The Life of Jesus

what think ye?' and they answering said, `He is worthy of death.'

Then did they spit in his face and buffet him, and others did slap,

saying, `Declare to us, O Christ, who he is that struck thee?'

And Peter without was sitting in the court, and there came near to him a certain maid, saying, `And thou wast with Jesus of Galilee!'

And he denied before all, saying, `I have not known what thou sayest.'

And he having gone forth to the porch, another female saw him, and saith to those there, `And this one was with Jesus of Nazareth;'

and again did he deny with an oath--`I have not known the man.'

And after a little those standing near having come, said to Peter, `Truly thou also art of them, for even thy speech doth make thee manifest.'

Then began he to anathematise, and to swear--`I have not known the man;' and immediately did a cock crow,

and Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, he having said to him--`Before cock-crowing, thrice thou wilt deny me;' and having gone without, he did weep bitterly.

And morning having come, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus, so as to put him to death;

and having bound him, they did lead away, and delivered him up to Pontius Pilate, the governor.

Then Judas--he who delivered him up--having seen that he was condemned, having repented, brought back the thirty silverlings to the chief priests, and to the elders, saying,

`I did sin, having delivered up innocent blood;' and they said, `What--to us? thou shalt see!'

and having cast down the silverlings in the sanctuary, he departed, and having gone away, he did strangle himself.

And the chief priests having taken the silverlings, said, `It is not lawful to put them to the treasury, seeing it is the price of blood;'

and having taken counsel, they bought with them the field of the potter, for the burial of strangers;

therefore was that field called, `Field of blood,' unto this day.

Then was fulfilled that spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying, `And I took the thirty silverlings, the price of him who hath been priced, whom they of the sons of Israel did price,

and gave them for the field of the potter, as the Lord did appoint to me.'

And Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor did question him, saying, `Art thou the king of the Jews!' And Jesus said to him, `Thou sayest.'

And in his being accused by the chief priests and the elders, he did not answer any thing,

then saith Pilate to him, `Dost thou not hear how many things they witness against thee?'

And he did not answer him, not even to one word, so that the governor did wonder greatly.

And at the feast the governor had been accustomed to release one to the multitude, a prisoner, whom they willed,