Tatian: Diatessaron — Arabic Witness

Section XLIX.

[1, 2] ^{Edition note 1}And the chief priest asked Jesus about his disciples, and about his doctrine.^{Edition note 2 Edition note 3}And Jesus said unto him, I was speaking^{Edition note 4} openly to the people; and I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, where all the Jews gather; and I have spoken nothing in [3] [Arabic, p. 185] secret. ^{Edition note 5}Why askest thou me? ask those that have heard, what I spake unto [4] them: for they know all that I said. ^{Edition note 6}And when he had said that, one of the soldiers which were standing there struck the cheek^{Edition note 7} of Jesus, and said unto him, [5] Dost thou thus answer the chief priest? ^{Edition note 8}Jesus answered and said unto him, If I [6] have spoken evil, bear witness of evil:^{Edition note 9} but if well, why didst thou smite me? ^{Edition note 10}And Annas sent Jesus bound unto Caiaphas the chief priest.

[7] ^{Edition note 11}And when Jesus went out, Simon Cephas was standing in the outer court warming [8] himself. ^{Edition note 12}And that maid saw him again, and began to say to those that stood [9] by, This man also was there with Jesus the Nazarene. ^{Edition note 13}And those that stood by [10] came forward and said to Cephas, Truly thou art one of his disciples. ^{Edition note 14}And he [11] denied again with an oath, I know not the man. ^{Edition note 15}And after a little one of the servants of the chief priest, the kinsman of him whose ear Simon cut off, saw him; and [12] he disputed^{Edition note 16} and said, Truly this man was with him: ^{Edition note 17}and he also is a Galilæan; [13] and his speech resembles.^{Edition note 18 Edition note 19}And he said unto Simon, Did not I see thee with him [14] in the garden? ^{Edition note 20}Then began Simon to curse,^{Edition note 21} and to swear, I know not this man [15] whom ye have mentioned. ^{Edition note 22}And immediately, while he was speaking, the cock crew [16] twice. ^{Edition note 23}And in that hour Jesus turned, he being without, and looked stedfastly at Cephas. And Simon remembered the word of our Lord, which he said unto him, [17, 18] ^{Edition note 24}Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. ^{Edition note 25}And Simon went forth without, and wept bitterly.

[19] [Arabic, p. 186] ^{Edition note 26}And when the morning approached, the servants of all the chief priests and the scribes and the elders of the people and all the multitude assembled, [20, 21] and made a plot; ^{Edition note 27}and they took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. ^{Edition note 28}And they sought false witnesses who should witness against him, that they might put him to [22, 23] death, and they found not; ^{Edition note 29}but many false witnesses came, ^{Edition note 30}but their witness did not [24, 25] agree. ^{Edition note 31}But at last there came two lying witnesses, ^{Edition note 32}and said, We heard him say, I will destroy this^{Edition note 33} temple of God that is made with hands, and will build another not [26, 27] made with hands after three days. ^{Edition note 34}And not even so did their witness agree.

But Jesus was silent. ^{Edition note 35}And the chief priest rose in the midst, and asked Jesus, and said, [28] ^{Edition note 36}Answerest thou not a word concerning anything? what do these^{Edition note 37} witness against [29, 30] thee? ^{Edition note 38}But Jesus was silent, and answered him nothing. ^{Edition note 39}And they took him up [31] into their assembly,^{Edition note 40} and said unto him, If thou art the Messiah, tell us. ^{Edition note 41}He said [32] unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe me: ^{Edition note 42}and if I ask you, ye will not answer [33] me a word, nor let me go. ^{Edition note 43}And the chief priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou art the Messiah, the [34, 35] Son of the living God. ^{Edition note 44}Jesus said unto him, Thou hast said that I am he. ^{Edition note 45}They all said unto him, Then thou art now the Son of God?

Jesus said, Ye have said [36] that I am he. ^{Edition note 46}I say unto you, that henceforth ye shall see the Son of man sitting [37] [Arabic, p. 187] at the right hand of power, and coming on the clouds of heaven. ^{Edition note 47}Then the [38] chief priest rent his tunic,^{Edition note 48} and said, He hath blasphemed. ^{Edition note 49}And they all said, Why should we seek now witnesses? we have heard now the blasphemy from his mouth. [39, 40] What then think ye? ^{Edition note 50}They all answered and said, He is worthy of death. ^{Edition note 51}Then some of them drew near, and spat in his face, and struck him, and scoffed at him. [41] ^{Edition note 52}And the soldiers struck him on his cheeks,^{Edition note 53} and said, Prophesy unto us, thou Messiah: [42] who is he that struck thee? ^{Edition note 54}And many other things spake they falsely,^{Edition note 55} and said against him.

[43] ^{Edition note 56}And all of their assembly arose,^{Edition note 57} and took Jesus, and brought him bound^{Edition note 58} to [44] the prætorium,^{Edition note 59} and delivered him up to Pilate the judge; ^{Edition note 60}but they entered not into the prætorium, that they might not be defiled when they should eat the passover.

[45] ^{Edition note 61}And Jesus stood before the judge. And Pilate went forth unto them without, and [46] said unto them, What accusation^{Edition note 62} have ye against this man? ^{Edition note 63}They answered and said unto him, If he had not been doing evils, neither should we have delivered [47] him up unto thee. ^{Edition note 64}We found this man leading our people astray, and restraining from giving tribute to Cæsar, and saying of himself that he is the King, the Messiah. [48] ^{Edition note 65}Pilate said unto them, Then take ye him, and judge him according to your law. [Arabic, p. 188] The Jews said unto him, We have no authority to put a man to death: [49] ^{Edition note 66}that the word might be fulfilled, which Jesus spake, when he made known by what manner of death he was to die.

[50] ^{Edition note 67}And Pilate entered into the prætorium, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art [51] thou the King of the Jews? ^{Edition note 68}Jesus said unto him, Of thyself saidst thou this, or [52] did others tell it thee concerning me? ^{Edition note 69}Pilate said unto him, Am I, forsooth,^{Edition note 70} a Jew? The sons of thy nation^{Edition note 71} and the chief priests delivered thee unto me: what [53] hast thou done? ^{Edition note 72}Jesus said unto him, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be [54] delivered to the Jews: now my kingdom is not from hence. ^{Edition note 73}Pilate said unto him, Then thou art a king?

Jesus said unto him, Thou hast said that I am a king. And for this was I born, and for this came I into the world, that I should bear witness [55] of the truth. ^{Edition note 74}And every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate said unto him, And what is the truth? And when he said that, he went out again unto the Jews.