"Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice." "What is truth?" said Pilate, wondering, perhaps, what kingdom of truth this harmless man was dreaming of, and then he rose and went forth to the people on "The Pavement" who were saying that this man was stirring up the people from Galilee to Jerusalem. Pilate, hearing that Jesus was a Galilean, sent him to the palace of Herod Antipas, who ruled over that province, and who was now in Jerusalem, but He was sent back to Pilate crowned with thorns and wearing a faded purple robe. The Roman soldiers had jested about His kingship, and Antipas had cruelly carried it out in returning Him in this dress to Pilate, through the streets of the city. He had been tried the fourth time and now Pilate made another effort to set Him free, He questioned Him again and heard the complaints of the Jews, but Jesus would not defend Himself. [Illustration: Jesus crowned with thorns] "Hearest thou not how many things, they witness against thee?" said Pilate. "Answerest thou nothing?" If Jesus would only defend Himself! Then Pilate thought he would scourge Jesus to satisfy His enemies, and let Him go. "Ye have brought this man unto me," he said to the chief priests, "as one that perverteth the people, and behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man. No, nor yet Herod. I will therefore chastise him and release him." [Illustration: Jesus before Pilate] The cry of "Crucify him! crucify him!" rose again. A message was sent to Pilate from his wife, which deepened the shadow on his face. "Have thou nothing to do with that just man," she said, "for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him." The people had been persuaded by the priests to ask for Barabbas, and when Pilate asked which of the two he should release to them, they cried, "Barabbas!" "What shall I do with Jesus, which is called Christ?" and all cried, "Let him be crucified!" "Why, what evil hath he done?" asked Pilate, but the cry was so great he could bear it no longer, and calling a slave to bring water, he washed his hands before them as a sign that he took no blame for the act, and said, "I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it," but they cried, "His blood be upon us, and upon our children." And when Pilate had given the order to scourge and crucify Jesus, he went into his palace. CHAPTER XLIII. LOVE AND DEATH.