Page:Apocryphal Gospels and Other Documents Relating to the History of Christ.djvu/444

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APOCRYPHAL GOSPELS.

ing, I am innocent of the blood of this just man; ye will see. The Jews shouted again, saying, His blood be upon us and upon our children.

Then Pilate commanded the curtain to be drawn, and said to Jesus, Thine own nation complain of thee as a king: therefore I have decreed that thou shalt first be scourged according to the statutes of the emperors, and then be crucified upon a cross.

CHAPTER X.

And when Jesus had been scourged he delivered him to the Jews to be crucified, and two robbers with him, one named Dismas and another named Gestas. And when they came to the place, they stripped him of his garments, and girded him with a linen cloth, and put a crown of thorns upon his head. Likewise also they hung up the two robbers with him, Dismas on the right, and Gestas on the left. And Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. And the soldiers parted his garments amongst them. And the people stood waiting. And the chief priests and their judges derided him, saying among themselves, He saved others, now let him save himself; if he is the Son of God, let him come down from the cross. And the soldiers mocked him, falling down before him, and offering him vinegar with gall, and saying, If thou art king of the Jews, deliver thyself.