farmers clubbed him on the head and
insulted him. The farmers abused every man the owner sent; they even
killed some of them. Finally the owner thought, 'I am sure they will
respect my son.' So he sent his only son to collect the rent.

"When the wicked farmers saw the young man coming, they said to each
other: 'This young fellow will inherit the vineyard. If we kill him, we
will possess it!' So they beat the young man to death and threw his body
over the fence of the vineyard.

"What will the owner of the vineyard do?" demanded Jesus. "He will
utterly destroy these evil farmers and will give the vineyard to other
people whom the farmers hated!"

The scribe backed away and went into the inner court. "Look at him!"
whispered Judas to Peter. "Do you know what he is going to do? He is
going to report to the others!" Judas began to move away.

"Where are you going?" asked Peter.

"I don't want to be seen around here." Peter followed him to the outer
gate of the Temple. He was disturbed by what had happened the day
before, but he put on a bold manner with Judas.

"I don't think there is any reason to be afraid," remarked Peter.

Judas looked at Peter as though he had no sense at all. "Anyone can see
that we haven't a chance. The priests are plotting against us right this
minute. Look at that guard," he pointed at the tower; "he sees
everything we do!" Peter did not reply. "Anyhow, did you hear that story
Jesus told? You heard him say that they killed the son too, didn't you?"

Peter jerked up his head. "Do you mean...."

Judas nodded. "All the way from Galilee he has told us that he would be
killed here."

Peter looked over at Jesus. "He acts very deliberately. He seems to know
what he is doing."

Judas laughed bitterly. "He knows what he is doing, all right!" He
caught sight of some Pharisees coming down the steps of the Beautiful
Gate. "There are some more!" He turned his face away from them.

Peter started toward Jesus, but Judas hung back. "Don't you want to hear
what they say?" asked Peter. "Come on."

"I'm keeping out of sight from now on. And you had better look out for
yourself too!" Peter did not wait to argue.

"Rabbi," the Pharisee was saying, "we know you are a sincere and
fearless man. You have a reputation for never playing politics. You
always tell men to do what God wants." The people were surprised. This
Pharisee did not speak in a superior tone like the others. "Tell me,
Rabbi," asked the P