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drew his sword; and he struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear. But Jesus said unto him, " Put up thy sword again into its place; for all they that take the sword, shall perish by the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he would give me more than twelve legions of angels? But then how would the Scriptures be fulfilled, which declare, that thus it must be?" And he touched the ear, and healed it.

In that same hour said Jesus to the multitude," Are ye come out as against a robber, with swords and with staves, to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me. But all this has been done, that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples forsook him and fled.

JESUS TRIED BEFORE THE HIGH

PRIEST.

(Matt. xxvi. 57-68.)

AND they who had apprehended Jesus, led him to the house of Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. And Peter followed him at a distance to the court of the high-priest's house, and went in, and sat with the officers to see the end.

Now the chief priests, and the elders, and the whole council, sought false witness against Jesus to put him to death; but, though many false witnesses appeared, they found it not. At last came two false witnesses who said, “ This man said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and build it again in three days.' Then the high priest arose and said unto him, "Answerest thou nothing? What is it which these witness against thee?" But Jesus held his peace. Then the high

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150 Jesus TRIED before the high priest.

priest and unto him, "I adjure thee by heng God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus saith unto him, "It is as thou hast said; moreover, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Almighty, and coming on the clouds of heaven."

Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, "He hath spoken blasphemy: what further need have we of witnesses? Behold now ye have heard his blasphemy. What think ye?" They answered, “He is deserving of death." Then they spat in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands, saying, "Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, who is he that smote thee?”*

* That is, "If thou be a prophet, tell us."

PETER DENIETH CHRIST.

(Matt. xxvi. 69-75; Luke xxii. 61.)

Now Peter was sitting without in the court; and a maid-servant came to him and said, "Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee." But he denied before them all, saying, "I know not what thou sayest." And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, "This man too was with Jesus of Nazareth." And again he denied with an oath, saying, "I do not know the man."

And after a little while came unto him those who stood by, and they said to Peter, "Surely thou also art one of them, for thy speech betrayeth thee."

Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, "I know not the man." And immedi

* Peter was from Galilee, where they pronounced many words differently from the way in which they were pronounced at Jerusalem.

ately the cock crew. And the Lord turned and looked upon Peter; and Peter remembered the words which Jesus had said unto him, "Before the cock crow thou wilt deny me thrice;" and he went out, and wept bitterly.

THE DEATH OF JUDAS.

(Matt. xxvii. 1-8.)

WHEN the morning was come, all the chief priests, and elders of the people, took counsel against Jesus, to put him to death. And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

Then Judas, who had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, "I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood." But they

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