that the speaker was
Divine.

When Pilate heard these words, he probably thought of the Epicureans,
and Stoics, and other philosophers, who were perpetually wrangling
about the truth, and demanding men's allegiance. "Oh," said he to
himself, "here is another enthusiast, touched with the same madness,
though He does seem nobler than many of His craft. One thing is clear,
that my lord has nothing to fear from His pretensions. He may sit as
long as He likes on His ideal throne without detriment to the empire of
the Caesars." With mingled bitterness and cynicism, he answered, "What
is truth?" and, without waiting for an answer, went out to the group of
Jewish rabbis waiting in the opening daylight, and threw them into
convulsions of excitement by saying, "I find in Him no fault at all."

They were the more urgent, saying, "He stirreth up the people, teaching
throughout all Judaea, and beginning from Galilee even unto this place."

The mention of Galilee came as a gleam of light to Pilate. He was
sincerely desirous not to be an accomplice in the death of Jesus, by
falling into the plot which he had been astute enough to detect. But
not daring to take the only honorable and safe way of declaring His
innocence, and summoning a cohort of soldiers to clear the court, he
endeavored to exculpate himself by throwing the responsibility on
Herod. He congratulated himself on the ingenuity of a plan which
should relieve him of the necessity of grieving his conscience on the
one hand, or of irritating the Jews on the other, and which would
conciliate Herod, with whom he was at this time on unfriendly terms.
When he knew therefore that He was of Herod's jurisdiction he sent Him
unto Herod, who himself was at Jerusalem in those days.

Herod was glad to see the wonderful miracle-worker of whom he had heard
so much, and hoped that He might do some wonder in his presence; and,
in the hope of extorting it, set Him at nought, and mocked Him, with
his mighty men. But the Lord remained absolutely silent in his
presence, as though the love of God could say nothing to the murderer
of the Baptist, who had not repented of his deed. Finally, therefore,
disappointed and chagrined, Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate, admitting
that he had found in Him no cause of death.

XXX

The Second Trial before Pilate

"Ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover:
will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the