Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume IX/The Diatessaron of Tatian/The Diatessaron/Section L

Section L.

[1] And Pilate said unto the chief priests and the multitude, I have not found [2] against this man anything.&#160; But they cried out and said, He hath disquieted our people with his teaching in all Jud&#230;a, and he began from Galilee and unto this [3] place.&#160; And Pilate, when he heard the name of Galilee, asked, Is this man a Galil&#230;an?&#160; [4] And when he learned that he was under the jurisdiction of Herod, he sent him to Herod:&#160; for he was in Jerusalem in those days.

[5] And Herod, when he saw Jesus, rejoiced exceedingly:&#160; for he had desired to see him for a long time, because he had heard regarding him many things; and he counted on [6] [Arabic, p. 189] seeing some sign from him.&#160; And he questioned him with many words; but [7] Jesus answered him not a word.&#160; And the scribes and chief priests were [8] standing by, and they accused him vehemently.&#160; And Herod scoffed at him, he and his servants; and when he had scoffed at him, he clothed him in robes of scarlet, [9] and sent him to Pilate.&#160; And on that day Pilate and Herod became friends, there having been enmity between them before that.

[10, 11] And Pilate called the chief priests and the rulers of the people, and said unto them, Ye brought unto me this man, as the perverter of your people:&#160; and I have tried him before you, and have not found in this man any cause of all that ye [12] seek against him:&#160; nor yet Herod:&#160; for I sent him unto him; and he hath done [13] nothing for which he should deserve death.&#160; So now I will chastise him, and let [14, 15] him go.&#160; The multitude all cried out and said, Take him from us, take him.&#160; And [16] the chief priests and the elders accused him of many things.&#160; And during their [17] accusation he answered not a word.&#160; Then Pilate said unto him, Hearest thou not [18] how many things they witness against thee?&#160; And he answered him not, not even one word:&#160; and Pilate marvelled at that.

[19] And when the judge sat on his tribune, his wife sent unto him, and said unto him, See that thou have nothing to do with that righteous man:&#160; for I have suffered much in my dream to-day because of him.

[20] And at every feast the custom of the judge was to release to the people one [21] prisoner, him whom they would.&#160; And there was in their prison a well-known prisoner, [22, 23] called Barabbas.&#160; And when they assembled, Pilate said unto them, Ye have a custom, that I should release unto you a prisoner at the passover:&#160; will ye that I [24] release unto you the King of the Jews?&#160; And they all cried out and said, Release not [Arabic, p. 190] unto us this man, but release unto us Barabbas.&#160; And this Barabbas was a [25] robber, who for sedition and murder, which was in the city, was cast into the [26] prison.&#160; And all the people cried out and began to ask him to do as the custom was [27] that he should do with them.&#160; And Pilate answered and said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you?&#160; Barabbas, or Jesus which is called the Messiah, the [28] King of the Jews?&#160; For Pilate knew that envy had moved them to deliver him up. [29] And the chief priests and the elders asked the multitudes to deliver Barabbas, and [30] to destroy Jesus.&#160; The judge answered and said unto them, Whom of the two will [31] ye that I release unto you?&#160; They said, Barabbas.&#160; Pilate said unto them, And [32] Jesus which is called the Messiah, what shall I do with him?&#160; They all cried out [33] and said, Crucify him.&#160; And Pilate spake to them again, for he desired to release [34] Jesus; but they cried out and said, Crucify him, crucify him, and release unto us [35] Barabbas.&#160; And Pilate said unto them a third time, What evil hath this man done?&#160; I have not found in him any cause to necessitate death:&#160; I will chastise him and [36] let him go.&#160; But they increased in importunity with a loud voice, and asked him to crucify him.&#160; And their voice, and the voice of the chief priests, prevailed.&#160; [37] Then Pilate released unto them that one who was cast into prison for sedition and murder, Barabbas, whom they asked for:&#160; and he scourged Jesus with whips.

[38] Then the footsoldiers of the judge took Jesus, and went into the pr&#230;torium, and [39] [Arabic, p. 191] gathered unto him all of the footsoldiers.&#160; And they stripped him, and put on [40] him a scarlet cloak.&#160; And they clothed him in garments of purple, and plaited [41] a crown of thorns, and placed it on his head, and a reed in his right hand; and while they mocked at him and laughed, they fell down on their knees before him, and bowed [42] down to him, and said, Hail, King of the Jews!&#160; And they spat in his face, and took the reed from his hand, and struck him on his head, and smote his cheeks.&#160; [43] And Pilate went forth without again, and said unto the Jews, I bring him forth to [44] you, that ye may know that I do not find, in examining him, even one crime. &#160; And Jesus went forth without, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple garments.&#160; [45] Pilate said unto them, Behold, the man!&#160; And when the chief priests and the soldiers saw him, they cried out and said, Crucify him, crucify him.&#160; Pilate said unto them, Take him yourselves, and crucify him:&#160; for I find not a cause against [46] him.&#160; The Jews said unto him, We have a law, and according to our law he deserves [47] death, because he made himself the Son of God.&#160; And when Pilate heard this word, [48] his fear increased; and he entered again into the porch, and said to Jesus, Whence [49] art thou?&#160; But Jesus answered him not a word.&#160; Pilate said unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have authority to release thee, and have [50] authority to crucify thee?&#160; Jesus said unto him, Thou hast not any authority over me, if thou wert not given it from above:&#160; therefore the sin of him that delivered [51] me up unto thee is greater than thy sin.&#160; And for this word Pilate wished to release him:&#160; but the Jews cried out, If thou let him go, thou art not a friend of C&#230;sar:&#160; for every one that maketh himself a king is against C&#230;sar.