Page:Apocryphal Gospels and Other Documents Relating to the History of Christ.djvu/389

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
THE GOSPEL OF NICODEMUS.
273

Jews said, Our law doth not permit us to put any man to death. Pilate saith, If ye are unwilling to put him to death, how much more am I!

Then Pilate returned into the palace, and said to Jesus, Tell me, art thou the king of the Jews? Jesus answered, Dost thou say this, or did the other Jews say this to thee, that thou shouldst ask me? Pilate said, And am I a Hebrew? I am not a Hebrew; thine own people, and the chief priests, delivered thee into my hands; tell me then, if thou art king of the Jews. Jesus answered, My kingdom is not in this world; for if my kingdom was in this world, my soldiers would not be unconcerned, that I am arrested; therefore, my kingdom is not in this world. Pilate saith, Art thou then a king? Jesus said, Thou sayest: for this was I born, namely, to bear witness to the truth, and if any one is a man of truth, he believeth my word, and doeth it. Pilate saith, What is truth? Jesus answered, Truth is from heaven. Pilate saith, Is not truth on earth? Christ saith, I am the truth; and how is truth judged on earth, by those who have earthly power!

CHAPTER IV.

Therefore, Pilate leaving Jesus alone, went out, and said to the Jews, I find no fault in this man. The Jews answered, May we tell thy majesty what he