93. Jesus before Pilate Early in the morning of the day afterwards called Good Friday the Jews brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, to have the sentence of death confirmed. Not wishing to defile themselves, the Jews kept outside of the hall of judgment, and Pilate came out to them and asked: What accusation bring ye against this Man? They answered: He perverts the people and forbids paying tribute to Caesar, and calls Himself Christ, a King. Pilate took him into the hall of judgment and asked: Art Thou a King? Jesus answered: I am King; but my kingdom is not of this world; for then my servants would have fought for me. I came into the world to bear witness unto the truth. Every one who is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate perceived that Jesus was innocent and would gladly have set Him free; but he feared the priests and the scribes, therefore he dared not do it openly, but went out to the people and said: Ye have a custom that I should release a prisoner at the Passover. Whom will ye have, Jesus or Barabbas? The priests stirred up the people against Jesus, and they cried: Away with Him! But give us Barabbas. Now, Barabbas was a murderer and robber. Pilate then, hoping to excite the pity of the people, delivered Jesus to the soldiers to be scourged. And the soldiers stripped off His clothes and scourged Him; then they threw around Him a purple robe, put a reed in His hand and a crown of thorns upon His head, and fell down before Him and shouted: Hail, Thou King of the Jews! And they struck Him on the head with the reed. And Pilate brought Him out to the people and said: Behold the Man! But the Jews cried: Crucify Him, crucify Him! Pilate still sought to set Him free, but they cried: If thou release this Man, thou art not Caesar’s friend! Then Pilate took water and washed his hands before the people and said: I am innocent of the blood of this righteous Man! They said: His blood be upon us and upon our children! Then he delivered Jesus to be crucified. (All the Gospels.) 94. Jesus on the Cross They now led Jesus out of the city to a place called Golgotha, to crucify Him. And He bore the cross Himself. Many weeping women followed Him, and Jesus turned to them and said: Weep not for me; but weep for yourselves and for your children! Over the cross was written: JESUS OF NAZARETH, KING OF THE JEWS. It was about nine o’clock in the forenoon when they crucified Him. Two robbers were also crucified with Him, one on His right and one on His left side.