Chapters 26-29 Summary

Judas follows Jesus and Rufus to Pilate's palace, and, before entering, Jesus calls in his favor: not to save him. To Pilate Jesus denies being a king in a political sense and warns that Rome will fall like a great statue when he strikes its clay feet. Pilate is unwilling to be provoked into crucifying Jesus so his followers can claim he has risen and ascended to heaven, reveals his wife's nightmares, and advises Jesus to return to Galilee. Jesus retorts that God has picked him up and he is no deserter. Washing his hands, Pilate lets Jesus leave, laughing at his madness.

Judas waits, wondering about why Jesus preaches wildly by day and spends nights on Golgotha. Annas and Caiaphas argue that Jesus is a revolutionary, but Pilate thinks he is harmless to Rome. Caiaphas arrives in state as Jesus...