Early Pilate entered the judgment hall and with a dark scowl said, "What accusation have you against this man?" and the mob cried, "He is a malefactor, or we would not have brought him here."

"What crime hath he committed?"

"He stirreth up the people, causing insurrection."

"How?"

"He says he is the Christ which was to come."

"Is he?"

"He is a carpenter from Galilee."

"Carpenter from Galilee, so I have heard. Loose the shackles at once; why so cruel."

"He deceiveth the people. He is not the Christ."

"Was Christ to come to the Gentiles?"

"So he preaches, but he blasphemes, saying, 'I came forth from God.'"

"Can a man so arouse the world unless God be with him?"

As Pilate was speaking, he was interrupted by a servant, who announced that Pilate's wife awaited him in the hall.

The old Roman scowled, murmured "unusual," then said, "Admit the fair lady."

"Pilate, oh, Pilate, thou art on the edge of an eternal brink."

"My fair one"——

"Listen, oh, listen," she continued, kneeling at his feet. "When first the morning sun hied past the tower and through the latticed vines, I turned to smile, as a vision caught and held me in a spell. Before me lay a winding vale through which a crystal stream did wend to silver islands, whose golden shores faded away into one glorious star-lit eternity.

"As I gazed, the scene seemed to be changing. First the stars became worlds, then the worlds became kingdoms, then the kingdoms became priests, and lastly the priests became nothing. Then again the stars appeared all singing, 'Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.'

"Pilate, oh, Pilate, my loving husband, I implore you to stand firm, having nothing to do with the murder of this just person. The angels are now recording not only every word but every thought to carry home, where you and I must soon appear." Then, kissing Pilate's hand, she looked pitifully at Jesus and turned away.

Pilate knit his brow in brown study for a moment and then said to the accusers of Jesus, "I will chastise this man and then let him go," to which the mob from Caiaphas shouted, "Crucify him, he stirreth up the people against Caesar."

Turning back to Jesus, Pilate asked, "From whence art thou?" To which Jesus gave no answer; but when he repeated the question, Jesus said, "To this end was I born and for this cause came I into the world."

When the rabble continued clamoring for the death of Jesus, Pilate washed his hands before the accusers, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just person; his blood is on you." Then he turned him over to the Roman guard to be crucified.