"Behold the Man!"
Pilate was heartily sick of the Jews and their constant infighting and squabbling. They had brought him this man, Jesus, a Nazarene, but apart from the fact that he was a nutter, Pilate was unable to identify any crime at all, let alone one worthy of death.
He addressed Caiaphas, the Chief Priest, and his henchman,, who apparently was the Chief Sadducee. "Look, gentlemen, I'm sorry, but he's clearly innocent."
"He's guilty!" Caiaphas was livid. Guilty as charged! Even at the level of our law he ought to die! What's this high and mighty Roman law you keep on about?"
A passing crucifixion party gave Pilate an idea. He beckoned them over.
"Look," he said. "I'll tell you what I'll do. I'm supposed to release someone to you at this time of year. I will release either this Jesus of yours, or this...." he gazed at the centurion in quizzical expectation."
"Alice Barabbas, sir!" replied the centurion, promptly. "Rebel Jewess, sir. Murdered one of our soldiers!"
Alice was stunned at this turn of events. She'd killed the soldier in self-defence, not that anyone was interested in her defence. He tried to rape her, she had a knife, she killed him. But in that instant she knew that she was going to be crucified. The prospect terrified her, she bitterly wished she'd let the bastard rape her. She had tried to face her execution bravely, but it was all she could do to stand up, she was so frightened. And now, a chance of a reprieve!
She looked at the stranger with interest. She wondered what he had done.
The priests were dismayed. Behind them, the crowd had heard what was going on, and they seemed evenly split, half bellowing their support for Jesus, half for Alice.
They whispered urgently.
Alice, unconscious of any irony, raised her eyes to Heaven and prayed to God for her life.
The priests talked for ages, while Pilate grew restless. "I do not have all day, gentlemen!"
"Must we choose? Can't you crucify them both?"
"No, I have made my ruling. One of these prisoners will be released immediately.
It was a no-brainer, in the end. Despite his apparent sorrow and concern, the Chief Priest had been looking forward to Alice's crucifixion from the moment he'd heard she'd been arrested.
He nodded towards Alice. "Have it your way," he said. "Crucify her."
To be continued.
Pilate was heartily sick of the Jews and their constant infighting and squabbling. They had brought him this man, Jesus, a Nazarene, but apart from the fact that he was a nutter, Pilate was unable to identify any crime at all, let alone one worthy of death.
He addressed Caiaphas, the Chief Priest, and his henchman,, who apparently was the Chief Sadducee. "Look, gentlemen, I'm sorry, but he's clearly innocent."
"He's guilty!" Caiaphas was livid. Guilty as charged! Even at the level of our law he ought to die! What's this high and mighty Roman law you keep on about?"
A passing crucifixion party gave Pilate an idea. He beckoned them over.
"Look," he said. "I'll tell you what I'll do. I'm supposed to release someone to you at this time of year. I will release either this Jesus of yours, or this...." he gazed at the centurion in quizzical expectation."
"Alice Barabbas, sir!" replied the centurion, promptly. "Rebel Jewess, sir. Murdered one of our soldiers!"
Alice was stunned at this turn of events. She'd killed the soldier in self-defence, not that anyone was interested in her defence. He tried to rape her, she had a knife, she killed him. But in that instant she knew that she was going to be crucified. The prospect terrified her, she bitterly wished she'd let the bastard rape her. She had tried to face her execution bravely, but it was all she could do to stand up, she was so frightened. And now, a chance of a reprieve!
She looked at the stranger with interest. She wondered what he had done.
The priests were dismayed. Behind them, the crowd had heard what was going on, and they seemed evenly split, half bellowing their support for Jesus, half for Alice.
They whispered urgently.
Alice, unconscious of any irony, raised her eyes to Heaven and prayed to God for her life.
The priests talked for ages, while Pilate grew restless. "I do not have all day, gentlemen!"
"Must we choose? Can't you crucify them both?"
"No, I have made my ruling. One of these prisoners will be released immediately.
It was a no-brainer, in the end. Despite his apparent sorrow and concern, the Chief Priest had been looking forward to Alice's crucifixion from the moment he'd heard she'd been arrested.
He nodded towards Alice. "Have it your way," he said. "Crucify her."
To be continued.
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