Chapter 2 ⇦⇨

Pilate's wife defends Jesus on account of a dream of His innocence—The Jews accuse Jesus of sorcery and illegitimacy—Certain Jews testify of Mary’s espousal to Joseph—Pilate questions them under oath.

1 Now when Pilate saw this, he was afraid, and was about to rise from his seat.

2 But as he thought to rise, his wife, who stood afar off, sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just Man; for I have suffered many things this night in a dream because of Him.

3 And when the Jews heard this, they said unto Pilate, Did we not say unto thee that He is a sorcerer? Behold, He hath caused thy wife to dream.66

4 Then Pilate, calling Jesus, said unto Him, Thou hearest what they witness against Thee, and answerest Thou nothing?

5 Jesus answered and said, If they had not power to speak, they could say nothing; but because every man hath authority over his own tongue, to speak both good and evil, let him take heed thereof.

6 Then the elders of the Jews answered and said unto Jesus, What meanest Thou that we should take heed?

7 In the first place, we know this concerning Thee, that Thou wast born of fornication; secondly, that for the cause of Thy birth, the infants were slain in Bethlehem; and thirdly, that Thy father and Thy mother Mary fled into Egypt, because they could not trust their own people.

8 But certain of the Jews who stood by spake more favorably, saying, We cannot say that He was born of fornication, but we know that His mother Mary was espoused unto Joseph; therefore, He was not born of fornication.

9 Then said Pilate unto the Jews who affirmed that He was born of fornication, This your saying is not true, seeing there was an espousal, as these of your own nation do testify.

10 But Annas and Caiaphas answered and said unto Pilate, This great multitude crieth out that He was born of fornication and that He is a sorcerer; but they who deny these things are His disciples and proselytes.

11 Pilate answered and said unto them, Who are the proselytes? And they said unto him, They are those who are the children of the Gentiles and have not become Jews, but follow after Him.

12 Then answered Eleazar, and Asterius, and Antonius, and James, and Caras, and Samuel, and Isaac, and Phinehas, and Crispus, and Agrippa, and Annas, and Judas, saying, We are not proselytes, but children of the Jews, and we speak the truth; for we were present when Mary was espoused unto Joseph.

13 Then Pilate, turning to the twelve men who had spoken, said unto them, I adjure you by the life of Cæsar, that ye declare truly whether He was born of fornication, and whether those things which ye have spoken be true.

14 But they answered and said, We have a law, which forbiddeth us to swear, for it is sin; but let them swear by the life of Cæsar that it is not as we have said, and we shall be content to be put to death.

15 Then said Annas and Caiaphas unto Pilate, These twelve men will not believe that we know Him to be base-born and a sorcerer, though He saith that He is the Son of God and a king; which thing we believe not, but do even tremble to hear it.

16 Then Pilate commanded that all should go forth, save the twelve men who had testified that He was not born of fornication, and that Jesus should stand afar off. And He said unto them, Why do the Jews seek to slay Jesus?67

17 And they answered him, saying, Because He hath wrought cures on the Sabbath day. Then said Pilate unto them, Will they slay Him for a good work? And they answered him, Yea, sir.

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⇦ Nicodemus ⇨

Nicodemus 1
Nicodemus 2
Nicodemus 3
Nicodemus 4
Nicodemus 5

Nicodemus 6
Nicodemus 7
Nicodemus 8
Nicodemus 9
Nicodemus 10
Nicodemus 11

Nicodemus 12
Nicodemus 13
Nicodemus 14
Nicodemus 15
Nicodemus 16
Nicodemus 17

Nicodemus 18
Nicodemus 19
Nicodemus 20
Nicodemus 21
Nicodemus 22

Footnotes not yet available.

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