[224]They condemned Jesus to death, but knew they had no legal power to
put him to death. Then they led him before the Roman governor, Pilate,
and placed against him the charge of sedition, saying, "We found this
fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar,
saying that he himself is Christ a King". (Luke 23:1,2) They knew the
Roman governor had power to put Jesus to death, and for this reason they
sought his judgment.
[225]Pilate was not convinced of Jesus' guilt and was not willing that
he should die, but sought to release him. "Then said Pilate to the chief
priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man. And they were
the more fierce, saying, _He stirreth up the people_." (Luke 23:4,5)
When Pilate sought to release him, his accusers "cried out, saying, If
thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh
himself a king speaketh against Caesar"--against the civil power, and
such is therefore guilty of sedition. (John 19:12) "And he [Pilate] said
unto them the _third time_, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no
cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.
And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be
crucified. _And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed_.
And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.
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