must bear this guilt, and," he added
significantly, "Caesar shall know it also."

Then cried the people again, "The matter must be brought before Caesar."

Then Ezekiel said to Pilate, "They will be astonished when they hear at
Rome that Caesar's viceroy has taken under his protection a traitor
whose death the whole people desired."

And the crowd cried, "Thou must execute him, or otherwise there would
be no peace in the land."

Then said Pilate, "Why, what evil hath he done? I cannot, I dare not,
condemn the innocent to death."

Then said Caiaphas, "Permit me to ask one question. Why shouldst thou
judge this man so carefully when quite recently thou hast allowed thy
soldiers to massacre hundreds without judgment or sentence, merely on
account of some rebellious outcries?"

As Pilate heard the question of Caiaphas he was dismayed, and the crowd
shouted: "Thou canst not show favor to this man; if thou wilt be a
faithful servant to Caesar."

Then Pilate's resolution forsook him, and turning to his servants he
said, "Bring water."

Caiaphas said unto him, "The people will not go away from this place
until thou hast pronounced sentence of death upon the enemy of Caesar."

"Yes," cried the multitude, "we will not go from this place until
sentence is pronounced."

Then said Pilate sorrowfully, "Your violence compels me to yield to
your desire. Take him hence and crucify him. But see," said he as he
washed his hands in the basin which had been brought at his command.
"I wash my hands; I am innocent of the blood of this just man. See ye
to it."

Then arose from the excited multitude a great and awful cry, in which
priests and people joined, speaking as with one voice, "We take it upon
ourselves! His blood be upon us and upon our children!"

Then said Pilate, "Let Barabbas be set free at the demand of the
people. Lead him outside the city gate and let him never tread this
ground again." The soldiers then led Barabbas away.

The priests and people cried: "Now hast thou justly judged."

Pilate said unto them, "I have given way to your violent demands in
order to avoid a great evil. But in the blood-guiltiness I will have
no share. Let it fall upon you and your children as you have so loudly
cried."

Then again the priests and people cried, "It is good; let it fall upon
us and upon our children."

Annas said, "We and our children will bless this day and with thankful
joy cry, 'Health and wealth to the