Page:Traditions of Palestine (microform) (IA traditionsofpale00martrich).pdf/76

 should be indeed in peril, The guard had finished their nightly round, the watchman had announced the dawn, the temple gates were thrown open, and the altar was prepared for the sacrifice, before Paltiel and Sadoc were released. They spake lightly of their peril to their anxious friends. They had done nothing worthy of punishment, and the rulers could only warn them not to follow Jesus of Nazareth.

"What will ye therefore do?” inquired Ozias.

“That which we have done thus far,” replied Paltiel. “We shall listen again, that we may not do as Nicodemus saith the council hath done,—judge a man without having heard him.”

“But if they should perceive that ye heed not their warnings,—if ye should be brought before the council again!”

“Then again will we declare whatsoever we know of this Prophet; and they shall judge him and us. If they send us away as now, all is well: if they inflict punishment on us, all is well also, if our hearts condemn us not.”