THE GOSPEL OF NICODEMUS, FORMERLY CALLED THE ACTS OF PONTIUS PILATE.


The Gospel of NICODEMUS, the disciple, concerning the Sufferings and Resurrection
of our Master and Saviour, JESUS CHRIST.

CHAPTER IV.

1 Pilate finds no fault in Jesus.
16 The Jews demand his crucifixion.

THEN Pilate left Jesus in the hall,
and went out to the Jews, and said,
I find not any one fault in Jesus.

2 The Jews say unto him, But
he said, I can destroy the temple
of God, and in three days build it
up again.

3 Pilate saith to them, What
sort of temple is that of which he
speaketh?

4 The Jews say unto him,
That which Solomon was forty-six
years in building, he said he
would destroy, and in three days
build up.

5 Pilate said to them again, I
am innocent from the blood of that
man! do ye look to it.

6 The Jews say to him, His
blood be upon us and our children.
Then Pilate calling together the
elders and scribes, priests and
Levites, saith to them privately,
Do not act thus; I have found
nothing in your charge (against
him) concerning his curing sick
persons, and breaking the sabbath,
worthy of death.

7 The priests and Levites replied
to Pilate, By the life of Caesar,
if any one be a blasphemer, he is
worthy of death; but this man hath
blasphemed against the Lord.

8 Then the governor again
commanded the Jews to depart out
of the hall; and calling Jesus,
said to him, What shall I do with
thee?

9 Jesus answered him, Do according
as it is written.

10 Pilate said to him, How is it
written?

11 Jesus saith to him, Moses
and the prophets have prophesied
concerning my suffering and
resurrection.

12 The Jews hearing this, were
provoked, and said to Pilate,
Why wilt thou any longer hear the
blasphemy of that man?

13 Pilate saith to them, If these
words seem to you blasphemy, do
ye take him, bring him to your
court, and try him according to
your law.

14 The Jews reply to Pilate,
Our law saith, he shall be obliged
to receive nine and thirty stripes,
but if after this manner he shall
blaspheme against the Lord, he
shall be stoned.

15 Pilate saith unto them, If
that speech of his was blasphemy,
do ye try him according to your
law.

16 The Jews say to Pilate, Our
law command us not to put any one
to death. We desire that he may be
crucified, because he deserves the
death of the cross.

17 Pilate saith to them, It is not
fit he should be crucified: let him
be only whipped and sent away.

18 But when the governor looked
upon the people that were present
and the Jews, he saw many of the
Jews in tears, and said to the
chief priests of the Jews, All
the people do not desire his death.

19 The elders of the Jews answered
to Pilate, We and all the people
came hither for this very purpose,
that he should die.

20 Pilate saith to them, Why should
he die?

21 They said to him, Because
he declares himself to be the Son
of God and a King.

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