LXIV. He is Arrested and Carried Before Caiaphas, the High Priest and is Condemned

The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth (the Jefferson Bible), by Thomas Jefferson, [1902], at sacred-texts.com

p. 152

LXIV.

He is Arrested and Carried Before Caiaphas, the High Priest and is Condemned.

JESUS therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?

2 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.

3 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.

4 Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.

5 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he; if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:

6 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

7 And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.

p. 153

8 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

9 In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.

10 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

11 And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him:

12 And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.

13 ¶ And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.

14 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.

p. 154

15 But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.

16 Then saith the damsel that kept the door, unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not.

17 And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.

18 ¶ And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not.

19 One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?

20 Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.

21 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

p. 155

22 ¶ The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.

23 Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.

24 Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.

25 And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?

26 Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why smitest thou me?

27 And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none.

28 For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.

29 And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying,

30 We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.

p. 156

31 But neither so did their witness agree together.

32 And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?

33 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?

34 Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:

35 And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go.

36 Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.

37 Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses?

38 Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.

39 And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.