human
Honored brothers, fathers and teachers of the people, an extraordinary occurrence is the occasion of the present extraordinary assembly. Listen to it from the mouth of our worthy brother.
gpt
Is it allowed; O, fathers, to say a word?
human
Yes, speak! speak!
gpt
Marvel not, O fathers, that you should be called together at so late an hour for the transaction of business. It must be only too well known to you what we have with shame been compelled to see today with our own eyes. You have seen the triumphal progress of the Galilean through the Holy City. You have heard the Hosannas of the befooled populace. You have perceived how this ambitious man arrogates to himself the office of the high priest. What now lacks for the destruction of all civil and ecclesiastical order? Only a few steps further, and the law of Moses is upset by the innovations of this misleader. The sayings of our forefathers are despised, the fasts and purifications abolished, the Sabbath desecrated, the priests of God deprived of their office, and the holy sacrifices are at an end.
human
True--most true. As he had been speaking they had been interchanging notes of appreciative and sympathetic comment. But it was not until Caiaphas spoke that the Sanhedrin was roused to the highest pitch of excitement. Caiaphas, who spoke with great fire and fervor, thus addressed the rulers of Israel:
gpt
And more than all this. Encouraged by the success of his efforts, he will proclaim himself King of Israel (murmurs of alarm and indignation), then the land will be distracted with civil war and revolt, and the Romans will come with their armies and bring destruction upon our land and our people. Woe is me for the children of Israel, for the Holy City, and for the temple of the Lord, if no barrier is opposed to the evil while there is yet time! It is indeed high time. We must be the saviors of Israel. Today must a resolution be passed, and whatever is resolved upon must be carried out without regard to any other consideration. Do we all agree to this?
human
We do.
gpt
A stop must be put to the course of this misleader.
human
Give your opinion without reserve as to what should be done.
gpt
If I may be permitted to declare my opinion unreservedly, I must assert that we ourselves are to blame that things have come to such a pass. Against this onrushing ruin much too mild measures have been employed. Of what avail have been our disputations with him, or what has it profited that we have by our questionings, put him in a dilemma; that we have pointed, out the errors in his teaching and his violations of the law? Nay, of what use has been even the excommunication pronounced on all who acknowledged him as the Messiah? All this was labor in vain. Men turn their backs on us, and all the world runs after him. To restore peace to Israel, that must be done which ought to have been done long ago--we must arrest him and throw him into prison. That is the only way to put an end to his evil influence.
human
Yea, that must be done!
gpt
Once he is in prison, the credulous people will no longer be attracted by the fascination of his manner or the charm of his discourse. When they have no more miracles to gape at; he will soon be forgotten.
human
In the darkness of his dungeon let him make his light shine and proclaim his Messiahship to the walls of the jail.
gpt
He has been allowed long enough to lead the people astray and to denounce as hypocrisy the strict virtue of the Holy Order of the Pharisees. Let him suffer in fetters for his contempt.
human
The enthusiasm of his hangers-on will soon cool down when he who has promised them freedom is himself in chains.
gpt
Now, venerable priests, a ray of confidence and joy penetrates to my breast when I see your unanimous resolution. Alas! an unspeakable grief has weighed down my soul at the sight of the onward progress of the false teachings of this Galilean. It seemed as if I had lived to old age but in order to have the misfortune of seeing the downfall of our holy law. But now I will not despair. The God of our fathers still lives, and he is with us. If you have the courage to act boldly, and to stand firmly and faithfully together, there is safety at hand. Take courage, steadfastly pursue the aim in view, and be the deliverer of Israel, and undying fame will be your reward.
human
We are of one mind, while the priests added, shouting eagerly,
gpt
Israel must be saved!
human
All honor to your unanimous resolution, worthy brethren, but now let me have the benefit of your wise counsels how we can most safely bring this deceiver into our power.
gpt
It might be dangerous, remarked the first Pharisee,
human
But something must be done at once. The matter brooks no delay. Perhaps at the feast he might raise a commotion, and then it might come to pass that we should be consigned to the place which we have destined for him.
gpt
No delay; cried some other priests,
human
We cannot now seize him openly with the strong hand. We must carry out our scheme cunningly and in secret. Let us find out where he usually spends the night; then we could fall upon him unobserved and take him into custody.
gpt
To track the fox to his lair will not be difficult. We could then soon find someone to help, if it should please the high council to offer a large reward.
human
If you, assembled fathers, agree, then in the name of the high council I will issue notice that whoever knows of his nightly resort, and will inform us of the same, will be rewarded for his pains.
gpt
We are all agreed.
human
Without doubt we could secure the services, as informers, of those men whom the Galilean today has injured so deeply in the sight of all the people, driving them with a scourge out of the temple. From of old they were zealous of the law, but now they are thirsting for revenge against him who has made so unheard-of an attack upon their privileges.
gpt
But where, said Caiaphas,
human
They are waiting, said Nathanael,
gpt
Worthy priest, said Caiaphas,
human
This will be a joy to them and of great use to us.
gpt
The God of our fathers has not withdrawn his hand from us. Moses still watches over us. If only we can succeed in gathering around us a nucleus of men out of the people then I no longer dread the result. Friends and brethren, let us be of good courage, our fathers look down upon us from Abraham's bosom.
human
God bless our high priest! rang through the hall as Nathanael, followed by Dathan and the other traders, returned to his place. He introduced them thus:
gpt
High priests and chosen teachers! These men, worthy of our blessing, appear before this assembly in order to lodge a complaint against the notorious Jesus of Nazareth, who has today insulted them in the temple in an unheard-of fashion and brought them to grief.
human
We beseech the council to procure us satisfaction. The council ought to support our righteous demands.
gpt
You shall have satisfaction, we will answer for that.
human
Has not the council authorized us to display openly in the court of the temple all things useful for the sacrifice?
gpt
Yes, that has been sanctioned. Woe be to those who disturb you in the exercise of this right!
human
And the Galilean has driven us out with a scourge. And the tables of the money changers has he overturned, and released the doves. We demand satisfaction.
gpt
That you should have satisfaction the law decrees. Your losses will be made good in the meantime out of the temple treasury (joy among the traders).
human
But that the offender himself may be duly punished it is necessary for us to have your help. What can we do so long as he is not in our power?
gpt
He goes daily to the temple; there he can easily be arrested and carried off.
human
That will not do. You know that as he has a multitude of excited followers such a course might lead to a dangerous uproar. The thing must be done quietly.
gpt
That could be done best at night-time.
human
If you could find out where he retires at night he would soon be without tumult in our hands. Then would you not only have the delight of seeing him chastised, but also a considerable reward would fall to your lot.
gpt
And you would also have rendered good service to the law of Moses if you assist in this.
human
You can depend upon us, we will spare no trouble.
gpt
I know one of his followers from whom I could easily gain some information if I could offer him a sufficient reward.
human
If thou findest such a one make all necessary promises in our name. Only don't loiter; we must attain our end before the feast.
gpt
We swear it, and then Caiaphas proceeded to urge upon them the need of creating a party on their side among the people.
human
If, my good fellows, you really desire fully to glut your longing for revenge, then take care and use every means to kindle in others the same holy zeal which glows in you.
gpt
We will not rest until the whole populace is roused against him.
human
You will thereby merit the greatest gratitude from the council, said Annas, and Caiaphas chimed in,
gpt
Openly will ye then be honored before all the people as you have been today put to shame before them by this presumptuous man.
human
Our life for the law of Moses and the holy Sanhedrin, then cried the traders.
gpt
The God of Abraham guide you, said Caiaphas dismissing them, and they left the hall crying aloud,
human
Long live Moses! long live the high priests and the Sanhedrin! Even today may the role of the Galilean be played out!
gpt
As though refreshed by sweet slumbers, I live once more. With such men as these we can put everything through. Now we shall see who will triumph,--he with his followers to whom he is always preaching love,--a love which is to include publicans and sinners and even the Gentiles also,--or we with this troop inspired by hate and revenge which we are sending against him. There can be no doubt to which side the victory will incline.
human
The God of our fathers give us the victory! said Annas;
gpt
Let us now break up, looking forward with confidence to the joy of victory. Praised be our fathers!
human
Praised be the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob!