THE MEETING OF JESUS WITH HEROD.

Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man. And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.

25.-Jesus sent to Herod, and afterwards condemned by Pilate.

ST MATT. 27. 15-26; ST MARK 15. 6-15; ST LUKE 23. 6-25;
ST JOHN 19. 14-16.

Jerusalem.

When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilæan. And as soon as he knew that He belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time. And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad; for he was desirous to see Him of a long season, because he had heard many things of Him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by Him. Then he questioned with Him in many words; but He answered him nothing. And the chief priests and Scribes stood and vehemently accused Him. And Herod with his men of war set Him at nought, and mocked Him, and arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him again to Pilate. And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together for before they were at enmity between themselves. And he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! But they cried out, Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no King but Cæsar.

And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined Him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse Him: no, nor yet Herod : for I sent you to him, and lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto Him. I will therefore chastise Him, and release Him.

Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people one prisoner, whomsoever they desired. (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast). And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection. And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had

THE JEWS DEMAND THAT BARABBAS BE RELEASED.

ever done unto them. Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ, the King of the Jews? For he knew that the chief priests had delivered Him for envy.

When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of Him. But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask that he should rather release Barabbas unto them, and destroy Jesus. And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas (who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison). Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus, which is called Christ ?-unto Him whom ye call the King of the Jews? And they cried out again, saying, Crucify Him, let Him be crucified. And the governor said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath He done? I have found no cause of death in Him: I will therefore chastise Him, and let Him go. And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that He might be crucified. And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify Him. 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 person: see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. And so Pilate, willing to content the people, gave sentence that it should be as they required. And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus, when he had Scourged Him, to their will, to be crucified.

26. Jesus Crowned, Mocked, and Crucified. ST MATT. 27. 27-50; ST MARK 15. 16-37; ST LUKE 23. 26-46; ST JOHN 19. 16-30, Jerusalem-Calvary.

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, called Prætorium, and gathered unto Him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped Him, and put on Him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon His head, and a

SIMON THE CYRENIAN BEARS THE CROSS OF JESUS.

reed in His right hand and they bowed the knee before Him, and began to salute Him, and mocked Him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they smote Him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon Him, and bowing their knees worshipped Him. And when they had mocked Him, they took off the purple from Him, and put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.

And as they led Him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, him they compelled, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.

And there followed Him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented Him. But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for Me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry? And there were also two other, malefactors, led with Him to be put to death.

And He bearing His cress went forth. And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, which is called Calvary, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull, they gave Him vinegar to drink, mingled with gall: and when He had tasted thereof, He would not drink,

There they crucified Him, and the two malefactors with Him, one on the right hand, and the other on the left, and Jesus in the midst. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. : Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that He said, I am King of the Jews. Pilate answered, What I have written, I have written.

Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also His coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be that the Scripture might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the prophet, They parted My garments among them, and upon My vesture did they cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did. And it was the third hour, and they crucified Him.

THE SUN, INDIGNANT, WITHDRAWS HIS LIGHT.

And sitting down they watched Him there; and set up over His head His, accusation, and the superscription of His accusation was written over, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. And with Him they crucify two thieves; the one on His right hand, and the other on His left. And the Scripture was fulfilled which saith, And He was numbered with the transgressors.

And the people stood beholding. And they that passed by railed on Him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save Thyself. If Thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking Him, with the Scribes and elders, and the rulers also with them derided Him, saying, He saved others; Himself He cannot save. Let Him save Himself, if He be Christ, the chosen of God. If He be the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, that we may see, and we will believe Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him for He said, I am the Son of God.

And the soldiers also mocked Him, coming to Him, and offering Him vinegar, and saying, If Thou be the king of the Jews, save Thyself. And a superscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

The thieves also, which were crucified with Him, cast the same in His teeth. One of the malefactors which were hanged railed on Him, saying, If Thou be Christ, save Thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with Me in paradise.

Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple standing by, whom He loved, He saith unto His mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith He to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour; and the sun was darkened. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, 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 Elias.

IT IS FINISHED, AND THE VEIL OF THE TEMPLE IS RENT.

After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scriptures might be fulfilled, saith. I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar. And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave Him to drink. The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save Him. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, He said. Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit: and having said thus, He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost.

27.-Jesus Buried, and the Sepulchre Guarded.

ST MATT. 27. 51-66; ST MARK 15. 38-47; ST LUKE 23. 47-56;
ST JOHN 19. 31-42.

Jerusalem and its Outskirts.

And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after His resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

And when the centurion, which stood over against Him, and they that were with Him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, that He so cried out, and gave up the ghost, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, snote their breasts, and returned. And all His acquaintance, and the women that followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto Him, stood afar off, beholding these things; among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses and Salome; the mother of Zebedee's children (who also, when He was in Galilee, followed Him, and ministered unto Him;) and many other women which came up with Him unto Jerusalem.

The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath day (for that Sabbath day was an high day), besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that He was dead already, they brake not His legs but one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His