a
more judicial tone, he said, "Thou art accused that thou hast stirred
up the people to disobedience, that thou hast despised the holy
traditions of the fathers, that thou hast transgressed the divine
command for the keeping of the Sabbath day, and that thou hast even
been guilty of many blasphemous speeches and acts. Here," Caiaphas
continues, pointing to five Jews who had entered the chamber at the
same time as Selpha brought in Jesus, and had taken their stand on the
left of the high priest, confronting the accused, "Here stand honorable
men who are prepared to prove the truth, of these accusations by their
testimony. Hear them and then thou mayest answer if thou canst."

Then stood forth the first witness and spoke, saying, "I can testify
before God that this man has stirred up the people by openly denouncing
the members of the council and the scribes as hypocrites, ravening
wolves in sheeps' clothing, blind leaders of the blind, and has
declared that no one shall follow their work." At this the members of
the Sanhedrin smiled approvingly one to another.

The second witness said, "I can also testify to this, and can still
further declare that he has forbidden the people to pay tribute to
Caesar."

"Yes," interrupted the first witness, "at any rate he has dropped words
of double meaning about that."

Then Caiaphas turned to Jesus and said, "What sayest thou unto this?"
He paused for a reply, but Jesus opened not his mouth. Then said
Caiaphas, "Art thou silent? Hast thou nothing to answer?" But Jesus
never answered a word.

The third witness took up his testimony. "I have often seen how he
with his disciples, in defiance of the law, has eaten with unwashed
hands; how he has become accustomed to hold friendly intercourse with
publicans and sinners and go into their houses to eat with them."

"That we have also seen," cried the other witnesses together. "I have
heard many credible people say that he has even spoken with Samaritans,
and indeed has lived with them for days together."

Then the first witness began to speak again: "I was a witness how he
has done on the Sabbath what is forbidden by God's law, in that he
healed sick and infirm people without fear on that day. He has seduced
others to break the Sabbath; he ordered a man to take up his bed and
carry it to his house." The second witness joined in, "I also can
testify to this."

Again Caiaphas turned to Jesus and said, "What has thou to say