Herod questioned Jesus, but received no answer. Angered at His silence, Herod first mocked Him, and then sent Him back to Pilate, dressed in a gorgeous robe. Pilate then resorted to a stratagem. Every Passover a prisoner was set free, and Pilate bade the crowd choose between Jesus and Barabbas, a robber who had committed murder in an insurrection and was then lying in prison, feeling sure that they would choose Jesus. But the priests and rabbis exerted their power to the utmost. They stirred the people to a frenzy, and then with threats and bribes urged them to demand the rebel instead of Jesus, whom, but a few days before, they had acclaimed as the Messiah. To the dismay of Pilate, the crowd shouted their decision, _"Away with this Man! And release unto us Barabbas."_ In angry helplessness, Pilate called for water, and publicly washed his hands, crying out, _"I am innocent of the blood of this just person! See ye to it."_ Instantly the frenzied people yelled in reply, _"His blood be on us and on our children!"_ Pilate then asked what he should do to Jesus, and as one great voice the answer came, _"Crucify Him!"_ The cowardly Pilate had one last hope. Possibly the cruel multitude might be touched if they saw Jesus punished by the scourge--a whip into which pieces of lead and bone had been plaited. Jesus bore the agony meekly. Then over His bruised and bleeding body a cast-off cloak was flung; a rude crown of sharp thorns was placed upon His head; and in His right hand a reed, as a mock scepter, was placed; while in heartless derision the mob sneeringly hailed Him as King of the Jews. With unwearying patience Jesus submitted to their taunts and jeers. [Illustration: "JESUS SUBMITTED TO THEIR TAUNTS AND JEERS."] Now exposed where all could see Him, the chief priests led, and the crowd again took up the cry, _"Crucify Him, Crucify Him!"_ Cowed by the words, _"If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend;"_ feeling that he could not spare one accused of treason against the Roman emperor, Pilate yielded to the voice of the people. Hastily Jesus was stripped of his robes, and hurried towards the city gate, while with Him, also under guard, went two criminals who were to be crucified at the same time and place. Sinking under the burden of the cross upon which He was to be nailed, Jesus fell to the ground before reaching the place of execution. The soldiers of the guard transferred the cross to a man whom they met just then, and Jesus stumbled on to die. Behind Him walked sobbing women, whose tears were all the sympathy He had. [Illustration: THE PLACE OF EXECUTION.] The hill was climbed; a few rapid preparations made; and Jesus was crucified like a common criminal. At the moment when the spirit left His body, an earthquake shook the earth, chasms opened in the rocks, and tombs were thrown open by the convulsion. The Veil-of-Partition in the Temple was rent from top to bottom.