was
formed after Pentecost, and when the Christians separated from the Jews
and erected new dwellings, they placed their huts and tents in the
valley which is situated between Mount Olivet and Ophel, and there St.
Stephen lived. Ophel was on a hill to the south of the Temple,
surrounded by walls, and its inhabitants were very poor. I think it was
smaller than Dulmen.9

The slumbers of the good inhabitants of Ophel were disturbed by the
noise of the soldiers; they came out of their houses and ran to the
entrance of the village to ask the cause of the uproar; but the
soldiers received them roughly, ordered them to return home, and in
reply to their numerous questions, said, 'We have just arrested Jesus,
your false prophet--he who has deceived you so grossly; the High Priests
are about to judge him, and he will be crucified.' Cries and lamentations
arose on all sides; the poor women and children ran backwards and
forwards, weeping and wringing their hands; and calling to mind all the
benefits they had received from our Lord, they cast themselves on their
knees to implore the protection of Heaven. But the soldiers pushed them
on one side, struck them, obliged them to return to their houses, and
exclaimed, 'What farther proof is required? Does not the conduct of these
persons show plainly that the Galilean incites rebellion?'

They were, however, a little cautious in their expressions and
demeanour for fear of causing an insurrection in Ophel, and therefore
only endeavoured to drive the inhabitants away from those parts of the
village which Jesus was obliged to cross.

When the cruel soldiers who led our Lord were near the gates of
Ophel he again fell, and appeared unable to proceed a step farther,
upon which one among them, being moved to compassion, said to another,
'You see the poor man is perfectly exhausted, he cannot support himself
with the weight of his chains; if we wish to get him to the High Priest
alive we must loosen the cords with which his hands are bound, that he
may be able to save himself a little when he falls.' The band stopped for
a moment, the fetters were loosened, and another kind-hearted soldier
brought some water to Jesus from a neighbouring fountain. Jesus thanked
him, and spoke of the 'fountains of living water,' of which those who
believed in him should drink; but his words enraged the Pharisees still
more, and they overwhelmed him with insults and contumelious language.
I saw the heart of th