ehind
them was a room almost as large as the vestibule itself, where the seat
of the members of the Council were placed on a species of round
platform raised above the level of the floor. That assigned to the High
Priest was elevated above the others; the criminal to be tried stood in
the centre of the halfcircle formed by the seats. The witnesses and
accusers stood either by the side or behind the prisoner. There were
three doors at the back of the judges' seats which led into another
apartment, filled likewise with seats. This room was used for secret
consultation. Entrances placed on the right and left hand sides of this
room opened into the interior court, which was round, like the back of
the building. Those who left the room by the door on the righthand side
saw on the left-hand side of the court the gate which led to a
subterranean prison excavated under the room. There were many
underground prisons there, and it was in one of these that Peter and
John were confined a whole night, when they had cured the lame man in
the Temple after Pentecost. Both the house and the courts were filled
with torches and lamps, which made them as light as day. There was a
large fire lighted in the middle of the porch, on each side of which
were hollow pipes to serve as chimneys for the smoke, and round this
fire were standing soldiers, menial servants, and witnesses of the
lowest class who had received bribes for giving their false testimony.
A few women were there likewise, whose employment was to pour out a
species of red beverage for the soldiers, and to bake cakes, for which
services they received a small compensation. The majority of the judges
were already seated around Caiphas, the others came in shortly
afterwards, and the porch was almost filled, between true and false
witnesses, while many other persons likewise endeavoured to come in to
gratify their curiosity, but were prevented. Peter and John entered the
outer court, in the dress of travellers, a short time before Jesus was
led through, and John succeeded in penetrating into the inner court, by
means of a servant with whom he was acquainted. The door was instantly
closed after him, therefore Peter, who was a little behind, was shut
out. He begged the maid-servant to open the door for him, but she
refused both his entreaties and those of John, and he must have
remained on the outside had not Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, who
came up at this moment, taken him with th