ickled from his face on to the floor. Laughter, insults, and bitter
words resounded through the hall. The archers dragged him roughly up
again, and he mildly answered, 'If I have spoken evil, give testimony of
the evil; but if well, why strikest thou me?'

Annas became still more enraged when he saw the calm demeanour of
Jesus, and, turning to the witnesses, he desired them to bring forward
their accusations. They all began to speak at once:--'He has called himself
king; he says that God is his Father; that the Pharisees are an
adulterous generation. He causes insurrection among the people; he
cures the sick by the help of the devil on the Sabbath-day. The
inhabitants of Ophel assembled round him a short time ago, and
addressed him by the titles of Saviour and Prophet. He lets himself be
called the Son of God; he says that he is sent by God; he predicts the
destruction of Jerusalem. He does not fast; he eats with sinners, with
pagans, and with publicans, and associates with women of evil repute. A
short time ago he said to a man who gave him some water to drink at the
gates of Ophel, "that he would give unto him the water of eternal life,
after drinking which he would thirst no more." He seduces the people by
words of double meaning,' etc., etc.

These accusations were all vociferated at once; some of the
witnesses stood before Jesus and insulted him while they spoke by
derisive gestures, and the archers went so far as even to strike him,
saying at the same time, 'Speak; why dost thou not answer?' Annas and his
adherents added mockery to insult, exclaiming at every pause in the
accusations, 'This is thy doctrine, then, is it? What canst thou answer
to this? Issue thy orders, great King; man sent by God, give proofs of
thy mission.' 'Who art thou?' continued Annas, in a tone of cutting contempt;
'by whom art thou sent? Art thou the son of an obscure carpenter, or art
thou Elias, who was carried up to heaven in a fiery chariot? He is said
to be still living, and I have been told that thou canst make thyself
invisible when thou pleasest. Perhaps thou art the prophet Malachy,
whose words thou dost so frequently quote. Some say that an angel was
his father, and that he likewise is still alive. An impostor as thou
art could not have a finer opportunity of taking persons in than by
passing thyself off as this prophet. Tell me, without farther preamble,
to what order of kings thou dost belong? Thou art greater than
Solomon,--a