Although Pilate did not in his own mind feel at all certain that Jesus was the King of the Jews, yet he called him so, partly because his Roman pride made him take delight in humbling the Jews by calling such a despicable-looking person their king; and partly because he felt a kind of inward belief that Jesus might really be that miraculous king, that Messiah who had been promised.  He saw plainly that the priests were incited by envy alone in their accusations against Jesus; this made him most anxious to disappoint them; and the desire was increased by that glimmering of the truth which partly enlightened his mind.  There was some hesitation among the crowd when Pilate asked this question, and a few voices answered, ‘Barabbas.’  A servant sent by Pilate’s wife asked for him at this moment; he left the platform, and the messenger presented the pledge which he had given her, saying at the same time:  ’Claudia Procles begs you to remember your promise this morning.’  The Pharisees and the priests walked anxiously and hastily about among the crowd, threatening some and ordering others, although, in fact, little was required to incite the already infuriated multitude.

Mary, with Magdalen, John, and the holy women, stood in a corner of the forum, trembling and weeping; for although the Mother of Jesus was fully aware that the redemption of man could not be brought about by any other means than the death of her Son, yet she was filled with the anguish of a mother, and with a longing desire to save him from those tortures and from that death which he was about to suffer.  She prayed God not to allow such a fearful crime to be perpetrated; she repeated the words of Jesus in the Garden of Olives:  ’If it is possible, let this chalice pass away.’  She still felt a glimmering of hope, because there was a report current that Pilate wished to acquit Jesus.  Groups of persons, mostly inhabitants of Capharnaum, where Jesus had taught, and among whom he had wrought so many miraculous cures, were congregated in her vicinity; they pretended not to remember either her or her weeping companions; they simply cast a glance now and then, as if by chance, at their closely-veiled figures.  Many thought, as did her companions likewise, that these persons at least would reject Barabbas, and beg for the life of their Saviour and Benefactor; but these hopes were, alas, fallacious.

Pilate sent back the pledge to his wife, as an assurance of his intention to keep his promise.  He again came forward on the platform, and seated himself at the little table.  The Chief Priests took their seats likewise, and Pilate once more demanded:  ’Which of the two am I to deliver up to you?’ A general cry resounded through the hall:  ’Not this man, but Barabbas!’ ‘But what am I to do with Jesus, who is called Christ?’ replied Pilate.  All exclaimed in a tumultuous manner:  ’Let him be crucified!  Let him be crucified!’ ‘But what evil has he done?’ asked Pilate for the third time.  ’I find no cause in