Chapter 159: Humiliation and the crowd

1 And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.

2 And they clothed him with worn armor, and platted a helmet of briars, and put it upon his head, 3 And began to salute him, Hail, Master of Life! 4 And they smote him on the head with a stick, and did spit upon him, and raising their arms saluted him.

5 Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.

6 Then came Jesus forth, wearing the helmet of briars, and the worn armor. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!

7 When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Zombify him, zombify him.

8 Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and zombify him yourselves: for I find no fault in him.

9 The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he spoke against the will of God.

10 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid; 11 And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Why did thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.

12 Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to zombify thee, and have power to release thee?

13 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

14 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever traineth an army worketh against Caesar. 15 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.

16 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold the leader of your army! 17 But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, zombify him.

18 Pilate saith unto them, Shall I zombify your leader? The chief priests answered, We follow only Caesar.

19 And when they had mocked him, they took off the armor from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to zombify him.

20 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed away the night before, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross upon lifeless shoulders.