law ordains.
gpt
What have you really against him?
human
He hath profaned the Sabbath,
gpt
He is a blasphemer.
human
And as such the law declares him worthy of death.
gpt
He has also spoken contemptuously of the Temple, which thy father so gloriously rebuilt; he has declared that he would rebuild a more beautiful one in three days.
human
Now that proves indeed that he is a king of fools.
gpt
He has also spoken insultingly of thee. He has presumed to call thee, his lord and king, a fox.
human
Then he has attributed to me a quality which he cannot certainly claim himself, replied Herod.
gpt
Clothe him--wrapped in this splendid robe he will play his part well before the people.
human
Now for the first time thou wilt create a real sensation, thou great wonder-worker.
gpt
He must die!
human
No, I will not be guilty of the blood of so exalted a king; rather lead him forth before the people in this his proper apparel, that they may admire him to their heart's content.
gpt
Come, thou miraculous king, and allow us to accompany thee!
human
What good luck for me to walk by the side of so illustrious a lord!
gpt
Thou hast convinced thyself that his alleged great works were nothing but lies and deceit, whereby the people were defrauded by him. Give, then, thy sentence!
human
Pronounce the sentence of death upon him, as the law demands!
gpt
My opinion is, he is a simple fellow and not capable of the crime of which you accuse him. If he has perchance done or spoken anything against the law it is to be attributed to his simplicity.
human
O, King, said Caiaphas,
gpt
I fear, said Annas,
human
I fear nothing of the kind, said Herod.
gpt
A fool one must treat as a fool. He has already suffered by his follies and will avoid them in the future. With that the trial is at an end.
human
Then it is all over with our law, our religion, Moses and the prophets!
gpt
I abide by my decision. I am weary and will not concern myself further about this affair. Pilate may decide according to his official duty. Offer to him duty and friendship from King Herod.
human
This time the result has not corresponded to our expectations. I expected to find a great wonder-worker and eloquent orator, and behold, there is only quite an ordinary man with never a word to say for himself.
gpt
Ah, said Manasses,
human
Friends, said Herod,
gpt
JESUS OR BARABBAS.