people, whomsoever they would. But there was (then) bound a notorious prisoner who was called Bar-aba. And when they were assembled, Pilatos said to them, Whom will you that I release unto you, Bar-aba, or Jeshu who is called the Meshicha? For Pilatos knew that from malice they had delivered him. But while the governor sat upon his tribunal, his wife sent to him, saying, Let there be nothing between thee and that Just One; for much have I suffered in a dream to-day on his account. But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that he should release to them Bar-aba, that they might destroy Jeshu. And the governor answered and said to them, Whom will you that I shall release to you of these two? Then they said, Bar-aba. Pilatos saith to them, And to Jeshu who is called the Meshicha, what shall I do with him? They all said, Let him be crucified. Pilatos saith to them, Why, what evil hath he done? But they clamoured the more, and said, Let him be crucified! Then Pilatos, when he saw that nothing availed, but that the tumult became greater, took waters (and) washed his hands before[1] the assembly, and said, I am expiated from the blood of this Just One. You shall know. And all the people answered and said, His blood upon us, and upon our children!
LXXII. Lesson for the third Hour.
Then he released to them Bar-aba; and scourged Jeshu with thongs, and delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jeshu to the Prætorium, and the whole cohort gathered against him. And they stripped him, and invested him with a cloak of crimson. And they interwove a crown of thorns, and set it upon his head, and a cane in his right hand: and they kneeled upon their knees before him, and mocked him,
- ↑ In the eye of the assembly.
