all the disciples forsook him, and fled. And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body, and the young men laid hold on him. And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked. Matt. xxvi. 57-68. Mark xiv. 53–65. Luke xxii. 54, 55. 63-65. John xviii. 12-24. Then the band, and the captain, and officers of the Jews took Jesus and bound him, and led him away to Annas first, for he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, which was the high-priest that same year. Now Caiaphas was he which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient, that one man should die for the people. And Annas sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high-priest: and with him were assembled all the chief-priests, and the elders, and the scribes. And Simon Peter followed Jesus afar off, and so did another disciple. That disciple was known unto the high-priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high-priest. But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple which was known unto the high-priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter. And the servants and officers had made a fire of coals in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, and Peter sat down among them to see the end: and warmed himself at the fire. The high-priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. Jesus answered him, "I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in "the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the "Jews always resort, and in secret have I said nothing. Why askest thou me? ask them "which heard me, what I have said unto them: "behold, they know what I said." And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by, struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high-priest so? Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken evil, bear "witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest "thou me?" Now the chief priests and elders, and all the council sought false witness against Jesus to put him to death; but found none: for though many bare false witness against him, their witness agreed not together. At the last came two false witnesses, and said, We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands. But neither so did their witness agree together. And the high-priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? But Jesus held his peace, and answered nothing. And the high-priest said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us, whether thou be the Christ, the son of God the blessed? And Jesus said, "I am and I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand "of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven." Then the high-priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what need we any further witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. What think ye? And they all condemned him, and said, He is guilty of death. Then did they spit in his face, and the men that held Jesus mocked him, covered his face, and when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee? And many other things blasphe-* mously spake they against him: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands. Matt. xxvi. 69–75. Mark xiv. 66–72. Luke xxii. 56-62. John xviii. 17, 26, 27. Now Peter sat without in the palace, and there cometh one of the maids of the high-priest, the damsel that kept the door. And when she saw Peter warming himself, she earnestly looked upon him, and said, Art thou not also one of this man's disciples? Thou wast also with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I am not, I know him not, I know not what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch, and the cock crew. And when he was gone out into the porch, this maid saw him again, and another, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. They said therefore unto him, Art thou not also one of his disciples? And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a while, about the space of an hour after, one of the servants of the high. priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow was also with him; for he is a Galilean. said to Peter, Did I not see thee in the garden with him? And they that stood by said unto him, Surely thou art one of them, for thy speech betrayeth thee. And he denied again, and began to curse and to swear, I know not this man of whom ye speak. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew the second time. And the Lord turned and looked upon Peter; and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice: and he went out, and wept *bitterly. And he THE ACTS OF FRIDAY. Matt. xxvii. 1, 2. Mark xv. 1. Luke xxii. 66-71. xxiii. 1. 86 AND straightway in the morning, as soon as it was day, the elders of the people, and the chief priests and the scribes came together, took counsel against Jesus to put him to death and led him into their council, (to give him another hearing,) saying, Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, "If I tell you, you will not be"lieve me. And if I also ask you, you will not answer me, nor let me go. Hereafter shall the "Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of "God." Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, "Ye say "that I am." And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth. And the whole multitude of them arose, and when they had bound Jesus, they led him from Caiaphas, unto the hall of judgment, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. Matt. xxvii. 3-10. Then Judas which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, I have sinned, in that I have betrayed innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself; (and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out, Acts i. 18.) And And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, E because it is the price of blood. And they took counsel, and bought with them the potters field to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called The field of blood, unto this day. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value : and gave them for the potters field, as the Lord appointed me. John xviii. 28-32. And the Jews went not into the judgment-hall, lest they should be defiled*: but that they might eat the passover. Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring you against this man? They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee. Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death: That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, signifying what death he should die. Matt. xxvii. 11-14. Mark xv. 2-5. Luke xxiii. 2-12. John xviii. 33-38. And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cæsar, saying, that he himself is Christ a king. Then Pilate entered into the judgment-hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the king of the Jews? Jesus answered him, "" Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?" Pilate * One party among the Jews, eat the passover a day later than the rest. |