ing, Away with this man; let him be crucified! 150. Now at the feast the governor was wont

to release unto the people one prisoner, whom they would. And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas, in bonds with certain men that had made an insurrection in the city, and had done murder. And the multitude came up at this very hour and began to ask the governor to do as he was wont to do unto them. And Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? For he perceived that for envy the chief priests had delivered him up. But the chief priests stirred up the multitude to ask that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. And Pilate again answered and said unto them, What then shall I do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? And they cried out again, Crucify him! And Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him; I will therefore chastise him and let him go. But they cried out the more exceedingly with loud voices, Let him be crucified! Then Pilate, seeing that he prevailed nothing, but rather that a tumult was arising, and wishing to content the multitude, gave sentence that what they asked for should be done. And he released him that for murder and insurrection had been thrown into prison, but Jesus he delivered up unto their will, that he should be crucified.

151. Then the soldiers of the governor took

Jesus, and when they had scourged him, they led him into the court which is called the Prætorium, and gathered about him the whole band. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And they plaited a crown of thorns and put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they kneeled down before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spat upon him, and took the reed and smote him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they took off from him the robe, and put on him his own garments and led him away to crucify him.

And they compelled one passing by, Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to go with them, that he might bear his cross. And there were also two robbers led with him to be put to death. 152. And they came unto the place Golgotha, that is, the place of a skull. And they offered Jesus wine mixed with myrrh, but when he had tasted it, he would not drink. And it was the third hour, and they crucified him there. And Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. And they set up over his head his accusation written, The King of the Jews. And with him they crucified the two robbers, one on his right hand, and one on his left. And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them, casting lots upon them, what each should take. And they sat and watched him there. And they that passed by

railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Thou that destroyest the temple and buildest it in three days, save thyself; if thou art the Son of God, come down from the cross. In like manner also the chief priests, mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others, himself he cannot save. He is the King of Israel; let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe on him. He trusteth on God; let him deliver him now, if he desireth him; for he said, I am the Son of God. And the robbers also that were crucified with him cast upon him the same reproach.

153. And when the sixth hour was come, there

was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, Eloi, Eloi, Lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elijah. And one ran, and filling a sponge full of sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let be; let us see whether Elijah cometh to take him down. But Jesus uttered a loud cry, and gave up the ghost.

And when the centurion which stood by over against him saw that he so gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was a son of God. And there were also women beholding from afar: among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome; who, when he was in Galilee, followed

him, and ministered unto him; and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem. 154. And it now being evening, because it was

the Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, there came Joseph of Arimathea, a councillor of honorable estate, who also himself was looking for the Kingdom of God; and he took courage and went in unto Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. And when he learned it of the centurion, he granted the corpse to Joseph. And he bought a linen cloth, and taking him down, wound him in the linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of a rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.

155. Now after that Jesus had been put to death

the eleven disciples returned into Galilee. And it came to pass there that he appeared unto Simon Peter; then to the Eleven. Then he appeared to above five hundred brethren at once; then he appeared to James; then to all the apostles; and last of all he appeared to Paul also. And these went forth everywhere, and taught the people, and proclaimed in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

APPENDIX

THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

There was in the days of Herod, king of Judæa, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah; and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now advanced in years.

Now it came to pass, while Zacharias executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to enter into the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the hour of incense. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias; because thy supplication is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and