Page:Apocryphal Gospels and Other Documents Relating to the History of Christ.djvu/442

326 said to Pilate that he raised up Lazarus from the tomb after he had been dead four days. When the governor heard this, he trembled, and said to all the multitude of Jews, Why do ye wish to shed innocent blood?

Pilate called Nicodemus and the twelve men who said he was not born of fornication, and said to them, What shall I do? for there is a sedition among the people. They say unto him, We know not: let them see to it. Pilate again called all the multitude of the Jews and said, Ye know that it is a custom with you on the day of unleavened bread that I should release unto you one that is bound. I have a notable criminal in prison, a murderer called Barabbas, and Jesus who is called Christ, in whom I find no cause of death. Which will ye that I release unto you? And they all cried, saying, Release Barabbas unto us. Pilate saith unto them, What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ? They all say, Let him be crucified. The Jews said again, Thou art not the friend of Cæsar if thou dost release him, for he said he was the Son of God and a king; except thou wishest him to be king, and not Cæsar.

Then Pilate, filled with anger, said to them, Your