《尤兰提亚之书》英文版自 2006 年起在全球范围内属于公共领域.
翻译: © 2015 Urantia Foundation
THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE
彼拉多面前受审
1955 185:0.1 SHORTLY after six o’clock on this Friday morning, April 7, A.D. 30, Jesus was brought before Pilate, the Roman procurator who governed Judea, Samaria, and Idumea under the immediate supervision of the legatus of Syria. The Master was taken into the presence of the Roman governor by the temple guards, bound, and was accompanied by about fifty of his accusers, including the Sanhedrist court (principally Sadduceans), Judas Iscariot, and the high priest, Caiaphas, and by the Apostle John. Annas did not appear before Pilate.
2015 185:0.1 在公元30年4月7日这个周五早上6点之后不久,耶稣被带到了罗马人行政长官彼拉多面前,他在叙利亚的司令官的直接监督下管理犹地亚、撒玛利亚和以土买。主被圣殿守卫绑缚着带到这个罗马人总督面前,并由大约五十个他的控告者,包括犹太教公会成员法庭(主要是撒都该人)、犹大·以斯加略和大祭司该亚法以及使徒约翰所伴随。亚那并未出现在彼拉多面前。
1955 185:0.2 Pilate was up and ready to receive this group of early morning callers, having been informed by those who had secured his consent, the previous evening, to employ the Roman soldiers in arresting the Son of Man, that Jesus would be early brought before him. This trial was arranged to take place in front of the praetorium, an addition to the fortress of Antonia, where Pilate and his wife made their headquarters when stopping in Jerusalem.
2015 185:0.2 由于已被那些在之前晚上获得他同意使用罗马人士兵逮捕人次的人告知耶稣将会被早早带到他面前,彼拉多起床并准备好了接待这群清晨的来访者。这一审判被安排在总督府的门前发生,该府是安东尼亚城堡的一栋添加物,彼拉多和他妻子在耶路撒冷停留时将其作为他们的本部。
1955 185:0.3 Though Pilate conducted much of Jesus’ examination within the praetorium halls, the public trial was held outside on the steps leading up to the main entrance. This was a concession to the Jews, who refused to enter any gentile building where leaven might be used on this day of preparation for the Passover. Such conduct would not only render them ceremonially unclean and thereby debar them from partaking of the afternoon feast of thanksgiving but would also necessitate their subjection to purification ceremonies after sundown, before they would be eligible to partake of the Passover supper.
1955 185:0.4 Although these Jews were not at all bothered in conscience as they intrigued to effect the judicial murder of Jesus, they were nonetheless scrupulous regarding all these matters of ceremonial cleanness and traditional regularity. And these Jews have not been the only ones to fail in the recognition of high and holy obligations of a divine nature while giving meticulous attention to things of trifling importance to human welfare in both time and eternity.
2015 185:0.4 尽管在这些犹太人策划阴谋来引发对耶稣的审判谋杀时在良心上没有丝毫不安,但他们就所有这些仪式洁净和传统规则的事务却一丝不苟。这些犹太人并不是未能认知充满神性本质的高尚而又圣洁的义务、同时又对人类在时间和永恒中的福祉无关紧要之事给予一丝不苟关注的唯一民族。
1. PONTIUS PILATE
1. 本丢•彼拉多
1955 185:1.1 If Pontius Pilate had not been a reasonably good governor of the minor provinces, Tiberius would hardly have suffered him to remain as procurator of Judea for ten years. Although he was a fairly good administrator, he was a moral coward. He was not a big enough man to comprehend the nature of his task as governor of the Jews. He failed to grasp the fact that these Hebrews had a real religion, a faith for which they were willing to die, and that millions upon millions of them, scattered here and there throughout the empire, looked to Jerusalem as the shrine of their faith and held the Sanhedrin in respect as the highest tribunal on earth.
2015 185:1.1 若本丢·彼拉多不是较小省份的一个相当好的总督,提庇留很难忍受他留任犹地亚的行政长官长达十年之久。尽管他是一个相当不错的管理者,但他却是一个道德的懦夫。他并非是一个足够大度的人来理解他作为犹太人总督的任务之本质。他未能把握以下事实,即这些犹太人拥有一种真正的宗教,一种他们愿意为之死去的信仰,他们中的千百万人在整个帝国中散布各处,把耶路撒冷视为他们信仰的圣地,将犹太教公会视为世上最高的法庭。
1955 185:1.2 Pilate did not love the Jews, and this deep-seated hatred early began to manifest itself. Of all the Roman provinces, none was more difficult to govern than Judea. Pilate never really understood the problems involved in the management of the Jews and, therefore, very early in his experience as governor, made a series of almost fatal and well-nigh suicidal blunders. And it was these blunders that gave the Jews such power over him. When they wanted to influence his decisions, all they had to do was to threaten an uprising, and Pilate would speedily capitulate. And this apparent vacillation, or lack of moral courage, of the procurator was chiefly due to the memory of a number of controversies he had had with the Jews and because in each instance they had worsted him. The Jews knew that Pilate was afraid of them, that he feared for his position before Tiberius, and they employed this knowledge to the great disadvantage of the governor on numerous occasions.
2015 185:1.2 彼拉多不喜欢犹太人,这种根深蒂固的仇恨很早就开始显现出来了。在所有的罗马省份中,没有比犹地亚更难管理的了。彼拉多从未真正理解涉及犹太人管理的问题,因此,在他作为总督的早期经历中,犯了一系列几近致命和几乎自杀性的大错。正是这些大错给了犹太人这种克服他的力量。当他们想要影响他的决定时,他们所要做的就是威胁一场起义,彼拉多就会快速屈服。这位行政长官的这种明显的踌躇,或是道德勇气的缺乏,主要是由于他与犹太人有过的众多争论的记忆,并因为在每一个例子中他们都击败了他。犹太人知道彼拉多害怕他们,他为他在提庇留面前的地位担心,他们在众多场合利用了这一对这位总督极为不利的了解。
1955 185:1.3 Pilate’s disfavor with the Jews came about as a result of a number of unfortunate encounters. First, he failed to take seriously their deep-seated prejudice against all images as symbols of idol worship. Therefore he permitted his soldiers to enter Jerusalem without removing the images of Caesar from their banners, as had been the practice of the Roman soldiers under his predecessor. A large deputation of Jews waited upon Pilate for five days, imploring him to have these images removed from the military standards. He flatly refused to grant their petition and threatened them with instant death. Pilate, himself being a skeptic, did not understand that men of strong religious feelings will not hesitate to die for their religious convictions; and therefore was he dismayed when these Jews drew themselves up defiantly before his palace, bowed their faces to the ground, and sent word that they were ready to die. Pilate then realized that he had made a threat which he was unwilling to carry out. He surrendered, ordered the images removed from the standards of his soldiers in Jerusalem, and found himself from that day on to a large extent subject to the whims of the Jewish leaders, who had in this way discovered his weakness in making threats which he feared to execute.
2015 185:1.3 彼拉多对犹太人的不悦作为众多不幸遭遇的结果而产生。首先,他未能认真对待他们反对所有作为偶像崇拜象征之肖像的根深蒂固偏见。因此他允许他的士兵们未像他前任手下罗马人士兵的惯例那样,将凯撒肖像从他们旗帜上移除而进入耶路撒冷。一个大型的犹太人代表团等候彼拉多达五天之久,恳求他让这些肖像从军旗上移除。他断然拒绝了同意他们的请愿,并以立即的死刑威胁他们。彼拉多由于自己是一个怀疑论者,并不理解有着强烈宗教情感的人会毫不犹豫为了他们的宗教信念而死;因此当这些犹太人在他宫殿前挺直身子,挑衅地俯首在地,并捎信说他们准备好去死时,他十分惊慌。彼拉多之后意识到,他做了一个他不愿执行的威胁。他屈服了,命令将肖像从他在耶路撒冷的士兵旗帜上移除,并发现自那天起,自己在很大程度上屈从于犹太人领袖的奇思怪想,他们以此方式发现了他在做出他害怕执行的威胁上的弱点。
1955 185:1.4 Pilate subsequently determined to regain this lost prestige and accordingly had the shields of the emperor, such as were commonly used in Caesar worship, put up on the walls of Herod’s palace in Jerusalem. When the Jews protested, he was adamant. When he refused to listen to their protests, they promptly appealed to Rome, and the emperor as promptly ordered the offending shields removed. And then was Pilate held in even lower esteem than before.
2015 185:1.4 彼拉多随后决意要重获这种失去的威望,并相应地让有皇帝的盾牌、正如在凯撒崇拜上所常用的那样,挂在耶路撒冷希律宫殿的城墙上。当犹太人抗议时,他是坚定不移的。当他拒绝倾听他们的抗议时,他们上诉至罗马,皇帝迅速命令将令人不快的盾牌移除。那时彼拉多比之前更不受尊重了。
1955 185:1.5 Another thing which brought him into great disfavor with the Jews was that he dared to take money from the temple treasury to pay for the construction of a new aqueduct to provide increased water supply for the millions of visitors to Jerusalem at the times of the great religious feasts. The Jews held that only the Sanhedrin could disburse the temple funds, and they never ceased to inveigh against Pilate for this presumptuous ruling. No less than a score of riots and much bloodshed resulted from this decision. The last of these serious outbreaks had to do with the slaughter of a large company of Galileans even as they worshiped at the altar.
2015 185:1.5 另一件将他带入对犹太人极大不悦中的事情,是他竟敢从圣殿财库中取钱来为一个新的导水渠建设支付,以在大的宗教节日之时为百万计的造访者提供增加的饮水供应。犹太人认为只有犹太教公会能够支出圣殿资金,他们对这一专横的支配从未停止猛烈抨击彼拉多。这一决定导致了不下二十起骚乱和大量的流血。这些严重爆发的最后一起与一大队加利利人在圣坛崇拜时被屠杀有关。
1955 185:1.6 It is significant that, while this vacillating Roman ruler sacrificed Jesus to his fear of the Jews and to safeguard his personal position, he finally was deposed as a result of the needless slaughter of Samaritans in connection with the pretensions of a false Messiah who led troops to Mount Gerizim, where he claimed the temple vessels were buried; and fierce riots broke out when he failed to reveal the hiding place of the sacred vessels, as he had promised. As a result of this episode, the legatus of Syria ordered Pilate to Rome. Tiberius died while Pilate was on the way to Rome, and he was not reappointed as procurator of Judea. He never fully recovered from the regretful condemnation of having consented to the crucifixion of Jesus. Finding no favor in the eyes of the new emperor, he retired to the province of Lausanne, where he subsequently committed suicide.
2015 185:1.6 值得注意的是,尽管这个优柔寡断的罗马人统治者出于他对犹太人的害怕以及保护他的个人地位而牺牲了耶稣,但他却最终由于在于一个虚假弥赛亚自命有关的对撒玛利亚人的不必要屠杀而被免职,这个假弥赛亚带领军队到基利辛山,他声称圣殿器皿被埋在那儿;当他未能按许诺的展示圣器的埋藏之处时,激烈的骚乱爆发了。作为这一插曲的结果,叙利亚的司令官命令彼拉多回罗马。当彼拉多在去往罗马的路上时,提庇留死去了,他没有被再任命为犹地亚的行政长官。他从未从同意对耶稣受十字架刑的悔恨谴责中恢复过来。由于未能从新皇帝眼中找到偏爱,他退隐去了洛桑省,他随后在那儿自杀了。
1955 185:1.7 Claudia Procula, Pilate’s wife, had heard much of Jesus through the word of her maid-in-waiting, who was a Phoenician believer in the gospel of the kingdom. After the death of Pilate, Claudia became prominently identified with the spread of the good news.
2015 185:1.7 克劳迪娅·普罗库拉,彼拉多的妻子,通过她使女的言语听说了关于耶稣的许多内容,她是王国福音的一个腓尼基人信奉者。在彼拉多死亡之后,克劳迪娅以传播福音而著称。
1955 185:1.8 And all this explains much that transpired on this tragic Friday forenoon. It is easy to understand why the Jews presumed to dictate to Pilate—to get him up at six o’clock to try Jesus—and also why they did not hesitate to threaten to charge him with treason before the emperor if he dared to refuse their demands for Jesus’ death.
2015 185:1.8 所有这一切解释了发生在这个悲惨周五上午的情况。很容易理解为何犹太人擅敢向彼拉多口授 -- 让他在六点起来审判耶稣,以及为何他们毫不犹豫威胁在皇帝面前以叛国罪指控他,若他胆敢拒绝他们让耶稣死去的要求。
1955 185:1.9 A worthy Roman governor who had not become disadvantageously involved with the rulers of the Jews would never have permitted these bloodthirsty religious fanatics to bring about the death of a man whom he himself had declared to be innocent of their false charges and without fault. Rome made a great blunder, a far-reaching error in earthly affairs, when she sent the second-rate Pilate to govern Palestine. Tiberius had better have sent to the Jews the best provincial administrator in the empire.
2015 185:1.9 一个未与犹太人掌管者们有不利牵涉的相称罗马人总督,决不会允许这些嗜血的宗教狂热者导致一个自称对其虚假指控无罪并没有过错之人的死亡。罗马犯了一个大错,一个在世间事务上的深远错误,当她派了二流的彼拉多去管理巴勒斯坦时。提庇留本应将帝国中最好的省份管理者派给犹太人。
2. JESUS APPEARS BEFORE PILATE
2. 耶稣出现在彼拉多面前
1955 185:2.1 When Jesus and his accusers had gathered in front of Pilate’s judgment hall, the Roman governor came out and, addressing the company assembled, asked, “What accusation do you bring against this fellow?” The Sadducees and councilors who had taken it upon themselves to put Jesus out of the way had determined to go before Pilate and ask for confirmation of the death sentence pronounced upon Jesus, without volunteering any definite charge. Therefore did the spokesman for the Sanhedrist court answer Pilate: “If this man were not an evildoer, we should not have delivered him up to you.”
1955 185:2.2 When Pilate observed that they were reluctant to state their charges against Jesus, although he knew they had been all night engaged in deliberations regarding his guilt, he answered them: “Since you have not agreed on any definite charges, why do you not take this man and pass judgment on him in accordance with your own laws?”
1955 185:2.4 To come before the Roman governor with this attempt at evasion discloses both the ill-will and the ill-humor of the Sanhedrists toward Jesus as well as their lack of respect for the fairness, honor, and dignity of Pilate. What effrontery for these subject citizens to appear before their provincial governor asking for a decree of execution against a man before affording him a fair trial and without even preferring definite criminal charges against him!
2015 185:2.4 以这种逃避企图来到这位罗马总督面前,展示了犹太教公会成员对耶稣的恶意和恶气,以及他们对彼拉多公平、荣誉和尊严的缺乏尊重。这些臣民出现在他们的省份总督面前,在给予一个人公平审判之前并且甚至没有提出针对他的明确犯罪指控之前,就请求对他的执行判决是多么恬不知耻!
1955 185:2.5 Pilate knew something of Jesus’ work among the Jews, and he surmised that the charges which might be brought against him had to do with infringements of the Jewish ecclesiastical laws; therefore he sought to refer the case back to their own tribunal. Again, Pilate took delight in making them publicly confess that they were powerless to pronounce and execute the death sentence upon even one of their own race whom they had come to despise with a bitter and envious hatred.
2015 185:2.5 彼拉多知道耶稣在犹太人中间工作的某些内容,他猜测对他提出的指控与违反犹太人教会律法有关;因此他寻求将这个案子转回他们自己的法庭。此外,彼拉多很高兴令他们公开承认,他们无权对一个他们怀着痛苦而又嫉妒之仇恨想要鄙视的自己种族中的人无权宣布和执行死刑。
1955 185:2.6 It was a few hours previously, shortly before midnight and after he had granted permission to use Roman soldiers in effecting the secret arrest of Jesus, that Pilate had heard further concerning Jesus and his teaching from his wife, Claudia, who was a partial convert to Judaism, and who later on became a full-fledged believer in Jesus’ gospel.
2015 185:2.6 就在午夜之前的前几个小时,在他获许使用罗马人士兵引发对耶稣的秘密逮捕之后,彼拉多从他妻子克劳迪娅那儿听了更多关于耶稣和他教导的事情,她是犹太教的一个部分皈依者,后来她变成了耶稣福音的一个全然信奉者。
1955 185:2.7 Pilate would have liked to postpone this hearing, but he saw the Jewish leaders were determined to proceed with the case. He knew that this was not only the forenoon of preparation for the Passover, but that this day, being Friday, was also the preparation day for the Jewish Sabbath of rest and worship.
2015 185:2.7 彼拉多很想要推迟这一听证会,不过他看到犹太人领袖们决意要继续处理这一案子。他知道这不仅是为逾越节做准备的上午,而且这天是周五,也是为用来休息和崇拜的犹太人安息日的准备日。
1955 185:2.8 Pilate, being keenly sensitive to the disrespectful manner of the approach of these Jews, was not willing to comply with their demands that Jesus be sentenced to death without a trial. When, therefore, he had waited a few moments for them to present their charges against the prisoner, he turned to them and said: “I will not sentence this man to death without a trial; neither will I consent to examine him until you have presented your charges against him in writing.”
2015 185:2.8 彼拉多由于对这些犹太人接洽的不敬态度十分敏感,不愿依从他们的要求,即耶稣未经审判就被判处死刑。因此,当他等了他们一会儿来呈献他们对犯人的指控时,他转身对他们说道:“我不会未经审判就判这个人死刑,我也不会同意审问他,直到你们以书面形式呈上你们对他的指控。”
1955 185:2.9 When the high priest and the others heard Pilate say this, they signaled to the clerk of the court, who then handed to Pilate the written charges against Jesus. And these charges were:
2015 185:2.9 当大祭司和其他人听到彼拉多这样说时,他们向法庭的这个书记员示意,他之后将针对耶稣的书面指控交给了彼拉多。这些指控是:
1955 185:2.10 “We find in the Sanhedrist tribunal that this man is an evildoer and a disturber of our nation in that he is guilty of:
2015 185:2.11 "1. 使我们的民族败坏并煽动我们人民反抗。
1955 185:2.13 “3. Calling himself the king of the Jews and teaching the founding of a new kingdom.”
2015 185:2.13 "3. 称他自己为犹太人的王并教导一个新王国的建立。"
1955 185:2.14 Jesus had not been regularly tried nor legally convicted on any of these charges. He did not even hear these charges when first stated, but Pilate had him brought from the praetorium, where he was in the keeping of the guards, and he insisted that these charges be repeated in Jesus’ hearing.
2015 185:2.14 耶稣在这些指控的任何一条上并未被正式审问,也并未被合法宣告有罪。他甚至并未听过这些被首次陈述的指控,不过彼拉多把他从处于守卫看管下的总督府带来,他坚持这些指控在耶稣的听讯中被重复。
1955 185:2.15 When Jesus heard these accusations, he well knew that he had not been heard on these matters before the Jewish court, and so did John Zebedee and his accusers, but he made no reply to their false charges. Even when Pilate bade him answer his accusers, he opened not his mouth. Pilate was so astonished at the unfairness of the whole proceeding and so impressed by Jesus’ silent and masterly bearing that he decided to take the prisoner inside the hall and examine him privately.
2015 185:2.15 当耶稣听到这些控告时,他清楚知道他未在犹太人法庭之前听过这些事务,约翰·西庇太和他的控告者也未听过。甚至当彼拉多令他回答他的控告者们时,他也未张嘴。彼拉多如此吃惊于整个诉讼的不公平性,并如此对耶稣沉默而又高妙的举止印象深刻,以致他决定将这个犯人带到大厅里面并私下审问他。
1955 185:2.16 Pilate was confused in mind, fearful of the Jews in his heart, and mightily stirred in his spirit by the spectacle of Jesus’ standing there in majesty before his bloodthirsty accusers and gazing down on them, not in silent contempt, but with an expression of genuine pity and sorrowful affection.
2015 185:2.16 彼拉多心绪混乱,在他心中害怕犹太人,在他的精神上因这一场景受到极大的搅动,即耶稣庄严站在他嗜血的控告者们面前,俯视他们,并非怀着沉默蔑视,而是怀着充满真正怜悯和悲伤情感的表情。
3. THE PRIVATE EXAMINATION BY PILATE
3. 彼拉多所做私下审问
1955 185:3.1 Pilate took Jesus and John Zebedee into a private chamber, leaving the guards outside in the hall, and requesting the prisoner to sit down, he sat down by his side and asked several questions. Pilate began his talk with Jesus by assuring him that he did not believe the first count against him: that he was a perverter of the nation and an inciter to rebellion. Then he asked, “Did you ever teach that tribute should be refused Caesar?” Jesus, pointing to John, said, “Ask him or any other man who has heard my teaching.” Then Pilate questioned John about this matter of tribute, and John testified concerning his Master’s teaching and explained that Jesus and his apostles paid taxes both to Caesar and to the temple. When Pilate had questioned John, he said, “See that you tell no man that I talked with you.” And John never did reveal this matter.
1955 185:3.2 Pilate then turned around to question Jesus further, saying: “And now about the third accusation against you, are you the king of the Jews?” Since there was a tone of possibly sincere inquiry in Pilate’s voice, Jesus smiled on the procurator and said: “Pilate, do you ask this for yourself, or do you take this question from these others, my accusers?” Whereupon, in a tone of partial indignation, the governor answered: “Am I a Jew? Your own people and the chief priests delivered you up and asked me to sentence you to death. I question the validity of their charges and am only trying to find out for myself what you have done. Tell me, have you said that you are the king of the Jews, and have you sought to found a new kingdom?”
1955 185:3.3 Then said Jesus to Pilate: “Do you not perceive that my kingdom is not of this world? If my kingdom were of this world, surely would my disciples fight that I should not be delivered into the hands of the Jews. My presence here before you in these bonds is sufficient to show all men that my kingdom is a spiritual dominion, even the brotherhood of men who, through faith and by love, have become the sons of God. And this salvation is for the gentile as well as for the Jew.”
1955 185:3.4 “Then you are a king after all?” said Pilate. And Jesus answered: “Yes, I am such a king, and my kingdom is the family of the faith sons of my Father who is in heaven. For this purpose was I born into this world, even that I should show my Father to all men and bear witness to the truth of God. And even now do I declare to you that every one who loves the truth hears my voice.”
1955 185:3.6 Pilate was not able to fathom Jesus’ words, nor was he able to understand the nature of his spiritual kingdom, but he was now certain that the prisoner had done nothing worthy of death. One look at Jesus, face to face, was enough to convince even Pilate that this gentle and weary, but majestic and upright, man was no wild and dangerous revolutionary who aspired to establish himself on the temporal throne of Israel. Pilate thought he understood something of what Jesus meant when he called himself a king, for he was familiar with the teachings of the Stoics, who declared that “the wise man is king.” Pilate was thoroughly convinced that, instead of being a dangerous seditionmonger, Jesus was nothing more or less than a harmless visionary, an innocent fanatic.
2015 185:3.6 彼拉多无法捉摸耶稣的话语,他也无法理解其灵性王国的本质,不过他此时确定这个犯人未做任何该死之事。面对面看耶稣一眼,足以令彼拉多确信这个温和而又疲倦但却威严而又正直的人,不是任何渴求让自己立于以色列世俗宝座上的狂野而又危险的革命者。彼拉多认为,当耶稣称自己为王时,他理解耶稣意思是什么了,因为他熟悉斯多葛派学者的教导,他们宣称“智者为王。”彼拉多彻底确信,与其说耶稣是一个危险的煽动者,不如说他多少不过是一个无害的幻想家,一个无辜的狂热者。
1955 185:3.7 After questioning the Master, Pilate went back to the chief priests and the accusers of Jesus and said: “I have examined this man, and I find no fault in him. I do not think he is guilty of the charges you have made against him; I think he ought to be set free.” And when the Jews heard this, they were moved with great anger, so much so that they wildly shouted that Jesus should die; and one of the Sanhedrists boldly stepped up by the side of Pilate, saying: “This man stirs up the people, beginning in Galilee and continuing throughout all Judea. He is a mischief-maker and an evildoer. You will long regret it if you let this wicked man go free.”
1955 185:3.8 Pilate was hard pressed to know what to do with Jesus; therefore, when he heard them say that he began his work in Galilee, he thought to avoid the responsibility of deciding the case, at least to gain time for thought, by sending Jesus to appear before Herod, who was then in the city attending the Passover. Pilate also thought that this gesture would help to antidote some of the bitter feeling which had existed for some time between himself and Herod, due to numerous misunderstandings over matters of jurisdiction.
4. JESUS BEFORE HEROD
4. 耶稣在希律面前
1955 185:4.1 When Herod Antipas stopped in Jerusalem, he dwelt in the old Maccabean palace of Herod the Great, and it was to this home of the former king that Jesus was now taken by the temple guards, and he was followed by his accusers and an increasing multitude. Herod had long heard of Jesus, and he was very curious about him. When the Son of Man stood before him, on this Friday morning, the wicked Idumean never for one moment recalled the lad of former years who had appeared before him in Sepphoris pleading for a just decision regarding the money due his father, who had been accidentally killed while at work on one of the public buildings. As far as Herod knew, he had never seen Jesus, although he had worried a great deal about him when his work had been centered in Galilee. Now that he was in custody of Pilate and the Judeans, Herod was desirous of seeing him, feeling secure against any trouble from him in the future. Herod had heard much about the miracles wrought by Jesus, and he really hoped to see him do some wonder.
2015 185:4.1 当希律·安提帕斯在耶路撒冷停留时,他住在大希律王的旧马加比宫殿,耶稣此时被圣殿守卫带往这个先前国王的住处,他由他的控告者和渐增的群众所跟随。希律长久听说过耶稣,他对他非常好奇。当人子在这个周五上午站在他面前,这个邪恶的以土买人一点都没想起这个先前岁月中的少年,他在塞佛瑞斯出现在他面前,就欠他父亲的钱请求一个公正的决定,他父亲在一个公共建筑的工作中意外丧生了。就希律所知,他从未见过耶稣,尽管当他的工作集中在加利利时,他对他极为担心。既然他被彼拉多和犹地亚人拘捕了,希律想要见到他,感觉将来他不会再惹什么麻烦了。希律听说过关于耶稣所行的诸多奇迹,他真的希望见到他施展某种奇迹。[19]
1955 185:4.2 When they brought Jesus before Herod, the tetrarch was startled by his stately appearance and the calm composure of his countenance. For some fifteen minutes Herod asked Jesus questions, but the Master would not answer. Herod taunted and dared him to perform a miracle, but Jesus would not reply to his many inquiries or respond to his taunts.
1955 185:4.3 Then Herod turned to the chief priests and the Sadducees and, giving ear to their accusations, heard all and more than Pilate had listened to regarding the alleged evil doings of the Son of Man. Finally, being convinced that Jesus would neither talk nor perform a wonder for him, Herod, after making fun of him for a time, arrayed him in an old purple royal robe and sent him back to Pilate. Herod knew he had no jurisdiction over Jesus in Judea. Though he was glad to believe that he was finally to be rid of Jesus in Galilee, he was thankful that it was Pilate who had the responsibility of putting him to death. Herod never had fully recovered from the fear that cursed him as a result of killing John the Baptist. Herod had at certain times even feared that Jesus was John risen from the dead. Now he was relieved of that fear since he observed that Jesus was a very different sort of person from the outspoken and fiery prophet who dared to expose and denounce his private life.
5. JESUS RETURNS TO PILATE
5. 耶稣回到彼拉多那儿
1955 185:5.1 When the guards had brought Jesus back to Pilate, he went out on the front steps of the praetorium, where his judgment seat had been placed, and calling together the chief priests and Sanhedrists, said to them: “You brought this man before me with charges that he perverts the people, forbids the payment of taxes, and claims to be king of the Jews. I have examined him and fail to find him guilty of these charges. In fact, I find no fault in him. Then I sent him to Herod, and the tetrarch must have reached the same conclusion since he has sent him back to us. Certainly, nothing worthy of death has been done by this man. If you still think he needs to be disciplined, I am willing to chastise him before I release him.”
1955 185:5.2 Just as the Jews were about to engage in shouting their protests against the release of Jesus, a vast crowd came marching up to the praetorium for the purpose of asking Pilate for the release of a prisoner in honor of the Passover feast. For some time it had been the custom of the Roman governors to allow the populace to choose some imprisoned or condemned man for pardon at the time of the Passover. And now that this crowd had come before him to ask for the release of a prisoner, and since Jesus had so recently been in great favor with the multitudes, it occurred to Pilate that he might possibly extricate himself from his predicament by proposing to this group that, since Jesus was now a prisoner before his judgment seat, he release to them this man of Galilee as the token of Passover good will.
1955 185:5.3 As the crowd surged up on the steps of the building, Pilate heard them calling out the name of one Barabbas. Barabbas was a noted political agitator and murderous robber, the son of a priest, who had recently been apprehended in the act of robbery and murder on the Jericho road. This man was under sentence to die as soon as the Passover festivities were over.
1955 185:5.4 Pilate stood up and explained to the crowd that Jesus had been brought to him by the chief priests, who sought to have him put to death on certain charges, and that he did not think the man was worthy of death. Said Pilate: “Which, therefore, would you prefer that I release to you, this Barabbas, the murderer, or this Jesus of Galilee?” And when Pilate had thus spoken, the chief priests and the Sanhedrin councilors all shouted at the top of their voices, “Barabbas, Barabbas!” And when the people saw that the chief priests were minded to have Jesus put to death, they quickly joined in the clamor for his life while they loudly shouted for the release of Barabbas.
1955 185:5.5 A few days before this the multitude had stood in awe of Jesus, but the mob did not look up to one who, having claimed to be the Son of God, now found himself in the custody of the chief priests and the rulers and on trial before Pilate for his life. Jesus could be a hero in the eyes of the populace when he was driving the money-changers and the traders out of the temple, but not when he was a nonresisting prisoner in the hands of his enemies and on trial for his life.
2015 185:5.5 在这之前几天群众都敬畏耶稣,不过这群暴民并不敬重这个曾声称是神子、此时发现自己被主祭司和掌管者拘留并在彼拉多面前为了他的生命受审之人。当耶稣将钱币兑换者和贸易者驱赶出圣殿,而非当他是在他敌人手中的一个不抵抗的犯人并为了他的生命受审时,他在民众眼中可以是一个英雄。
1955 185:5.6 Pilate was angered at the sight of the chief priests clamoring for the pardon of a notorious murderer while they shouted for the blood of Jesus. He saw their malice and hatred and perceived their prejudice and envy. Therefore he said to them: “How could you choose the life of a murderer in preference to this man’s whose worst crime is that he figuratively calls himself the king of the Jews?” But this was not a wise statement for Pilate to make. The Jews were a proud people, now subject to the Roman political yoke but hoping for the coming of a Messiah who would deliver them from gentile bondage with a great show of power and glory. They resented, more than Pilate could know, the intimation that this meek-mannered teacher of strange doctrines, now under arrest and charged with crimes worthy of death, should be referred to as “the king of the Jews.” They looked upon such a remark as an insult to everything which they held sacred and honorable in their national existence, and therefore did they all let loose their mighty shouts for Barabbas’s release and Jesus’ death.
2015 185:5.6 看到主祭司们喧嚷着赦免一个声名狼藉的杀人犯,同时他们大喊要耶稣流血,彼拉多十分愤怒。他看到了他们的恶意和仇恨,感知到了他们的偏见和嫉妒。因此他对他们说:“你们怎能选择一个杀人犯的生命优于这个人的生命,他最糟糕的罪行是他象征性地称他自己为犹太人的王?”不过这对彼拉多来说不是一个明智的陈述来做出。犹太人是一个骄傲的民族,此时受制于罗马的政治束缚,但却希望一位弥赛亚的到来,他会以一种权能和荣耀的伟大展示,将他们从外邦人的束缚中解脱出来,他们比彼拉多所知的更憎恨这一告知,即这个有着怪异教义的态度温和的导师,此时被捕并被控以该死的罪行,应被称为“犹太人的王。”他们将这样一种评论视为对他们在其民族生存中视为神圣和光荣之物的一种侮辱,因此他们都放声大喊巴拉巴的释放和耶稣的死。[29]
1955 185:5.7 Pilate knew Jesus was innocent of the charges brought against him, and had he been a just and courageous judge, he would have acquitted him and turned him loose. But he was afraid to defy these angry Jews, and while he hesitated to do his duty, a messenger came up and presented him with a sealed message from his wife, Claudia.
1955 185:5.8 Pilate indicated to those assembled before him that he wished to read the communication which he had just received before he proceeded further with the matter before him. When Pilate opened this letter from his wife, he read: “I pray you have nothing to do with this innocent and just man whom they call Jesus. I have suffered many things in a dream this night because of him.” This note from Claudia not only greatly upset Pilate and thereby delayed the adjudication of this matter, but it unfortunately also provided considerable time in which the Jewish rulers freely circulated among the crowd and urged the people to call for the release of Barabbas and to clamor for the crucifixion of Jesus.
1955 185:5.9 Finally, Pilate addressed himself once more to the solution of the problem which confronted him, by asking the mixed assembly of Jewish rulers and the pardon-seeking crowd, “What shall I do with him who is called the king of the Jews?” And they all shouted with one accord, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” The unanimity of this demand from the mixed multitude startled and alarmed Pilate, the unjust and fear-ridden judge.
1955 185:5.11 Then again Pilate appealed to them regarding the release of the Passover prisoner, saying: “Once more I ask you, which of these prisoners shall I release to you at this, your Passover time?” And again the crowd shouted, “Give us Barabbas!”
2015 185:5.11 之后彼拉多再次就逾越节犯人的释放向他们呼吁,说:“我再次问你们,在你们这个逾越节时间,我要将这两个犯人中的哪一个释放给你们?”人群再次大喊,“给我们巴拉巴!”
1955 185:5.12 Then said Pilate: “If I release the murderer, Barabbas, what shall I do with Jesus?” And once more the multitude shouted in unison, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
2015 185:5.12 之后彼拉多说:“若我释放杀人犯巴拉巴,我该对耶稣做什么?”群众再次齐声大喊,“把他钉十字架!把他钉十字架!”
1955 185:5.13 Pilate was terrorized by the insistent clamor of the mob, acting under the direct leadership of the chief priests and the councilors of the Sanhedrin; nevertheless, he decided upon at least one more attempt to appease the crowd and save Jesus.
2015 185:5.13 彼拉多被暴民的持续喧嚷吓坏了,他们在主祭司和犹太教公会议员的直接领导下行事;尽管如此,他决定至少再试一次来安抚人群和拯救耶稣。
6. PILATE’S LAST APPEAL
6. 彼拉多的最后呼吁
1955 185:6.1 In all that is transpiring early this Friday morning before Pilate, only the enemies of Jesus are participating. His many friends either do not yet know of his night arrest and early morning trial or are in hiding lest they also be apprehended and adjudged worthy of death because they believe Jesus’ teachings. In the multitude which now clamors for the Master’s death are to be found only his sworn enemies and the easily led and unthinking populace.
2015 185:6.1 在这个周五清早彼拉多面前正在发生的所有一切中,只有耶稣的敌人正在参与。他的许多朋友要么还不知道他的夜里被捕和清早审判,要么正在躲藏以免他们也被捕,并因为他们相信耶稣的教导而被判该死。在此时喧嚷主死刑的群众中,能被发现的只有他不共戴天的敌人和易被引领和无思考能力的群众。
1955 185:6.2 Pilate would make one last appeal to their pity. Being afraid to defy the clamor of this misled mob who cried for the blood of Jesus, he ordered the Jewish guards and the Roman soldiers to take Jesus and scourge him. This was in itself an unjust and illegal procedure since the Roman law provided that only those condemned to die by crucifixion should be thus subjected to scourging. The guards took Jesus into the open courtyard of the praetorium for this ordeal. Though his enemies did not witness this scourging, Pilate did, and before they had finished this wicked abuse, he directed the scourgers to desist and indicated that Jesus should be brought to him. Before the scourgers laid their knotted whips upon Jesus as he was bound to the whipping post, they again put upon him the purple robe, and plaiting a crown of thorns, they placed it upon his brow. And when they had put a reed in his hand as a mock scepter, they knelt before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they spit upon him and struck him in the face with their hands. And one of them, before they returned him to Pilate, took the reed from his hand and struck him upon the head.
2015 185:6.2 彼拉多想要做出最后呼吁,求得他们同情。由于害怕公然对抗这群叫喊耶稣流血的被误导暴民的喧嚷,他命令犹太人守卫和罗马士兵带走耶稣并鞭打他。这本身是一个不公正和不合法的程序,因为罗马律法规定,只有那些被定罪用十字架刑处死的人才能这样受鞭打。守卫们带耶稣进入总督府的开阔庭院中执行这一折磨。虽然他的敌人没有见证这一鞭打,彼拉多却见证了。在他们完成这一邪恶虐待之前,他指示鞭打者停止,并表明耶稣应被带到他这儿。在鞭打者在耶稣被绑在鞭打柱用打结的鞭子打他之前,他们再次给他穿上紫袍,编织了一顶荆棘冠冕,他们将它放在他的额头。当他们将一根芦苇放在他手中,作为一个假权杖时,他们跪在他面前边嘲弄他,边说,“致敬,犹太人的王!”他们往他身上吐唾沫,用手打他的脸,他们中的一个在他们将他带回到彼拉多那儿之前,从他手中拿起芦苇并打在他头上。[35][36]
1955 185:6.4 There stood Jesus of Nazareth, clothed in an old purple royal robe with a crown of thorns piercing his kindly brow. His face was bloodstained and his form bowed down with suffering and grief. But nothing can appeal to the unfeeling hearts of those who are victims of intense emotional hatred and slaves to religious prejudice. This sight sent a mighty shudder through the realms of a vast universe, but it did not touch the hearts of those who had set their minds to effect the destruction of Jesus.
2015 185:6.4 拿撒勒的耶稣站在那儿,穿着一件旧的紫色王袍,伴随一件荆棘冠冕刺入他宽大的额头。他的脸被血染污了,他的身形因痛苦和悲伤而弯下来。不过什么都无法诉诸那些是强烈情感仇恨的受害者和宗教偏见的奴隶之人的无情心灵。这一景象发出了一种遍及庞大宇宙诸域的强大震动,但它却并未触动那些决意要引发耶稣毁灭之人的心灵。
1955 185:6.6 And now did Pilate comprehend that it was futile to appeal to their supposed feelings of pity. He stepped forward and said: “I perceive that you are determined this man shall die, but what has he done to deserve death? Who will declare his crime?”
2015 185:6.6 现在彼拉多理解了,诉诸于他们所谓的同情感是无用的。他走上前说道:“我感觉到你们决意这个人必要死,不过他做了什么该死的?谁将宣布他的罪行?”
1955 185:6.7 Then the high priest himself stepped forward and, going up to Pilate, angrily declared: “We have a sacred law, and by that law this man ought to die because he made himself out to be the Son of God.” When Pilate heard this, he was all the more afraid, not only of the Jews, but recalling his wife’s note and the Greek mythology of the gods coming down on earth, he now trembled at the thought of Jesus possibly being a divine personage. He waved to the crowd to hold its peace while he took Jesus by the arm and again led him inside the building that he might further examine him. Pilate was now confused by fear, bewildered by superstition, and harassed by the stubborn attitude of the mob.
7. PILATE’S LAST INTERVIEW
7. 彼拉多的最后面谈
1955 185:7.1 As Pilate, trembling with fearful emotion, sat down by the side of Jesus, he inquired: “Where do you come from? Really, who are you? What is this they say, that you are the Son of God?”
1955 185:7.2 But Jesus could hardly answer such questions when asked by a man-fearing, weak, and vacillating judge who was so unjust as to subject him to flogging even when he had declared him innocent of all crime, and before he had been duly sentenced to die. Jesus looked Pilate straight in the face, but he did not answer him. Then said Pilate: “Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not realize that I still have power to release you or to crucify you?” Then said Jesus: “You could have no power over me except it were permitted from above. You could exercise no authority over the Son of Man unless the Father in heaven allowed it. But you are not so guilty since you are ignorant of the gospel. He who betrayed me and he who delivered me to you, they have the greater sin.”
1955 185:7.3 This last talk with Jesus thoroughly frightened Pilate. This moral coward and judicial weakling now labored under the double weight of the superstitious fear of Jesus and mortal dread of the Jewish leaders.
2015 185:7.3 与耶稣的这次最后谈话彻底吓坏了彼拉多。这个道德懦夫和审判弱者,此时在对耶稣迷信恐惧和对犹太人领导者致命畏惧的双重重压下劳作。
1955 185:7.4 Again Pilate appeared before the crowd, saying: “I am certain this man is only a religious offender. You should take him and judge him by your law. Why should you expect that I would consent to his death because he has clashed with your traditions?”
2015 185:7.4 彼拉多再次出现在人群面前,说道:“我确定这个人只是一个宗教冒犯者。你们应该带走他并根据你们的律法审判他。你们为何应期待因为他与你们的传统有冲突,我就要同意他的死刑呢?”
1955 185:7.5 Pilate was just about ready to release Jesus when Caiaphas, the high priest, approached the cowardly Roman judge and, shaking an avenging finger in Pilate’s face, said with angry words which the entire multitude could hear: “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend, and I will see that the emperor knows all.” This public threat was too much for Pilate. Fear for his personal fortunes now eclipsed all other considerations, and the cowardly governor ordered Jesus brought out before the judgment seat. As the Master stood there before them, he pointed to him and tauntingly said, “Behold your king.” And the Jews answered, “Away with him. Crucify him!” And then Pilate said, with much irony and sarcasm, “Shall I crucify your king?” And the Jews answered, “Yes, crucify him! We have no king but Caesar.” And then did Pilate realize that there was no hope of saving Jesus since he was unwilling to defy the Jews.
2015 185:7.5 彼拉多证要准备好释放耶稣,这时大祭司该亚法接近这个懦弱的罗马审判者,在彼拉多脸上晃动着一根复仇的手指,用整个人群都能听到的愤怒话语说:“如果你放了这个人,你就不是凯撒的朋友,我一定会让这个皇帝知道一切。”这一公开威胁对彼拉多来说太过分了。对他个人财富的担心此时令所有其他考虑都黯然失色,这个懦弱的总督命令耶稣被带出到审判席前。当主站在他的面前,他指向他并嘲弄地说道,“看你们的王。”犹太人回答,“把他带走。把他钉十字架!”之后彼拉多带着不少的讽刺和挖苦说道,“我该把你们的王钉十字架吗?”犹太人回答,“是的,把他钉十字架!除了凯撒我们没有王。”之后彼拉多意识到,拯救耶稣没有任何希望了,因为他不愿公然对抗犹太人。[43]
8. PILATE’S TRAGIC SURRENDER
8. 彼拉多的可悲屈服
1955 185:8.1 Here stood the Son of God incarnate as the Son of Man. He was arrested without indictment; accused without evidence; adjudged without witnesses; punished without a verdict; and now was soon to be condemned to die by an unjust judge who confessed that he could find no fault in him. If Pilate had thought to appeal to their patriotism by referring to Jesus as the “king of the Jews,” he utterly failed. The Jews were not expecting any such a king. The declaration of the chief priests and the Sadducees, “We have no king but Caesar,” was a shock even to the unthinking populace, but it was too late now to save Jesus even had the mob dared to espouse the Master’s cause.
2015 185:8.1 化身为人子的神子,站在这儿。他没有被控告而被捕;没有证据而被控告;没有证人而被判决;没有裁定而被惩罚;此时很快被一个坦承他无法在他身上找到任何罪错的不公正审判者定罪去死。若彼拉多本想通过指涉耶稣为“犹太人的王”诉诸于他们的爱国主义,那么他彻底失败了。犹太人不期待任何这样的王。主祭司和撒都该人的宣布,“除了凯撒我们没有王”,甚至对无思考能力的民众来说也是一种震动,不过即使暴民敢于支持主的事业,此时也太迟而无法拯救耶稣了。
1955 185:8.2 Pilate was afraid of a tumult or a riot. He dared not risk having such a disturbance during Passover time in Jerusalem. He had recently received a reprimand from Caesar, and he would not risk another. The mob cheered when he ordered the release of Barabbas. Then he ordered a basin and some water, and there before the multitude he washed his hands, saying: “I am innocent of the blood of this man. You are determined that he shall die, but I have found no guilt in him. See you to it. The soldiers will lead him forth.” And then the mob cheered and replied, “His blood be on us and on our children.”