Tatian: Diatessaron — Arabic Witness

Section L.

[1] ^{Edition note 1}And Pilate said unto the chief priests and the multitude, I have not found [2] against this man anything. ^{Edition note 2}But they cried out and said, He hath disquieted^{Edition note 3} our people with his teaching in all Judæa, and he began^{Edition note 4} from Galilee and unto this [3] place. ^{Edition note 5}And Pilate, when he heard the name of Galilee, asked, Is this man a Galilæan? [4] ^{Edition note 6}And when he learned that he was under the jurisdiction of Herod, he sent him to Herod: for he was in Jerusalem in those days.

[5] ^{Edition note 7}And Herod, when he saw Jesus, rejoiced exceedingly: for he had desired to see him for a long time, because he had heard regarding him many things; and he counted on^{Edition note 8} [6] [Arabic, p. 189] seeing some sign from him. ^{Edition note 9}And he questioned him with many words; but [7] Jesus answered him not a word. ^{Edition note 10}And the scribes and chief priests were [8] standing by, and they accused him vehemently. ^{Edition note 11}And Herod scoffed at him, he and his servants; and when he had scoffed at him, he clothed him in robes of scarlet, [9] and sent him to Pilate. ^{Edition note 12}And on that day Pilate and Herod became friends, there having been^{Edition note 13} enmity between them before that.

[10, 11] ^{Edition note 14}And Pilate called the chief priests and the rulers of the people, ^{Edition note 15}and said unto them, Ye brought unto me this man, as the perverter of your people: and I have tried him before you, and have not found in this man any cause^{Edition note 16} of all that ye [12] seek^{Edition note 17} against him: ^{Edition note 18}nor yet Herod: for I sent him unto him; and he hath done [13] nothing for which he should deserve death. ^{Edition note 19}So now I will chastise him, and let [14, 15] him go. ^{Edition note 20}The multitude all cried out and said, Take him from us, take him. ^{Edition note 21}And [16] the chief priests and the elders accused him of many things. ^{Edition note 22}And during their [17] accusation he answered not a word. ^{Edition note 23}Then Pilate said unto him, Hearest thou not [18] how many things they witness against thee? ^{Edition note 24}And he answered him not, not even one word: and Pilate marvelled at that.

[19] ^{Edition note 25}And when the judge sat on his tribune, his wife sent unto him, and said unto him, See that thou have nothing to do with that righteous man: for I have suffered much in my dream^{Edition note 26} to-day because of him.

[20] ^{Edition note 27}And at every feast the custom of the judge was to release to the people one [21] prisoner, him whom they would. ^{Edition note 28}And there was in their prison a well-known prisoner, [22, 23] called Barabbas. ^{Edition note 29}And when they assembled, Pilate said unto them, ^{Edition note 30}Ye have a custom, that I should release unto you a prisoner at the passover: will ye that I [24] release unto you the King of the Jews? ^{Edition note 31}And they all cried out and said, Release not [Arabic, p. 190] unto us this man, but release unto us Barabbas.

And this Barabbas was a [25] robber, ^{Edition note 32}who for sedition^{Edition note 33} and murder, which was in the city, was cast into the [26] prison. ^{Edition note 34}And all the people cried out and began to ask him to do as the custom was [27] that he should do with them. ^{Edition note 35}And Pilate answered and said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called the Messiah, the [28] King of the Jews? ^{Edition note 36}For Pilate knew that envy had moved them to deliver him up. [29] ^{Edition note 37}And the chief priests and the elders asked the multitudes to deliver Barabbas, and [30] to destroy Jesus. ^{Edition note 38}The judge answered and said unto them, Whom of the two will [31] ye that I release unto you?

They said, Barabbas. ^{Edition note 39}Pilate said unto them, And [32] Jesus which is called the Messiah, what shall I do with him? ^{Edition note 40}They all cried out [33] and said, Crucify him. ^{Edition note 41}And Pilate spake to them again, for he desired to release [34] Jesus; ^{Edition note 42}but they cried out and said, Crucify him, crucify him, and release unto us [35] Barabbas. ^{Edition note 43}And Pilate said unto them a third time, What evil hath this man done? I have not found in him any cause^{Edition note 44} to necessitate death: I will chastise him and [36] let him go. ^{Edition note 45}But they increased in importunity^{Edition note 46} with a loud voice, and asked him to crucify him. And their voice, and the voice of the chief priests, prevailed. [37] ^{Edition note 47}Then Pilate released unto them that one who was cast into prison for sedition and murder, Barabbas, whom they asked for: ^{Edition note 48}and he scourged Jesus with whips.^{Edition note 49}

[38] ^{Edition note 50}Then the footsoldiers of the judge took Jesus, and went into the prætorium, and [39] [Arabic, p. 191] gathered unto him all of the footsoldiers. ^{Edition note 51}And they stripped him, and put on [40] him a scarlet cloak. ^{Edition note 52}And they clothed him in garments of purple, and plaited [41] a crown of thorns, and placed it on his head, and a reed in his right hand; ^{Edition note 53}and while they mocked at him and laughed, they fell down on their knees before him, and bowed [42] down to^{Edition note 54} him, and said, Hail,^{Edition note 55} King of the Jews! ^{Edition note 56}And they spat in his face, and took the reed from his hand, and struck him on his head, ^{Edition note 57}and smote his cheeks. [43] ^{Edition note 58}And Pilate went forth without again, and said unto the Jews, I bring him forth to [44] you, that ye may know that I do not find, in examining^{Edition note 59} him, even one crime.^{Edition note 60 Edition note 61}And Jesus went forth without, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple garments. [45] ^{Edition note 62}Pilate said unto them, Behold, the man!

And when the chief priests and the soldiers^{Edition note 63} saw him, they cried out and said, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate said unto them, Take him yourselves, and crucify him: for I find not a cause^{Edition note 64} against [46] him. ^{Edition note 65}The Jews said unto him, We have a law, and according to our law he deserves [47] death, because he made himself the Son of God. ^{Edition note 66}And when Pilate heard this word, [48] his fear increased; ^{Edition note 67}and he entered again into the porch, and said to Jesus, Whence [49] art thou? ^{Edition note 68}But Jesus answered him not a word.

Pilate said unto him, Speakest^{Edition note 69} thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have authority to release thee, and have [50] authority to crucify thee? ^{Edition note 70}Jesus said unto him, Thou hast not any^{Edition note 71} authority over me, if thou wert not given it from above: therefore the sin of him that delivered [51] me up unto thee is greater than thy sin. ^{Edition note 72}And for this word Pilate wished to release him: but the Jews cried out, If thou let him go, thou art not a friend of Cæsar: for every one that maketh himself a king is against Cæsar.