Page images
PDF
EPUB

And thou also waft with Jefus of Naza

Priest's Maids looking earnestly upon
him, faid; I believe you were
of the Followers of Jefus of Nazareth.

reth.

one

68. But Peter utterly denied it, faying: I know not what you mean. And going out into the Porch, he heard the Cock crow for Mid. night.

69. A while after, another MaidServant obferving him, faid to the Standers-by; Surely this Man was one of Jefus's Followers. But Peter pofitively denied it the fecond

time.

70. Again, after fome time, those
'that stood by, urged Peter further,
faying: Moft certainly you are one of
this Man's Difciples; for your very
Speech fheweth that you are a Gali-
lean.

71. But Peter, through Anger and
Fear now almoft befide himself, de-
nied it the third time with Impreca-
tions and Oaths, faying: I know no-
thing of the Man, neither had I ever
any thing to do with him.

72. And prefently after, he heard *SeeNote the Cock crow for Three a Clock on Matt. in the Morning. Whereupon, calling xxvj. 34 to mind the Warning which Jefus had given him, That before* Three in the Morning, he should thrice deny him, he went out, and, for grief at his own Weakness and Fearfulness, wept bitterly.

68 But he denied, faying, I know not,

neither understand I what thou fayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.

69 And a maid faw him again, and began to fay to them that ftood by, This is one of them.

a

70 And he denied it again. And little after, they that ftood by faid again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them, for thou art a Galilean, and thy speech agreeth thereto. 71 But he began to curfe and to fwear, Saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.

72 And the second time the cock crew.

And Peter called to mind the word that Jefus faid unto him,

Before the cock crow

twice, thou fhalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon he wept.

СНАР.

CHAP. XV.

Jefus is brought before Pilate, ver. 1. Pilate, contrary to his own Judgment delivers him, upon the clamorous and tumultuous Demand of the Jews, to be crucified, ver. 15. He is mocked and abused by the Soldiers, ver. 16. and crucified, ver. 22. and derided by the Jews, ver. 29. Prodigies happen at his Death, ver. 33. of which many were Witnesses, ver. 39. Jefus buried by Joseph of Arimathæa, ver. 42.

I AND ftraight way in the

morning the chief priefts held a confultation with the elders and fcribes, and the whole council, and bound Jefus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate.

2 And Pilate asked him, Art thou the

king of the Jews? king of the Jews? and he answering faid unto him, Thou fayeft it.

3 And the chief priefts accufed him of many things but he answered nothing.

1.

NOW the Council of the Chief

Priefts and Elders of the Jews, having spent the greatest Part of the Night in examining Jefus; after a fhort Retirement, met again early in the Morning, to confult how to deftroy him: And because they could not of themselves put him to Death, which yet they refolved fhould be done, they fent him before Pilate, the Roman Governour, and accufed him of defigning to raise a Sedition and make himself King.

2. Upon this, Pilate asked him, Are * John you King of the Jews? Jefus faid: Though you underftand not the Na- xviii. 36. ture of my Kingdom, and therefore & 37. look upon me as a mean and contemptible Perfon, yet it is really true that I am a King.

3. In the mean time, the Chief Priefts continued accufing him † with + xa, much Clamour: But Jefus, knowing with many their unreasonable Malice, and that no Words. Vindication of himself could be of any Force with those that had before refolved to condemn him; refused to give any more Answers.

Z 3

4. Then

4. Then Pilate fpake to him again, faying: Will you make no Defence for your felf? Do you not hear how vehemently thefe Men accufe you?

5. But Jefus ftill held his Peace, making no Anfwer at all; fo that Pilate greatly wondered what he

meant.

6. However, Pilate perceiving plainly by the whole Management of this Affair, that the Jews Accufation of Jefus was merely malicious and unjust; defired in his Heart to acquit him and fet him free. And he thought to have done it upon this Occafion., It was the Cuftom, for the Roman Governor at the Feast of the Paffover, to gratifie the People of the Jews with releafing to them One Prifoner, whom they themselves pleased.

7. Now, befides Jefus, there happened to be at this Time a remarkable Prifoner, called Barabbas; one who had been a notorious Malefactor, and was at this time in Prifon for having been at the Head of a great Sedition, wherein much Outrage and Murder was committed.

had now

8 & 9. When therefore the People came to Pilate, defiring him to releafe them a Prifoner according to Cuftom; Pilate, thinking that he a fair Opportunity of difcharging Jefus, asked them which they would chufe to have released, Jefus or Barabbas ? Suppofing that they muft needs chufe Jefus, rather than fuch an infamous Malefactor as Barabbas.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

10. For Pilate, as I faid, perceiv- that the chief priests 10 (For he knew ed plainly, that 'twas meerly out of had delivered him Envy and Malice, and not for any for envy.)

[blocks in formation]

16 And the fol

diers led him away into the hall, called Pretorium; and they call together the whole band,

real Crime, that the Chief Priests
were fo eager to have Jefus put to
Death.

11. Nevertheless,contrary to Pilate's
Expectation; when he had propofed
Jefus and Barabbas, the People,
prevailed upon by the Clamour and
Importunity of the Chief Priests, asked
to have Barabbas releafed, and not
Fefus.

12. At which, Pilate furprized, faid: Why, what would ye have me to do then with this Man, who is accufed here of pretending to be your King?

13. The People, urged and pushed on by the indefatigable Malice of their Chief Priefts and Elders, replied; Let him be crucified.

14. Pilate, aftonished at this malici-
ous and obftinate Perverfenefs, faid a-
gain, Why, what Evil has this Man
done? I do not fee that ye have proved
him guilty of any Crime. But the
People, now in a Heat and Tumult,
cried out the more fiercely; Let him
be crucified.

15. Then Pilate, though fatisfied in
his own Mind of fefus's Innocency,
yet feeing the Tumult increase fo as
even to endanger a Sedition, he, in
the Importunity and
compliance to
Clamours of the Jews, yielded to re-
leafe Barabbas unto them; and having
fcourged Jefus, he delivered him to be
crucified.

16 Then the Soldiers took * See Note Jefus away, and carried him into the on Matt. Prætorium, or Inner-Hall; and called xxvii. 27. their whole Company together, to mock him and make Sport with him.

[blocks in formation]

17. And because the Crime laid to his Charge, was, that he pretended to be a King; they in Derifion put upon him a Purple Cloath for a Robe, and fet a Wreath of Thorns upon his Head for a Crown, and gave him a Reed or Cane in his Hand for a Scepter. 18. And they kneeled down to him, and fcoffingly faluted him, faying: Long live the King of the Jews.

19. Then taking the Cane out of his Hand, they ftruck him upon the Head with it; and fpit upon his Face: and abused him with all poffible Infulting, Scorn and Contempt.

20. And when they were weary with mocking him, they ftripped him of his Kingly Attire, and put his own Cloaths on again, and carried him out of the City with his Crofs upon his Shoulders, to be crucified.

And

able

21. And as they were in the Way, they met with one Simon of Cyrene, (the Father of Alexander and Rufus,) travelling upon the Road: becaufe Jefus was faint and not to carry the Crofs any further, or because they fufpected Simon to be a Favourer of Jefus, they stopped Him and compelled him to go along with them and carry the Crofs.

22. And in this manner they went to the Place, which from the Execution of Malefactors was called Galgotha, that is, the Place of a Skull.

23. And when they were come thither, they in Mockery offered Jefus

17 And they clothed him with purple, and platted a and put it about his

crown of thorns,

bead,

18 And began to falute him, Hail, king of the Jews.

19 And they fmote him on the head with a reed, and did fpit upon him, and bowing their knees, worshipped him.

had mocked him, 20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucifie him.

21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who paffed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.

zz And they bring him unto the place being interpreted, the Golgotha, which is, place of a scull.

23 And they gave him to drink, wine

* Men well known at the Time when this Gospel was written.

mingled

« PreviousContinue »