The Gospel of St. Mark

Aquarian Gospel

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter 159

1: It was now two days before the Passover and the feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth, and kill him;

2: for they said, Not during the feast, lest there be a tumult of the people.

3: And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head.

BAR-SIMON, who was once a leper and was cleansed by Jesus by the sacred Word, abode in Bethany.
2) In honor of the Christine Lord he gave a feast, and Lazarus was among the guests, and Ruth and Martha served.
3) And as the guests reclined about the table, Mary took a cruse of rich perfume and poured it out on Jesus' head and feet.
4) And then she knelt and with her hair she wiped his feet; the odor of the rich perfume filled all the room.

4: But there were some who said to themselves indignantly, Why was the ointment thus wasted?

5) Now, Judas, always looking at the selfish side of life, exclaimed,
For shame! why did you waste that costly perfume thus?

5: For this ointment might have been sold for more than three hundred denari, and given to the poor. And they reproached her.

6) We might have sold it for three hundred pence, and had the money to supply our wants and feed the poor.
7) (Now, Judas was the treasurer, and carried all the money of the Christine band.)

8) And others said, Why, Mary, what a profligate you are! You should not throw such wealth away.

6: But Jesus said, Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.

9) But Jesus said,
You men, be still; let her alone; you know not what you say.

7: For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you will, you can do good to them; but you will not always have me.

10) The poor are with you constantly; at any time you can administer to them; but I will not be with you long.

8: She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burying.

9: And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.

12) The gospel of the Christ will everywhere be preached, and he who tells the story of the Christ will tell about this day; and what was done by Mary at this hour will be a sweet memorial to her wherever men abide.

13) And when the feast was over Jesus went with Lazarus to his home.
14) Now, in Jerusalem the priests and Pharisees were busy with their plans to seize the Lord and take his life.
15) The high priest called in counsel all the wisest men and said,
This deed must be accomplished in a secret way.
16) He must be taken when the multitudes are not a-near, else we may cause a war; the common people may stand forth in his defense and thus pollute this sacred place with human blood.
17) And what we do, that we must do before the great day of the feast.
18) And Ananias said, I have a plan that will succeed. The twelve with Jesus every day go forth alone to pray;
19) And we will find their trysting place; then we can seize the man and bring him here without the knowledge of the multitudes.
20) I know one of the twelve, a man who worships wealth, and for a sum I think that he will lead the way to where the man is wont to pray.
21) And then Caiaphas said,
If you will lead the way and bribe the man of whom you speak, to aid in seizing Jesus in a secret place, then we will give to you a hundred silver pieces for your hire.
22) And Ananias said, 'Tis well.

23) And then he went to Bethany and found the twelve at Simon's house and, calling Judas to the side he said,
24) If you would care to make a sum of money for yourself, hear me:
25) The high priest and other rulers in Jerusalem would like to talk with Jesus when alone, that they may know about his claims;
26) And if he proves himself to be the Christ, lo, they will stand in his defense.

11: And when they heard it they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him.

27) Now, if you will but lead the way to where your master is tomorrow night that they may send a priest to talk with him alone, there is a sum of silver, thirty pieces, that the priests will give to you:

28) And Judas reasoned with himself; he said,
It surely may be well to give the Lord a chance to tell the priests about his claims when he is all alone.
29) And if the priests would do him harm he has the power to disappear and go his way as he has done before; and thirty pieces is a goodly sum.

30) And so he said to Ananias, I will lead the way, and by a kiss make known which person is the Lord.

Chapter 160

ON Thursday morning Jesus called to him the twelve disciples, and he said to them, This is God's remembrance day, and we will eat the paschal supper all alone.
2) And then he said to Peter, James and John, Go now into Jerusalem and there prepare the pasch.

12: And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?

3) And the disciples said, Where would you have us go to find the place where we may have the feast prepared?

13: And he sent two of his disciples, and said to them, Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him,

4) And Jesus said, Go by the fountain gate and you will see a man who has a pitcher in his hand. Speak unto him and say: This is the first day of unleavened bread;

5) The Lord would have you set apart your banquet hall where he may eat his last Passover with the twelve,
6) Fear not to speak; the man whom you will see is Nicodemus, ruler of the Jews, and yet a man of God.

15: And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.

7) And the disciples went and found the man as Jesus said, and Nicodemus hastened to his home; the banquet hall, an upper room, was set apart, the supper was prepared.

16: And the disciples set out and went to the city, and found it as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover.

8) Now, in the afternoon the Lord and his disciples went up to Jerusalem and found the feast in readiness.

9) And when the hour had come to eat the feast, the twelve began to strive among themselves, each anxious to secure the honored seats.

10) And Jesus said,
My friends, would you contend for self just as the shadow of this night of gloom comes on?
11) There is no honored seat at heaven's feast except for him who humbly takes the lowest seat.
12) And then the Lord arose and took a basin full of water and a towel, and bowing down, he washed the feet of all the twelve and dried them with the towel.
13) He breathed upon them and he said, And may these feet walk in the ways of righteousness forevermore.
14) He came to Peter and was about to wash his feet, and Peter said, Lord, would you wash my feet?
15) And Jesus said,
You do not comprehend the meaning of the thing I do, but you will comprehend.
16) And Peter said,
My master, no, you shall not stoop to wash my feet.
17) And Jesus said,
My friend, if I wash not your feet you have no part with me.
18) And Peter said,
Then, O my Lord, wash both my feet, my hands, my head.
19) And Jesus said to him, He who has taken first his bath is clean, and has no need to wash, except his feet.
20) The feet are truly symbols of the understanding of the man, and he who would be clean must, in the living stream of life, wash well his understanding every day.
21) Then Jesus sat with his disciples at the table of the feast and said,
Behold the lesson of the hour:
22) You call me master; such I am. If, then, your Lord and master kneel and wash your feet, should you not wash each other's feet and thus show forth your willingness to serve?
23) You know these things, and if you do them, blessed thrice are you.

Continued below

18: And as they were at table eating, Jesus said, Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.

27) And then they ate the pasch and as they ate, the master said, Behold, for one of you will turn away this night and will betray me into wicked hands.

19: They began to be sorrowful, and to say to him one after another, Is it I?

28) And the disciples were amazed at what he said; they looked into each other's face in wonderment; they all exclaimed, Lord, is it I?
29) And Peter said to John, who sat beside the Lord,
To whom does he refer?
30) And John put forth his hand and touched the master's hand and said,
Which one of us is so depraved as to betray his Lord?
31) And Judas said, Lord, is it I?

20: He said to them, It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me.

32) And Jesus said, He is the one who now has put his hand with mine into the dish.

21: For the Son of man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.

34) And from the table Judas rose at once; his hour had come.
35) And Jesus said to him, Do quickly what you are to do.
And Judas went his way.

22: And as they were eating, he took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them, and said, Take; this is my body.

36) And when the pasch was done the Lord with the eleven sat a while in silent thought.
37) Then Jesus took a loaf of bread that had been broken not and said, This loaf is symbol of my body, and the bread is symbol of the bread of life;
38) And as I break this loaf, so shall my flesh be broken as a pattern for the sons of men; for men must freely give their bodies up in willing sacrifice for other men.
39) And as you eat this bread, so shall you eat the bread of life, and never die.
And then he gave to each a piece of bread to eat.

23: And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it.

24: And he said to them, This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.

40) And then he took a cup of wine and said,

Blood is the life, this is the life-blood of the grape; it is the symbol of the life of him who gives his life for men.
41) And as you drink this wine, if you shall drink in faith, you drink the life of Christ.
42) And then he supped and passed the cup, and the disciples supped;

continued from Mark 14:18

24) And then he said, This is an hour when I can truly praise the name of God, for I have greatly wished to eat with you this feast before I pass the veil;

25: Truly, I say to you, I shall not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

25) For I will eat it not again until anew I eat it with you in the kingdom of our Father-God.

26: And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Chapter 161

NOW, after Judas had gone forth to meet the emissaries of the priests and to betray his Lord,
2) The master said,
The hour has come, the son of man will now be glorified.
3) My little children, I am with you yet a little while; soon you will seek me and will find me not, for where I go you cannot come.
4) I give to you a new command: As I love you and give my life for you, so shall you love the world, and give your life to save the world.
5) Love one another as you love yourselves, and then the world will know that you are sons of God, disciples of the son of man whom God has glorified.

27: And Jesus said to them, You will all fall away; for it is written, `I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'

9) And then he looked upon the eleven and said,
You all will be estranged from me this night.
10) The prophet said, Lo, he will smite the shepherd of the sheep; the sheep will flee and hide away.

11) But after I am risen from the dead, lo, you will come again, and I will go before you into Galilee.

29: Peter said to him, Even though they all fall away, I will not.

6) And Peter said, Lord, where you go there I will go, for I would lay my life down for my Lord.

30: And Jesus said to him, Truly, I say to you, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.

7) And Jesus said, Boast not of bravery, my friend; you are not strong enough tonight to follow me.
8) Now, Peter, hear! you will deny me thrice before the cock shall crow tomorrow morn.

31: But he said vehemently, If I must die with you, I will not deny you. And they all said the same.

12) And Peter said, My Lord, though every other man forsake you I will not.
13) And Jesus said, O Simon Peter, lo, your zeal is greater than your fortitude! Behold, for Satan comes up to sift you as a pan of wheat, but I have prayed that in your faith you shall not fail; that after this trial you may stand a tower of strength.
14) And the disciples all exclaimed, There is no power on earth that can estrange, or cause us to deny our Lord.

15) And Jesus said, Let not your hearts be sad; you all believe in God; believe in me.
16) Behold, for there are many mansions in my Fatherland. If there were not I would not have told you so.
17) I will go unto my Fatherland, and I will prepare a place for you that where I am there you may be. But now you do not know the way unto my Fatherland.
18) And Thomas said,
We do not know where you intend to go; how could we know the way?
19) And Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, the life; I manifest the Christ of God. No man can reach my Fatherland except he comes with me through Christ.
20) If you had known and comprehended me, then you would know my Father-God.
21) And Philip said, Show us the Father and we will be satisfied.
22) And Jesus said, Have I been with you all these years and still you know me not?
23) He who has seen the son has seen the Father, for in the son the Father has revealed himself.
24) Lo, I have told you many times that what I speak and what I do are not the words and works of man;
25) They are the words of God, who lives in me and I in him.
26) Hear me, you faithful men: He who believes in me and in my Father-God shall say and do what I have said and done.
27) Yea, more, he shall do greater works than I have ever done, because I go to him whose works we do, and then I can reach forth my hand in helpfulness.
28) And in my name, through Christ, you may petition God and he will grant you your request.
29) Do you believe what I have said? Yes, you believe, and if you love the Christ and follow me then you will keep my words.
30) I am the vine; you are the branches of the vine; my Father is the husbandmen.
31) The branches that are worthless, bearing naught but leaves, the husbandmen will cut away and cast into the fire to be burned.
32) And he will prune the branches that bear fruit that they may yield abundantly.
33) The branch cannot bear fruit if separated from the vine; and you cannot bear fruit when separate from me.
34) Abide in me, and do the works that God, through me, has taught you how to do, and you will bear much fruit, and God will honor you as he has honored me.
35) And now I go my way, but I will pray my Father-God and he will send another Comforter to you, who will abide with you.
36) Behold, this Comforter of God, the Holy Breath, is one with God, but she is one the world cannot receive because it sees her not; it knows her not.
37) But you know her, and will know her, because she will abide within your soul.
38) I will not leave you desolate, but in the Christ, which is the love of God made manifest to men, I will be with you all the way.

Chapter 163

AS Jesus and the eleven went out, a Roman guard approached and said,

All hail! Is one of you the man from Galilee?
2) And Peter said,
We all are men from Galilee; whom do you seek?
3) The guard replied,

I seek for Jesus, who is called the Christ.
4) And Jesus answered, Here am I.
5) The guard spoke out and said,
I do not come in an official way; I bear to you a message from the governor.
6) Jerusalem is all alive with vengeful Jews who swear that they will take your life, and Pilate would confer with you, and he would have you come to him without delay.
7) And Jesus said to Peter and the rest,
Go to the vale, and by the Kidron wait for me, and I will go alone and see the governor.
8) And Jesus went up with the guard, and when he reached the palace, Pilate met him at the gate and said,
9) Young man, I have a word to say that may be well for you. I have observed your works and words three years and more;
10) And I have often stood in your defense when your own countrymen would fain have stoned you as a criminal.
11) But now the priests, the scribes and Pharisees have stirred the common people to a stage of frenzied wantonness and cruelty, and they intend to take your life.
12) Because, they say, that you have sworn to tear their temple down; to change the laws that Moses gave; to exile Pharisee and priest and seat yourself upon a throne.
13) And they aver that you are fully in league with Rome.
14) The streets of all Jerusalem are filled this moment with a horde of madmen all intent to shed your blood.
15) There is no safety for you but in flight; wait not until the morning sun. You know the way to reach the border of this cursed land.
16) I have a little band of guards, well horsed and armed, and they will take you out beyond the reach of harm.
17) You must not tarry here, young man, you must arise and go.
18) And Jesus said, A noble prince has Caesar in his Pilate Pontius, and from the point of carnal man your words are seasoned with the wise man's salt; but from the point of Christ your words are foolishness.
19) The coward flees when danger comes; but he who comes to seek and save the lost must give his life in willing sacrifice for those he comes to seek and save.
20) Before the pasch has been consumed, lo, all this nation will be cursed by shedding blood of innocence; and even now the murderers are at the door.
21) And Pilate said, It shall not be; the sword of Rome will be unsheathed to save your life.
22) And Jesus said, Nay, Pilate, nay; there are no armies large enough in all the world to save my life.
23) And Jesus bade the governor farewell, and went his way; but Pilate sent a double guard with him lest he should fall into the hands of those who were alert to take his life.
24) But in a moment Jesus disappeared; the guards saw him no more, and in a little while he reached the brook of Kidron where the eleven were.

32: And they went to a place which was called Gethsem'ane; and he said to his disciples, Sit here, while I pray.

25) Now, just beyond the brook there was an orchard and a home where one, Massalian, lived, where Jesus oft had been.
26) Massalian was his friend, and he believed that Jesus was the Christ that Jewish prophets long ago had said would come.
27) Now, in the orchard was a sacred knoll; Massalian called the place Gethsemane.
28) The night was dark, but in the orchard it was doubly dark and Jesus bade the eight disciples tarry by the brook,

33: And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled.

29) While he, with Peter, James and John went to Gethsemane to pray.

30) They sat beneath an olive tree, and Jesus opened up the mysteries of life to Peter, James and John. He said,
31) The Spirit of eternity is One unmanifest; and this is God the Father, God the Mother, God the Son in One.
32) In life of manifests the One became the Three, and God the Father is the God of might; and God the Mother is omniscient God, and God the Son is love.
33) And God the Father is the power of heaven and earth; and God the Mother is the Holy Breath, the thought of heaven and earth; and God the Son, the only son, is Christ, and Christ is love.
34) I came as man to manifest this love to men,
35) As man I have been subject unto all the trials and temptations of the human race; but I have overcome the flesh, with all its passions and its appetites.
36) What I have done all men can do.
37) And I am now about to demonstrate the power of man to conquer death; for every man is God made flesh.
38) I will lay down my life, and I will take it up again, that you may know the mysteries of life, of death, and of the resurrection of the dead.
39) I lay me down in flesh, but I will rise in spirit form with power to manifest myself so mortal eyes can see.
40) So in a trinity of days I will show forth the all of life, the all of death, the meaning of the resurrection of the dead.
41) And what I do all men can do.
42) And you, my three, who constitute the inner circle of the Church of Christ, will show to men the attributes of all the Gods.
43) And Peter shall make known the Power of God; and James shall show the Thought of God; and John shall demonstrate the Love of God.
44) Be not afraid of men, for you have been sent forth to do the mighty works of God the Father, God the Mother, God the Son.
45) And all the powers of carnal life cannot destroy your life until your work is done.
46) I leave you now, and I will go out in the darkness all alone and talk with God.

34: And he said to them, My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch.

47) By sorrow I am overwhelmed, I leave you here to watch with me.

35: And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.

48) Then Jesus went three hundred cubits toward the east, and fell upon his face and prayed;
 

36: And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible to thee; remove this cup from me; yet not what I will, but what thou wilt.

he said,

49) My God! my God! is there a way by which I may escape the horrors of the coming hours? My human flesh shrinks back; my soul is firm; so not my will, but thine, O God, be done.

50) In agony he prayed; the strain upon the human form was great; his veins were burst asunder, and his brow was bathed in blood.

37: And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour?

51) And then he went back to the three, and found them all asleep; he said,
52) O Simon, Simon, do you sleep! Could you not watch with me a single hour?

38: Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Be vigilant, and watch and pray that your temptations be not too great for you to bear.
53) I know the spirit is alert and willing; but the flesh is weak.

39: And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words.

54) And then he went again and prayed,
O Father, God! if I must drink this bitter cup, give me the strength of soul; for not my will, but thine be done.

40: And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to answer him.

55) And then he went again to his disciples; lo, he found them still asleep. He wakened them and said to James,
56) Have you been sleeping while your master has been wrestling with the greatest foe of men? Could you not watch with me a single hour?

41: And he came the third time, and said to them, Are you still sleeping and taking your rest?

58) And then again he went back to the three, and still they slept.

59) With all the love you have for me, could you not watch with me a single hour?

60) And then he said, It is enough; the hour has come, and my betrayer is at hand; arise and let us go.

61) And when they came again to Kidron, lo, the eight disciples were asleep, and Jesus said, You men, awake; behold, for the betrayer of the son of man is come.

Chapter 164

43: And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.

THE Lord with the eleven were in the orchard of Massalian, and as they talked they saw a band of men with lanterns and with swords and clubs approaching them.
2) And Jesus said, Behold the emissaries of the evil one! and Judas leads the way.

44: Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, The one I shall kiss is the man; seize him and lead him away under guard.

3) And the disciples said, Lord, let us flee to save our lives.
4) But Jesus said,
Why should we flee to save our lives when this is the fulfillment of the words of prophets and of seers?
5) And Jesus went alone to meet the men; and as they came he said, Why are you here, you men? whom do you seek?
6) And they replied, We seek the man from Galilee. We seek for Jesus, one who calls himself the Christ.
7) And Jesus answered, Here am I.
8) And then he raised his hands and with a mighty thought he brought the ethers to the state of light; and all the orchard was aglow with light.
9) The frenzied men were driven back and many fled and tarried not until they reached Jerusalem; and others fell upon their faces on the ground.
10) The bravest men, and they with hardest hearts, remained, and when the light had paled, the Lord again inquired, Whom do you seek?
11) And Ananias said, We seek the man from Galilee; we seek for Jesus, he who calls himself the Christ.
12) And Jesus answered him and said, I told you once before; but now I tell you once again that I am he.

45: And when he came, he went up to him at once, and said, Master! And he kissed him.

13) By Ananias, Judas stood; but in a moment he had gone and coming up behind the Lord he said, My Lord;
and then he kissed him as a sign that he was Jesus whom they sought.

14) And Jesus said, Do you, Iscariot, come and thus betray your master with a kiss?
15) This thing must need be done; but woe to him who does betray his Lord.
16) Your carnal greed has seared your conscience and you know not what you do; but in a little time your conscience will assert itself, and in remorse, lo, you will close your span and take your life.
17) Then the eleven came, laid hold of Judas and would have done him harm; but Jesus said,
18) You must not harm this man; you have no right to judge this man; his conscience is his judge, will sentence him and he will execute himself.

19) And then the mob led on by Malchus, servant of Caiaphas, laid hold of Jesus, and was binding him with chains.

20) And Jesus said, Why do you come in dead of night with swords and clubs to take me in this sacred place?
21) Have I not spoken in the public places of Jerusalem? Have I not healed your sick, and opened up your blinded eyes, and made your lame to walk, your deaf to hear? You could have found me any day.
22) And now you try to bind me down with chains, what are these chains but links of reeds? And then he raised his hands; the chains were broken and they fell to earth.
23) And Malchus thought the Lord would flee to save his life, and with a club he fain would smite him in the face.

47: But one of those who stood by drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear.

24) But Peter had a sword, and rushing up he smote the man and wounded him.

48: And Jesus said to them, Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me?

20) And Jesus said, Why do you come in dead of night with swords and clubs to take me in this sacred place?

49: Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled.

21) Have I not spoken in the public places of Jerusalem? Have I not healed your sick, and opened up your blinded eyes, and made your lame to walk, your deaf to hear? You could have found me any day.

25) But Jesus said, Stay, Peter, stay; put up your sword; you are not called to fight with swords and clubs. Whoever wields the sword shall perish by the sword.
26) I do not need protection by the sons of men, for I could call this moment and a legion, yea, twelve legions of the messengers of God, would come and stand in my defense; but then it is not well.
27) And then he said to Malchus,

Man, I would not have you harmed.
And then he laid his hand upon the wound that Peter made, and it was healed.
28) Then Jesus said, Be not concerned lest I should tear myself away from you and flee to save my life. I have no wish to save my life; do with me as you wish.
29) And then the mob rushed up to seize the eleven to take them back to stand for trial as the aids of Jesus in his crimes.

30) But the disciples, every one of them, deserted Jesus, and they fled to save their lives.

51: And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body; and they seized him,

32) Massalian saw the man, and took him to his home and gave him other clothes; and then he followed after them who led the Lord away.
33) And Peter was ashamed because of his weak cowardice, and when he was himself again he joined with John and followed close behind the mob, and came into Jerusalem.

Chapter 165

53: And they led Jesus to the high priest; and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes were assembled.

CAIAPHAS was the high priest of the Jews; the mob led Jesus to his palace hall.
2) The court had been convened, and all the galleries were packed with scribes and Pharisees already sworn as witnesses against the Lord.

54: And Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the guards, and warming himself at the fire.

3) The maid who kept the palace door knew John and this disciple asked that he and Peter be admitted to the hall.
4) The maid permitted them to enter in, and John went in; but Peter was afraid and tarried in the outer court.

Chapter 165 (continued below at Verse 66)

Chapter 166

55: Now the chief priests and the whole council sought testimony against Jesus to put him to death; but they found none.

WHEN Jesus would not speak, Caiaphas stood before the Jewish mob and said,
2) Bind fast the prisoner, for he must go before the great Sanhedrin of the Jews to answer for his life.
3) We cannot execute a criminal until our findings have been verified by this, the highest council of the Jews.
4) As soon as it was day the highest council of the people met; the Lord and his accusers stood before the bar.
5) Caiaphas was the chief; he rose and said,
Let the accusers of this man from Galilee bring forth their charges and their evidence.
6) Caiaphas' scribe stood forth and read the charges and the names of those who had accused the man from Galilee.
7) And all the witnesses were made to stand and testify before the council of the Jews.
8) And then the lawyers weighed the evidence, and Nicodemus stood among the men who plead.
9) He raised his hands and said, Let justice now be done, though every scribe and Pharisee and priest and Sadducee, as well as Jesus, the accused, be judged a liar.
10) If we can prove this Jesus to be foe and traitor to our laws and land, let him be judged a criminal and suffer for his crimes.
11) If it be proved that these who testify are perjurers in the sight of God and man, then let the man from Galilee go free.

56: For many bore false witness against him, and their witness did not agree.

12) And then he brought the testimonies of the witnesses before the judges of the law; no two of them agreed. In heat of passion, or for gain, the men had testified.

57: And some stood up and bore false witness against him, saying,

13) The council would have gladly judged that Jesus was a criminal and sentenced him to death; but in the face of all the evidence they were afraid.

58: We heard him say, `I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.'

60: And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?

61: But he was silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?

14) And then Caiaphas said, You man from Galilee, Before the living God, I now command that you shall answer me, Are you the Christ, the son of God?

62: And Jesus said, I am; and you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.

15) And Jesus said,
If I would answer, Yes, you would not hear, nor yet believe,
16) If I would answer, No, I would be like your witnesses, and stand a liar in the sight of man and God. But this I say,
17) The time will come when you will see the son of man upon the throne of power and coming in the clouds of heaven.

63: And the high priest tore his garments, and said, Why do we still need witnesses?

64: You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision? And they all condemned him as deserving death.

18) And then Caiaphas rent his clothes and said,
Have you not heard enough?

Did you not hear his vile blasphemous words? What further need have we of witnesses? What shall we do with him?

19) The people said, Put him to death.

65: And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to strike him, saying to him, Prophesy! And the guards received him with blows.

And then the mob rushed up and spit into his face, and struck him with their hands.
20) And then they bound a cloth about his eyes and smote him in the face and said, You are a prophet; tell us who it was who smote you in the face.

21) And Jesus answered not and like a lamb before his shearer he, the man from Galilee, resisted not.
22) Caiaphas said, We cannot put a man to death until the Roman ruler shall confirm the sentence of this court;
23) So take this criminal away and Pilate will endorse what we have done.
24) And then was Jesus dragged along the way up to the palace of the Roman governor.

Chapter 165

(continued from above)

66: And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the maids of the high priest came;

67: and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him, and said, You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.

68: But he denied it, saying, I neither know nor under-stand what you mean.

7) The men who had brought Jesus to the hall sat by a fire in the outer court, because the night was cool, and Peter sat with them.

69: And the maid saw him, and began again to say to the bystanders, This man is one of them.

8) Another maid who waited in the place saw Peter and she said to him, You surely are from Galilee; your speech is that of Galilee; you are a follower of this man.

9) And Peter said, I know not what you mean; I do not even know this man.

And after a little while again the bystanders said to Peter, Certainly you are one of them; for you are a Galilean.

10) And then a servant of Caiaphas, one of those who seized the Lord and brought him to the court, saw Peter and he said to him,
11) Did I not see you in the orchard of Massalian with this seditious Nazarene? I'm sure I did, and you are one of those who followed him.

71: But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, I do not know this man of whom you speak.

12) Then Peter rose and stamped upon the floor, and swore by every sacred thing, that he knew not the criminal.

72: And immediately the cock crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times. And he broke down and wept.

13) Now, John was standing near and when he heard the words and knew that Peter had denied his Lord, he looked at him in sheer astonishment.
14) Just then a cock crew loud beneath the court, and Peter called to mind the words the Lord had said,
15) Before the cock shall crow tomorrow morn you will deny me thrice.
16) And Peter's conscience smote him heavily, and he went out into the night and wept.

17) Caiaphas sat in state; before him stood the man from Galilee.
18) Caiaphas said, You people of Jerusalem, who is the man that you accuse?
19) They answered:
In the name of every loyal Jew we do accuse this man from Galilee, this Jesus, who assumes to be our king, as enemy of God and man.
20) Caiaphas said to Jesus, Man, you are permitted now to speak and tell about your doctrines and your claims.
21) And Jesus said, You priest of carnal man, why do you ask about my words and works?
22) Lo, I have taught the multitudes in every public place; I have restored your sick to health; have caused your deaf to hear, your lame to walk, and I have brought your dead to life again.
23) My works have not been done in secret place but in your public halls and thoroughfares.
24) Go ask the people, who have not been bought with gold or glittering promises, to tell about my words and works.
25) When Jesus had thus said a Jewish guard came up and smote him in the face and said, How dare you speak thus unto him, the high priest of the Jews?
26) And Jesus said,
If I have spoken falsely bear witness unto what I say; If I have told the truth why did you smite me thus?
27) And then Caiaphas said,
What'er you do, do in a legal way, for we must answer to a higher court for everything we do or say.
28) Let the accusers of this man present their charges in a legal form.
29) And then Caiaphas' scribe stood forth and said,
I have the accusations here in legal form; the charges made and signed by scribes and priests and Pharisees.
30) Caiaphas said, Be still, you men, and hear the charges read. The scribe took up a roll and read:

31) To the Sanhedrin of the Jews and to Caiaphas the high priest, most honored men:
32) The highest duty man can render is to his nation and his own is to protect them from their foes.
33) The people of Jerusalem are conscious that a mighty foe is in their very midst.
34) A man named Jesus has come forth and claims to be heir to David's throne.
35) As an imposter he is foe, and in the name of every loyal Jew we here submit these charges which we are competent to prove;
36) At first, he blasphemes God; he says he is son of God; that he and God are one;
37) And he profanes our holy days by healing, and doing other work upon the Sabbath days;
38) And he proclaims himself the king, successor of our David and our Solomon;
39) And he declares that he will tear our temple down and build it up again in form more glorious in three days;
40) And he declares that he will drive the people from Jerusalem, as he drove out the merchants from the temple court; and bring to occupy our sacred hills a tribe of men that know not God;
41) And he avers that every doctor, scribe and Pharisee and Sadducee, shall go in exile, and shall never more return;
42) And to these charges we do set our hands and seals.
                               Annas        Simon
                               Abinadab  Annanias
                               Joash        Azaniah
                                    Hezekiah

43) Now, when the scribe had read the charges, all the people called for blood; they said,
Let such a wretch be stoned; let him be crucified.
44) Caiaphas said, You men of Israel, do you sustain the charges of these men?
45) A hundred men who had been bribed, stood forth to testify; they swore that every charge was true.
46) Caiaphas said to Jesus,
Man, have you a word to say? are you the son of God?
47) And Jesus said, So you have said; and then he said no more.

(continued above)