found anything in him touching those things whereof you accuse him."

Then said Caiaphas angrily, "We abide by our accusation; he is a
criminal worthy of death."

And the priests cried, clamorously, "He is an offender against our law
and against Caesar."

Then said Pilate, "I have sent him because he is a Galilean to Herod.
Have you brought forward your complaints before him?"

"Yes," said Caiaphas, "but Herod would not judge the case because thou
art in authority here."

Then said Pilate, "He, too, has found nothing in the man that deserves
death, but in order to meet your desire I will have this man scourged
and let him go."

But Annas said, "That sufficeth not," and Caiaphas said, "The law
prescribes for such a criminal not the punishment of scourging, but the
punishment of death."

The priests cried again, "To death with him."

Then Pilate, hearing the clamor of the Jews and seeing how bitter they
were against Jesus, said unto them, "Is your hate so deep and bitter
unto the man that it cannot be satisfied by the blood from his wounds?
You compel me to tell you frankly what I think. Driven by ignoble
passion ye persecute him because the people are more devoted to him
than they are to you. I have heard enough of your hateful accusations.
I will now hear the voice of the people. An innumerable number will
now assemble here in order to demand, according to old custom, the
release of one prisoner at the Passover festival. Then it will be seen
whether your complaint is the outcome of popular sentiment or only of
your personal revenge."

Caiaphas, smiling to himself, bowed low before Pilate and said, "The
result will show, O governor, that thou thinkest evil of us unjustly."

Then the priests cried, "It is not vengeance, but zeal for the holy law
of God which compels us to demand his death."

Pilate said, "You know of the murderer, Barabbas, who lies in chains,
and of his evil deeds. Between him and Jesus of Nazareth I will let
the people choose. The one whom they ask for, him will I release."

Then cried all with one voice, "Release Barabbas and to the cross with
the other."

"You are not the people," said Pilate haughtily, "the people will speak
for themselves. Meanwhile I will have this one scourged." Then
speaking to his servants, he said, "The soldiers will lead him hence
and scourge him according to the Roman law." Then turning to his
courtiers, he said, "Whatever he has done amiss will be s