ke and for hers, that thou wouldst have
nothing to do with this just man who has been accused before the
judgment seat. She has suffered anguish and terror on his account last
night, owing to a fearful dream."

Pilate answered, "Go back and tell her that she need not disturb
herself. I will have nothing to do with the proposals of the Jews, but
do all that I can to save him." Saluting Pilate, the messenger
departed.

Pilate then said to his attendants, "Would that I had nothing to do
with this business! What do you think, my friends, of the complaint of
the Jewish priests?"

Then said the courtier Mela, "It seems to me that they are only
inspired by envy and jealousy. The most passionate hatred appears in
their words and countenances."

And the courtier Sylvius added, "The hypocrites pretend that they have
the authority of Caesar at heart, whereas the matter concerns only
their own authority, which they believe endangered by this famous
teacher of the people."

Pilate answered, "I agree with you. I cannot believe that this man
entertains any criminal schemes in his mind. There is so much that is
noble in his features and in his demeanor. His speech displays so
noble a candor and such high natural gifts that he seemed much more to
be a very wise man, perhaps only too wise for these gloomy fanatics to
be able to bear the light of his countenance. And then the dream which
troubled my wife on his account! If he were really of higher origin?
No," said Pilate decidedly, arriving at a resolution, "I will not let
myself be induced to comply with the wishes of the priests." Then he
ordered his servants, saying, "Let the chief priests appear here again,
and let the accused be led out again from the judgment hall."

Then came Caiaphas, Annas and the chief priests, and the scribes and
rulers of the people once more before Pilate to receive his decision.
Then Pilate spoke unto them as follows: "Here you have your prisoner
again; he is without guilt." Consternation and fury were displayed on
the faces of all the Jews.

Then Annas said, "We have Caesar's word that our law shall be upheld.
How can he be without guilt who treads this very law beneath his feet?"

Then cried all the council, saying, "He is worthy of death!"

Caiaphas, who stood before the council, asked, "Is he not punishable by
Caesar when he maliciously injures that which Caesar's will has
guaranteed us?"

Pilate said, "I have told you already,