Leo Tolstoy Archive
Written: 1908
Source: From RevoltLib.com
Transcription/Markup: Andy Carloff
Online Source: RevoltLib.com; 2021
Pilate wanted to release Jesus so much that he again began to speak to people and said: “How come you want to crucify your king?” But the Jews said to him: “If you'll let Jesus go, then by doing this you’ll show that you are a bad servant to Cesar, because the one who makes himself a king is the enemy of Cesar. We have one Cesar, so crucify this king.” And when Pilate heard these words, he realized that he could no longer avoid executing Jesus. Then Pilate went out to the Jews, poured water on his hands in front of them and said: “I’m washing my hands from the blood of this innocent man.” And the people shouted: “Let his blood be on us and on our children.” And then Pilate commanded first to whip Jesus out. When they whipped him, the soldiers who did that put a wreath on his head and gave a stick into his hands and put a red cloak on his back and began to mock him. Mocking him, they bowed to him and told: "Hail, the king of Jews!” And some of them beat him on his cheeks and on his head and spat in his face. And everybody was screaming: “Crucify him! Our King is the Emperor. Crucify him!” And after that Pilate ordered to crucify Jesus. They took the red clothes off Jesus, put his own dress on and told him to carry the cross to Golgotha, the place of a skull , to crucify him. And he was carrying his cross, and that way he came to Golgotha. And they crucified him there on the cross, and two other people were crucified with him. Those two were on each side and Jesus was in the middle of them. Jesus said: “Father! Forgive them, they don’t know what they do.” (John 19, 12-18; Matthew 27, 24-31; Luke 23, 34)
Questions:
1) How did Pilate stand for Jesus and what did the Jews answer him?
2) What did Pilate order to do to Jesus?
3) How did they lead Jesus to the place of a skull and how did they crucify him?