The Harmonized Gospel Of JESUS CHRIST Part 16

 

Chapter 16

 

Then they led JESUS from Caiaphas to the Praetorium and it was early morning. They themselves did not go into the Praetorium, or they would be defiled, so that they could eat the Passover. Pilate then went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?” They answered him, “If He were not an evildoer we would not have delivered Him up to you.” Then Pilate said, “You take Him and judge Him according to your law.” The Jews said, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,” that the saying of JESUS might be fulfilled which He spoke signifying by what death He would die.

 

Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again called JESUS and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” JESUS answered, “Are you speaking for yourself about this or did others tell you this concerning Me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me what have You done?” JESUS answered, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If My Kingdom were of this world My servants would fight so that I should not be delivered to the Jews but now My Kingdom is not from here.” Pilate asked Him, “Are You a king then?” JESUS answered, “You say rightly that I am a King. For this cause I was born and for this cause I have come into the world that I should bear witness to the truth, everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?”

 

When he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.” They were all the more fierce saying, “He stirs up the people teaching throughout all Judea beginning from Galilee to this place.” When Pilate heard of Galilee he asked if the Man were a Galilean. As soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction he sent Him to Herod who was in Jerusalem at that time.

 

When Herod saw JESUS he was exceedingly glad for he had desired for a long time to see Him because he had heard many things about Him and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him. Then he questioned Him with many words but JESUS did not answer him. The chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him. Then Herod with his men of war treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate. That very day Pilate and Herod became friends, for previously they had been at enmity with each other.

 

Then the Roman soldiers led Him away into the hall called Praetorium and they called together the whole garrison. They clothed Him with purple and they twisted a crown of thorns put it on His head and began to salute Him, “Hail King of the Jews!” Then they struck Him on the head with a rod and spat on Him and bowing the knee they worshiped Him. Then they scourged him with a whip. After they had mocked Him then they led Him out when JESUS came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!” When the chief priests and officers saw Him they cried out, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “You take Him and crucify Him for I find no fault in Him.” The Jews answered him, “We have a law and according to our law He ought to die because He made Himself the Son of GOD.” When Pilate heard that saying he was apprehensive and went again into the Praetorium and said to JESUS, “Where are You from?” JESUS gave him no answer, Pilate marveled and said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You and power to release You?” JESUS answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above, so the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”

 

From then on Pilate sought to release Him but the Jews cried out saying, “If you let this Man go you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.” When Pilate heard that saying he brought JESUS out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. It was the Preparation Day of the Passover and Pilate said to the Jews, “See your King!” They cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!”

 

At the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished, at that time they had a notorious prisoner named Barabbas. Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you Barabbas or JESUS who is called CHRIST?” for he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy. While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.”

 

Then the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy JESUS. The governor said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!” Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with JESUS who is called CHRIST?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!”

 

Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?” but they cried out all the more saying, “Let Him be crucified!” When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person you see to it.” All the people said, “His blood is on us and on our children.” Then he released Barabbas to them and delivered JESUS to be crucified.

 

Judas, His betrayer seeing that JESUS had been condemned was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? You see to it!” Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed and went and hanged himself. The chief priests took the silver pieces and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury because they are the price of blood.” They consulted together and bought with them the potter’s field to bury strangers in. So that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet saying, “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced and gave them for the potter’s field, as the LORD directed me.”