74. But Peter in great Consternation, denied again with Oaths and Imprecations, that ever he knew Jefus: And presently the Cock crew. 75. Then Peter in great confufion of Mind, remembred how Jefus, reproving his too forward Confidence, had * See ver. foretold that * before Cock-crowing 34. he would deny him thrice: And grieved at his own Weakness and Fearfulness, he went out and wept bitterly. 74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not mediately the cock the man. And im 75 And Peter remembred the words of Jesus, which faid unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly. CHAP. XXVII. Pilate endeavours to Christ carried before Pilate, ver. 1. Judas's Death, ver. 3. cufation of Blafphemy against God and the Emperor, as having owned himself to be the Meffiah and King of the Jews. Putting him therefore in Bonds, they brought him to Pilate, who was at that time Governour of Judea. 3. Then Judas (who had betrayed Jesus out of Covetoufness) when he saw that the Council had really condemned Jefus, and that they were likely to prevail to have him put to Death; was struck with Remorse and Horror at the greatness of his Crime, and carried back the Thirty Pieces of Silver to the Chief Priests and Elders. 4. And he faid; I have committed a horrid Sin, in betraying an innocent Man to Death. But they faid, That's not our Fault; Look you to that. 5. Seeing therefore that he could not retrieve what he had done, he in great Anguish of Mind threw down the Money in the Council-chamber adjoining to the Temple; and unable to bear the Horror and Despair of a Guilty Confcience, went and * made away with himself. 6. Now the Chief Priests taking up the Money, thought it was not fit to * In this place the Word is ἀπήγξατο, be hanged himse'f. In Acts i. 18, 'tis πρηνης γενόμενος ἐλάκησε μέσος, he fell beadlong and burst afunder. Either therefore in the utmost despair and contution of mind, he hanged himself in fuch a manner, as that he fell down and burst; as most Expositors both ancient and modern fuppofe. Or else he threw himself down some Precipice, πρηνης ἐγένετο. And then the word ἀπήγξατο must here be used proverbially, to fignifie only in general that he destroyed hinfelf. put it into the Treasury among the Oblations confecrated to the Service of God, because it was the Price of Blood, having been given to procure a Man's being betray'd to Death. So religioufly did those Hypocrites pretend to be cautious in disposing of that Money, wherewith they had not fcrupled to procure the Death of an innocent Person. 7. Upon Confultation they resolved therefore to lay it out upon a piece of Land to bury Strangers in, and they bought therewith the Potters-Field. 8. And the Field was from thenceforward called Aceldema, that is, the Field of Blood. 9 & 10. Then was fulfilled that Prophecy, * Zech. xi. 13. I took the thirty Pieces of Silver, the price of him that was valued, and gave them for the Potters Field, by the Command of the Lord. 11. Now when Jefus was brought before Pilate the Roman Governour, being accused of fetting up himself to be a King in Oppofition to Cæfar, Pilate asked him, faying; Do you pretend to be King of the Jews? Jesus faid; Tho' I appear to you a mean and contemptible Person, yet 'tis true that I am a King; only my Kingdom is not indeed of this World. filver pieces, and faid, It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. 7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potters field, to bury strangers in. 8 Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood unto this day. 9 (Then was fulfilled that which was fpoken by Jeremy the Prophet, faying, And they took the thirty pieces of filver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Ifrael did * 'Tis poffible that fome of that Prophecy, which goes under the Name of Zechary, might be indeed Jeremiah's (as Mr. Mead thinks ;) or that Zechary might have this paffage from Jeremy, (as Grotius conjectures.) But Bishop Hall, with others, supposes that the Tranfcriber of this Verse mistook Zpi for Ipis, as he says he had seen it abbreviated in a very old Manufcript. thou thou the king of the Jews! And Jesus faid unto him, Thou fayeft. 12 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. 13 Then faith Pilate unto him, Hear eft thou not how many things they witness against thee? 14 And he answered to never a word, infomuch that the governeur marvelled greatly. 15 Now at that feaft the governour was wont to release unto the people a prifoner, whom they would. 16 And they had then a notable prifo ner, called Barabbas. 17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate faid unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus, which is called Chrift? 18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. 12. But when the Chief-Priests and Elders continued still to accuse him, and lay many things to his Charge; Jesus, knowing their unreasonable Malice, and the manifest improbability of their Accusations, refused to return any more Answers. 13. Then faid Pilate; Why do you not answer? Do you not hear how many Accufations they bring against you? 14. But Jefus still continued filent; so that Pilate greatly wondred what his meaning should be. 15. Now it was the Custom, that at every Passover, the Governour gratified the People with pardoning and releasing one of the Prisoners; whom they should choose. 16. And it happened that there was at that time a notorious Malefactor, called Barabbas, in Prifon for having been at the Head of a great Sedition. saw, that 17. When therefore Pilate tho no Capital Crime was prov'd against Jefus, yet the Chief of the Jews were obftinately bent to have him put to Death, and would hear no Reafon; he thought of this Expedient; to propose to the People Jefus and Barabbas, that they might choose which of them they would have released; thinking that surely they would choose Jefus, rather than such an infamous Malefactor as Barabbas. 18. For Pilate perceived plainly, by the whole carriage of the matter, that Jesus was brought before him merely through the Envy and Malice of the Chief-Priefts and Scribes, who were enraged at the Esteem which his Works and Doctrine had gained him among the People. 19. And 19. And Pilate was the more confirmed in his Opinion, by this Accident. As he was fitting upon the Bench, there came a Messenger from his Wife, to defire him not to have any Hand in any thing that should be done against that Innocent Person; for she had been much troubled in a Dream about him that Morning. God so ordering things by his special Providence, that there should be from all fides Evidence of Jesus's Innocence, and of the Jews in vincible and inexcufable Malice. 20 & 21. Pilate therefore hoping to get Jesus released by this Expedient, proposed Jefus and Barabbas together, that the People might choose which of them they would have released. But the Chief-Priefts and Elders strongly urged the People, and, contrary to Pilate's Expectation, prevailed upon them to ask Barabbas, and not Jesus. 22. Then faid Pilate; What shall I do then with Jefus? They all faid with one consent, Let him be crucified. 23. Pilate faid; Why, what Capital Crime have ye covicted him of? I do not fee that any thing worthy of Death, according to the Roman Laws, is proved against him. But they cried out with fo much the greater Rage and Madness; Away with him, Crucify him. 24. Then Pilate, feeing that he could not prevail with the People to set Jesus free, but that the Tumult increased to fuch a degree as even to endanger a Sedition, yielded to their Importunity; yet with a Proteftation of his own diflike of the Fact. For, taking Water and washing his Hands openly before the Multitude, he faid; I am not guilty of this innocent Man's Death; Be ye answerable for it. 19 When he was set down on the Judgment-feat, his wife fent unto him, faying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have fuffered many things this day in a dream, becauseof him. 20 But the chief priests and elders perswaded the multitude that they should ask Barrabbas, and destroy Jesus. 21 The governour answered and faid unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. 22 Pilate faith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus, which is called Christ? they all fay unto him, Let him be crucified. 23 And the governour said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. 24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just perfon: fee ye to it. 25 Then |