The Life of Jesus

Did not the Writing say, that out of the seed of David, and from Bethlehem--the village where David was--the Christ doth come?'

A division, therefore, arose among the multitude because of him.

And certain of them were willing to seize him, but no one laid hands on him;

the officers came, therefore, unto the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, `Wherefore did ye not bring him?'

The officers answered, `Never so spake man--as this man.'

The Pharisees, therefore, answered them, `Have ye also been led astray?

did any one out of the rulers believe in him? or out of the Pharisees?

but this multitude, that is not knowing the law, is accursed.'

Nicodemus saith unto them--he who came by night unto him--being one of them,

`Doth our law judge the man, if it may not hear from him first, and know what he doth?'

They answered and said to him, `Art thou also out of Galilee? search and see, that a prophet out of Galilee hath not risen;'

and each one went on to his house, but Jesus went on to the mount of the Olives.

And at dawn he came again to the temple,

and all the people were coming unto him, and having sat down, he was teaching them;

and the scribes and the Pharisees bring unto him a woman having been taken in adultery, and having set her in the midst,

they say to him, `Teacher, this woman was taken in the very crime--committing adultery,

and in the law, Moses did command us that such be stoned; thou, therefore, what dost thou say?'

and this they said, trying him, that they might have to accuse him. And Jesus, having stooped down, with the finger he was writing on the ground,

and when they continued asking him, having bent himself back, he said unto them, `The sinless of you--let him first cast the stone at her;'

and again having stooped down, he was writing on the ground,

and they having heard, and by the conscience being convicted, were going forth one by one, having begun from the elders--unto the last; and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

And Jesus having bent himself back, and having seen no one but the woman, said to her, `Woman, where are those--thine accusers? did no one pass sentence upon thee?'

and she said, `No one, Sir;' and Jesus said to her, `Neither do I pass sentence on thee; be going on, and no more sin.'

Again, therefore, Jesus spake to them, saying, `I am the light of the world; he who is following me shall not walk in the darkness, but he shall have the light of the life.'

The Pharisees, therefore, said to him, `Thou of thyself dost testify, thy testimony is not true;'