On what charge was Jesus pronounced worthy of death? Matt. xxvi: 65, 66. Was this charge proved by witnesses? 59, 60. On what evidence did they pronounce him [29] guilty? 63, 64. If he was a mere man was he guilty of blasphemy? What made it wrong in the council to pronounce him guilty? What was the law of Moses in reference to blasphemy? Lev. xxiv: 16.

      Repeat the first verse of the twenty-seventh chapter of Matthew.. What need of this council after they had already condemned him to death? Ans.--The power of sentencing men to death was at that time in the hands of the Governor, Pontius Pilate, and the Sanhedrin had to obtain his consent before Jesus could be executed. They took counsel as to the best method of influencing Pilate.

      When the council was ended what did the chief priests and elders do? Matt. xxvii: 2. Why did they bind him? When they reached the hall of Pilate what was their course? John xviii: 28. When Pilate came out what conversation occurred? 29-31. What was fulfilled as a consequence of the fact that the Jews could not put him to death? 32. Why this consequence? Ans.--Because, if the Jews had killed him he would have been stoned instead of being crucified, the latter mode of punishment being peculiar to the Romans.

      What was the first accusation brought against Jesus? Luke xxiii: 2. What passed between Pilate and Jesus in regard to this accusation? John xviii: 33-38. What occurred when Pilate came back again to the people? Luke xxiii: 4-7. What occurred in the presence of Herod? 8-11. Why did not Jesus answer Herod's questions? 9. Ans.--Most likely to show a suitable contempt for the man who had slain John the [30] Baptist, and was now asking questions through enmity and idle curiosity. What occurred between Pilate and Herod that day? 12.

      What did Pilate then propose to the Jews? 14-17.

      Why of necessity release a prisoner? 17. Comp. John xviii: 39. Why would it gratify the people for him to release a prisoner? Ans.--Because the Romans always had some political prisoners, with whom the Jews were in sympathy.

      What answer did the people give? Luke xxiii: 18.

      Who was Barabbas, and why did they ask for his release? 19; Matt. xxvii: 20.

      What did Pilate do next? Matt. xxvii: 22-25.

      What did the soldiers of Pilate then do? 27-30. Why did the Roman soldiers thus treat him? Ans.--It was customary to scourge a criminal before crucifying him, and the other mistreatment was intended as a mockery of his claim to be a king.

      What other incident occurred while the trial before Pilate was going on? Matt. xxvii: 19.

      When Jesus had been scourged, what did Pilate next do? John xix: 2-5. What conversation did he then have with the Jews? 6-7. What did Pilate do next? 8-11. Why did Jesus not answer him? Ans.--He saw that Pilate was alarmed, and he was not willing to increase his alarm lest he should release him.

      What was the last argument of the Jews and its effect? 12, 13. What, then, was the final motive which induced Pilate to put Jesus to death? [31]

[FBL 29-31]