Page:Apocryphal Gospels and Other Documents Relating to the History of Christ.djvu/432

316 messenger went out and did as before, and said to Jesus, Lord, come in, for the procurator calleth for thee.

Now when Jesus entered, and the standard-bearers were bearing the standards, the tops of the standards bowed down of themselves and worshipped Jesus. But the Jews, seeing how the standards bowed themselves and worshipped Jesus, cried out still more against those who bore the standards. So Pilate said to the Jews, Marvel ye not how the standards bowed themselves and worshipped Jesus? The Jews said to Pilate, We saw how the men who bear the standards bowed and worshipped Jesus. And the procurator called the standard-bearers, and said unto them, Why have ye done thus? They said unto Pilate, We are Gentiles, and servants of the temples; how should we worship him? for as we were holding the ensigns they bowed themselves of their own accord, and worshipped him.

Pilate said unto the rulers of the synagogue, and the elders of the people, Choose ye strong and powerful men, and let them hold the standards, and let us see if they bow of themselves. So the elders of the Jews took twelve most strong and powerful men, and made them hold the standards by six and six, and they stood before the judgment seat of the procurator. Pilate saith to the messenger, Take out Jesus from the prætorium, and bring him in again in any way