em. The two Apostles then
returned the cloaks which they had borrowed, and stationed themselves
in a place from whence they could see the judges, and hear everything
that was going on. Caiphas was seated in the centre of the raised
platform, and seventy of the members of the Sanhedrin were placed
around him, while the public officers, the scribes, and the ancients
were standing on either side, and the false witnesses behind them.
Soldiers were posted from the base of the platform to the door of the
vestibule through which Jesus was to enter. The countenance of Caiphas
was solemn in the extreme, but the gravity was accompanied by
unmistakable signs of suppressed rage and sinister intentions. He wore
a long mantle of a dull red colour, embroidered in flowers and trimmed
with golden fringe; it was fastened at the shoulders and on the chest,
besides being ornamented in the front with gold clasps. His head-attire
was high, and adorned with hanging ribbons, the sides were open, and it
rather resembled a bishop's mitre. Caiphas had been waiting with his
adherents belonging to the Great Council for some time, and so
impatient was he that he arose several times, went into the outer court
in his magnificent dress, and asked angrily whether Jesus of Nazareth
was come. When he saw the procession drawing near he returned to his
seat.

CHAPTER VIII.

Jesus before Caiphas.

Jesus was led across the court, and the mob received him with groans
and hisses. As he passed by Peter and John, he looked at them, but
without turning his head, for fear of betraying them. Scarcely had he
reached the council-chamber, than Caiphas exclaimed in a loud tone, 'Thou
art come, then, at last, thou enemy of God, thou blasphemer, who dost
disturb the peace of this holy night!' The tube which contained the
accusations of Annas, and was fastened to the pretended sceptre in the
hands of Jesus, was instantly opened and read.

Caiphas made use of the most insulting language, and the archers
again struck and abused our Lord, vociferating at the same time, 'Answer
at once! Speak out! Art thou dumb?' Caiphas, whose temper was
indescribably proud and arrogant, became even more enraged than Annas
had been, and asked a thousand questions one after the other, but Jesus
stood before him in silence, and with his eyes cast down. The archers
endeavoured to force him to speak by repeated blows, and a malicious
child pressed his thumb into his lips, tauntingly