Tuesday, May 21st, 2013
Facebook / Twitter / Tumblr / Podcast

c. 30 / Golgotha

Sign on the Cross

When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. And when they had bound him, they led him away and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

Then Judas, who had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.” And they said, “What is that to us? See thou to that.” And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed and went and hanged himself. And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, “It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.” And they took counsel and bought with them the potter’s field to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called the Field of Blood unto this day. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued—whom they of the children of Israel did value—and gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me.”

And Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, saying, “Art thou the King of the Jews?” And Jesus said unto him, “Thou sayest.” And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, “Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?” And he answered him to never a word: insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.

Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. And they had then a notable prisoner called Barabbas. Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, “Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.

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 Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said unto them, “Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you?” They said, “Barabbas.” Pilate said unto them, “What shall I do then with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all say unto him, “Let him be crucified.” And the governor said, “Why, what evil hath he done?” But they cried out the more, saying, “Let him be crucified.”

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.” Then released he Barabbas unto them, and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had plaited a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head and a reed in his right hand; and they bowed the knee 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 after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him and led him away to crucify him. And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name—him they compelled to bear his cross.

  1. 1
  2. 2
Bookmark and Share
Love this? Subscribe to Lapham's Quarterly today.
Please enter a first name.
Please enter a last name.
Please enter an address.
Please enter a city.
Please select a state.
Please enter a valid
zip code.
Please select a country.

Canadian subscribers add $10; All other international subscribers add $40.

Post a Comment

Note: Several minutes will pass while the system is processing and posting your comment. Do not resubmit during this time or your comment will post multiple times.

Published In
Crimes & Punishments
About the Text

From the Bible. Many scholars have postulated that the Gospel of Matthew was intended mainly for a Jewish readership, distinguished from the other gospels by its numerous references to the Old Testament and Jewish prophecies. Where other gospels use the term "kingdom of God," Matthew often substitutes "kingdom of heaven."

I thought that a Jewish state would be free of the evils afflicting other societies: theft, murder, prostitution…. But now we have them all. And that’s a thing that cuts to the heart.
Golda Meir, 1973
Visual Aids
Working Relationships The interconnected lives of whales, bees, pigeons, horses, and rats.
Art, Photography, & Illustrations View a selection of art from our latest issue.
Charts & Graphs All of our charts and graphs, pulled from the pages of Lapham’s Quarterly.
Events & News
March 15 / The spring issue of Lapham's Quarterly, "Animals", hits newsstands and mailboxes. More
Apropos

Vague Premonitions

The Great Beyond

Subscribe
Current Issue Animals Spring 2013
Blogs

Content on this page requires a newer version of Adobe Flash Player.

Get Adobe Flash player

Audio & Video
LQ Podcast: Alison Pill The actress and star of The Newsroom reads selections from our latest issue, Animals.
Eponym
Lewis H. Lapham is Editor of Lapham's Quarterly. He also serves as editor emeritus and national correspondent for Harper's magazine.
Site Sponsor
Recent Issues