hat secret instructions had
they received? What hidden objects had they in view? If Jesus refused
to answer these questions, might it not be made to appear that an
attempt was on foot to organize a confederation throughout the entire
country? If so, it would be easy to awaken the jealousy of the Roman
authorities, and lead them to feel that they must take immediate steps
to stamp out the plot by executing the ringleader.

_And, next, as to His doctrine._--Had not Jesus repeatedly spoken about
the Kingdom of Heaven? What did this mean? Was He contemplating the
setting up of a kingdom? Did He intend it to be understood that He was
the expected Messiah, and that He meditated revolt against Rome? Was
the manifestation of force, which had accompanied His recent entrance
into the city, at His instigation?

Our Lord at once penetrated the design of His crafty interrogator. And
in His answer He took care not to mention His disciples, speaking only
of Himself. He affirmed that He had nothing to say which He had not
already said a hundred times in the synagogues and the Temple, before
friends and foes. He had no secret doctrines for the initiated, but
had declared all that was in His heart. Between His disciples and
Himself there had been no connection other than was obvious on the
surface. No meetings under cover of night; no discussions of
revolutionary topics; nothing that could not bear the fullest scrutiny.
"I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue and in the
temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret [that is, in the
sense in which you use the word] I have said nothing. Why askest thou
Me? Ask them which heard Me what I have said unto them: behold, they
know what I have said."

Our Lord's reference to those who had heard Him is probably an allusion
to the armies of spies whom Annas had set on His track, watching His
actions, reporting His words. Was not this examination of the prisoner
a confession that the close scrutiny to which He had been subjected for
so long had failed to elicit aught on which a criminal charge could be
based? Jesus knew that His most secret words had been tortured in vain
to yield an accusation against Him. How great then was the hypocrisy
which could feign ignorance! How evident it was that Annas was only
intent on inveigling his prisoner to say something on which to base his
after-accusation.

All this was implied in our Lord's noble and transpare