cannot explain it. It is a miracle that has happened to me."

Annas frowned, "Has the deceiver also bewitched thee?" he asked, and
then turning to Jesus said to him, "Say, by what power hast thou done
this?" Jesus did not answer.

"Speak," said Selpha, "when the high priest asks thee."

"Speak," said Annas. "Give an account of thy disciples and thy
teaching, which thou hast spread abroad over the whole land of Judea
and with which thou hast corrupted the people."

Then Jesus answered and said unto him, "I spake openly to the world, I
ever taught in the synagogue and in the temple, and in secret I taught
nothing. What askest thou me? Ask them that heard me what I have
spoken. Behold, they know what I have said."

Balbus, who was standing on the left hand of Jesus holding one end of
the cord by which his hands were bound, struck him over the face a
resounding blow, saying, "Answerest thou the high priest so?"

Jesus answered, "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil, but
if I have spoken well why smitest thou me?"

Then Annas exclaimed, "Wilt thou even now defy us, when thy life and
death are in our power? I am weary of this villain!" and gave the
signal for Jesus to be removed.

"Oh," said Balbus, as he roughly thrust him forward, "wait a little.
Thy obstinacy will vanish."

As Jesus was being led down the steps Annas exclaimed, "I will go in
now for a little while to rest, or rather to meditate quietly as to how
the work so happily begun may be brought to an end. In any case the
summons to the Sanhedrin will reach me at an early hour in the
morning." Annas then entered into his own house, leaving Jesus in the
street below in the midst of the soldiers. As Selpha appeared bringing
Jesus into the street the watch cried out loudly, "Ha, is this business
already over?"

Selpha said, "His defense has turned out badly," and Balbus added,
"After all it gained him a smart slap over the face."

Selpha said, "Take him now and away with him to the palace of Caiaphas."

"Off with him," cried the soldiers tumultuously.

"Lift up thy feet. Cheer up!" said Balbus, mocking, "Thou wilt have a
still better reception from Caiaphas," and the soldiers shouted as they
marched, "There will be the raven's croak about thine ears!"

When Jesus was taken from the house of Annas he was led through the
streets, the band accompanying him, shouting as they went. On their
way to the Sanhedrin they led Jesus down th