Page:Apocryphal Gospels and Other Documents Relating to the History of Christ.djvu/390

274 himself said? He said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days. Pilate saith, And what sort of temple did he say he could destroy? The Hebrews said, The temple of Solomon, which Solomon was forty-six years building.

Pilate saith privately to the chief priests and scribes and Pharisees, I entreat you, do nothing evil to this man; for if ye do evil to him, ye will deal unjustly. For it is not just that such a man should die, who hath done great good to many men. They said to Pilate, If he who hath dishonoured Cæsar is worthy of death, my lord, how much rather is this man who dishonoureth God?

Then Pilate gave order, and they all went out. Then saith he to Jesus, What wilt thou that I should do to thee? Jesus saith to Pilate, Do unto me as it is ordained. Pilate saith, How is it ordained? Jesus answered, Moses and the prophets wrote that I should be crucified and should rise again. The Hebrews who heard him, said to Pilate, Why seek ye to hear from him greater insult against God? Pilate saith, This is no word of insult against God, since it is written in the books of the prophets. The Jews said, Our Scripture saith, If a man offend against a man, as if he revile him, he is worthy to