evangelists have not recorded these words, although they do mention the fact that these
parties accused Him. Luke is thus the one who has specified the terms of the false accusations
which were brought against Him. On the other hand, he does not state that Pilate said to
Him, “Answerest thou nothing? behold, how many things they witness against thee.” Instead
of introducing these sentences, Luke goes on to relate other matters which are also reported
by these two. Thus he continues: “And Pilate asked Him, saying, Art thou the King of the
Jews? And He answered him and said, Thou sayest.” Matthew and Mark have likewise inser-
ted this fact, previous to the statement that Jesus was taken to task for not answering His
accusers. The truth, however, is not at all affected by the order in which Luke has narrated
these things; and as little is it affected by the mere circumstance that one writer passes over
some incident without notice, which another expressly specifies. We have an instance in
what follows; namely, “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, teaching
throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place. But when Pilate heard of Galilee,
he asked whether the man were a Galilean. And as soon as he knew that He belonged unto
Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.
And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad; for he was desirous to see Him of a long
season, because he had heard many things of Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done
by Him. Then he questioned with Him in many words; but He answered him nothing. And
the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him. And Herod with his men
of war set Him at nought, and mocked Him, and arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent
Him again to Pilate. And the same day Herod and Pilate were made friends together: for
before they were at enmity between themselves.”1356 All these things are related by Luke
alone, namely, the fact that the Lord was sent by Pilate to Herod, and the account of what
took place on that occasion. At the same time, among the statements which he makes in
this passage, there are some bearing a resemblance to matters which may be found reported
by the other evangelists in connection with different portions of their narrations. But the
immediate object of these others, however, was to recount simply the various things which
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were done in Pilate’s presence on to the time when the Lord was delivered over to be crucified.
In accordance with his own plan, however, Luke makes the above digression with the view
of telling what occurred with Herod; and after that he reverts to the history of what took
place in the governor’s presence. Thus he now continues as follows: “And Pilate, when he
had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, said unto them, Ye have
brought this man unto me as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I having examined
him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse
him.”1357 Here we notice that he has omitted to mention how Pilate asked the Lord what
1356 Luke xxii. 4–12.
1357 Luke xxiii. 13, 14.
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Of the Absence of Any Discrepancies in the Accounts Which the Evangelists…