iences.
Ten soldiers left the court under pretext of indisposition, but in
reality overcome by their feelings. As they passed by the place where
Peter and John were standing, they exclaimed, 'The silence of Jesus of
Nazareth, in the midst of such cruel treatment, is superhuman: it would
melt a heart of iron: the wonder is, that the earth does not open and
swallow such reprobates as his accusers must be. But tell us, where
must we go?' The two Apostles either mistrusted the soldiers, and thought
they were only seeking to betray them, or they were fearful of being
recognised by those around and denounced as disciples of Jesus, for
they only made answer in a melancholy tone: 'If truth calls you, follow
it, and all will come right of itself.' The soldiers instantly went out
of the room, and left Jerusalem soon after. They met persons on the
outskirts of the town, who directed them to the caverns which lay to
the south of Jerusalem, on the other side of Mount Sion, where many of
the Apostles had taken refuge. These latter were at first alarmed at
seeing strangers enter their hiding-place; but the soldiers soon
dispelled all fear, and gave them an account of the sufferings of Jesus.

The temper of Caiphas, which was already perturbed, became quite
infuriated by the contradictory statements of the two last witnesses,
and rising from his seat he approached Jesus, and said: 'Answerest thou
nothing to the things which these witness against thee?'

Jesus neither raised his head nor looked at the High Priest, which
increased the anger of the latter to the greatest degree; and the
archers perceiving this seized our Lord by the hair, pulled his head
back, and gave him blows under the chin; but he still kept his eyes
cast down. Caiphas raised his hands, and exclaimed in an enraged tone: 'I
adjure thee by the living God that thou tell us if thou be Christ the
Messiah, the son of the living God?'

A momentary and solemn pause ensued. Then Jesus in a majestic and
superhuman voice replied, 'Thou hast said it. Nevertheless I say to you,
hereafter you shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the
power of God, and coming in the clouds of Heaven.' Whilst Jesus was
pronouncing these words, a bright light appeared to me to surround him;
Heaven was opened above his head; I saw the Eternal Father; but no
words from a human pen can describe the intuitive view that was then
vouchsafed me of him. I likewise saw the angels, and the pr