THE SENTENCE OF JESUS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 32, 8 May 1891, Page 18

THE SENTENCE OF JESUS.

(From the London lablet ")

A COBBKBPOHDfiT of Notes and Queries extracts from the Kolniiche Zeitung what is called " a correct transcript of the sentence of death pronounced againet Jesus Christ." The following is a copy of the moat memorable judicial sentence waich has ever been pronounced in the annals of tbe world— namely, that of death against the Saviour, with the remarks that the journal Le Droit has collected, tbe knowledge of which must be interesting in the highest degree to every Christian. Until now we are not aware that it has ever been made public in Ihe German papers. The sentence is word for word as follows :

Sentence pronounced by Pontius Pilate, Intendant of the Province of Lower Galilee, that Jesus of Nazareth shall suffer deatb by the cross. In the seventeenth year of the reign of tbe Empercf Tiberius and on the 25th of the month of March, in the most holy city of Jerusalem, during the Pontificate of Annas and Caiaphas, Pontius Pilate, Intenlant of the Province of Lower Galilee, sitting in judgment in tbe presidential seat of tbe Praetors, sentences Jesus Christ of Nazareth to deatb on a cross between two robbers, as the numerous and notorious testimonials of the people prove : 1. Jesus is a mislead**. 2. He has excited the people to sedition. 3. He is an enemy to the laws. 4. He calls Himself the Son of God. 5. He calls Himself falsely the King of Israel. 6. He went into the Temple followed by a multitude carrying palms in their hands. Orders : Tbe first centurion, Quint us Cornelius, to bring Him to the place of eiecution, forbids all persons, rich or poor, to prevent the execution of Jesus. The witnesses who have signed the execution against Jesus are :I. Daniel Bobani Pbaiisee. 2. John Zorobabel. 3. Raphael Robani 4. Capet. Jesus to be taken out of Jerusalem through the gale of Tourne*."

The sentence is engraved on a plate of brass in the Hebrew language, and on iti aides are the following W9 idj ; " a similar plat*

has been sent to each tribe." It was discovered in the yeir 1280 in the city of Aqaill (Aqaillaf) in the kingdom of Naples, by a search made for the discovery of Roman antiquities, and lemained there until it was found by the Commissarius of Art in the French Army of Italy. Up to the time cf the campaign in southern Italy it was preserred in the saoris'y of the Carthusians, near Naples, where it was kept in a box of ebony. Since tben the relic has been kept in the chapel of Casaria. The Carthusians obtained it by their petitions that tie plats might be kept by them, which was an acknowledgment of the sacrifice which they made for the French army. The French translation was made literally by members of the Commission of Arts. Deoon had a fac-simileof the plate engraved, wiiich was bought by Lord Howard on the sale of his cabinet for 2,890 francs. There seems to be no historical donbt as to the auth nticiiy of this. The reasons of the sentence correspond exactly with those .of the Gospels.