Alphabetarius

Pilate. And Herod and Pilate became friends on that very day. For previously they were enemies toward each other. But Pilate, having called together the chief priests and the magistrates and the people, said to them: You have brought this man to me as one who turns the people away, and behold, I, having examined him in your presence, find no cause in this man concerning those things in which you accuse him. And neither does Herod. For I sent you to him, and behold, nothing worthy of death has been done by him. I will therefore release him after correcting him. It was, however, necessary for him to release one person to them during the feast day. But the whole crowd cried out together, saying: Take this man away and release Barabbas to us. Who had been cast into prison because of a certain sedition made in the city and for murder. But Pilate spoke to them again, wishing to release Jesus. But they shouted back, saying: Crucify him, crucify him. He, however, said to them for the third time: What evil has he done? I find no cause of death in him. I will therefore punish him and release him. But they insisted with loud voices, demanding that he be crucified. And their voices grew stronger. And Pilate adjudged that their petition be granted. He released, however, the one who had been cast into prison for murder and sedition, whom they asked for, but he delivered Jesus to their will. And as they led him away, they laid hold of a certain Simon of Cyrene, coming from the field, and they laid the cross on him to carry after Jesus. A great multitude of the people and of women followed him, who were lamenting and wailing

for him. And Jesus, turning to them, said: Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming in which they will say: Blessed are the barren and the wombs that have not borne and the breasts that have not nursed. Then they will begin to say to the mountains: Fall on us, and to the hills: Cover us. For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry? And two other wicked men were led with him to be put to death. And after they came to the place which is called Calvary, there they crucified him and the thieves, one on the right and the other on the left. Jesus, however, was saying: Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. And dividing his garments, they cast lots. And the people stood waiting. And the leaders mocked him with them, saying: He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, approaching and offering him vinegar, saying: If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself. And there was also a superscription written over him in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew letters: This is the King of the Jews. And one of the thieves who were hanging blasphemed him, saying: If you are the Christ, save yourself and us. But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying: Do you not fear God, seeing that you are in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong. And he said to Jesus: Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom. And Jesus said to him: Amen I say