[Footnote a: This ratification of the condemnation after dawn was an effort to make the action legal. But no ratification of a wrong can make it right. Some modern Jewish writers admit the illegalities and argue the unhistorical character of the narrative. But the hate of the Sanhedrin for Jesus made them violate their own rules of legal procedure. See my book, _The Pharisees and Jesus_.] § 158. REMORSE AND SUICIDE OF JUDAS THE BETRAYER IN THE TEMPLE AND IN A PLACE WITHOUT THE WALLS OF JERUSALEM Friday morning Matt. 27:3-10 |Acts 1:18, 19 | 3 Then Judas, which betrayed |18 (Now this man obtained a him, when he saw that he was | field with the reward of his condemned, repented himself, | iniquity; and falling headlong, and brought back the thirty | he burst asunder in the midst, pieces of silver to the chief | and all his bowels gushed out. 4 priests and elders, saying, I |19 And it became known to all the have sinned in that I betrayed | dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch [1]innocent blood. But they | that in their language that said, What is that to us? see | field was called Akeldama, that 5 thou _to it_. And he cast down | is, The field of blood.) the pieces of silver into the | sanctuary, and departed; and he| 6 went away and hanged himself. And the chief priests took the pieces of silver, and said, It is not lawful to put them into the [2]treasury, since it is the price of blood [_see Deut. 23:18_]. 7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to 8 bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called, The field of 9 blood, unto this day. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken [3]by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, And [4]they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was priced, [5]whom 10 _certain_ of the children of Israel did price; and [6]they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me [_see Zech. 11:13; Jer. 18:2; 19:2; 32:6-15_]. [Footnote 1: Many ancient authorities read _righteous_.] [Footnote 2: Gr. _corbanas_, that is, _sacred treasury_. Comp. Mark 7:11.] [Footnote 3: Or, _through_.] [Footnote 4: Or, _I took_.] [Footnote 5: Or, _whom they priced on the part of the sons of Israel_.] [Footnote 6: Some ancient authorities read _I gave_.] § 159. JESUS BEFORE PILATE THE FIRST[a] TIME Jerusalem. Friday, early morning