You say, We found this man perverting our people. Tell us in what this perversion consisted? Christ taught repentance. Where did he forbid giving tribute to Caesar? He said, Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.^[1] Where then did he forbid giving tribute to Caesar? Their only purpose was to bring down to death the One who was raising them to life. This was the goal of their strategy, the shameful deeds they planned, of the falsehood they invented, and the bitter words running from their wicked tongues. The law still loudly proclaims to you, You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor,^[2] and The holy and the just you shall not kill.^[3]

They had no respect whatsoever for the law. Led by an uncontrolled recklessness into whatever pleased only themselves without examination of the case, they invented numerous charges heaping up against Christ accusations that were neither true nor capable of being proved. They were convicted of being even more wicked than an idolater is. Acquitting Jesus of all blame, Pilate not only once but three times openly said, I find no crime in this man.

There follows a wonderful passage that gives human hearts the spiritual endurance to submit calmly to injustice. They accuse the Lord, and he stands mute.^[1] The one that does not lack a defense is suitably mute. Let those who fear to being overcome seek a defense. By remaining silent, he does not confirm the accusation. By not refuting it, he despises it. A special attribute of Christ is that among wicked judges he seemed to have been unwilling rather than unable to be defended. The Lord explained why he would remain silent, saying, If I should tell you, you will not believe me; and if I should also ask you, you will not answer me.^[2] It is extraordinary that he chose to prove himself a king, rather than speak, so that those who confess what they taunt would have no grounds for condemnation. When Herod wanted to see him work wonders, he was silent and performed none because Herod’s cruelty did not merit to behold the divine and the Lord shunned boasting. Perhaps Herod prefigures all the impious, who if they did not believe in the law and the prophets cannot see the miraculous works of Christ in the gospel either.^[3]

It is significant that Jesus is clothed in a white garment by Herod. It denotes his sinless passion, because the Lamb of God without stain and with glory accepted the sins of the world.^[1] Herod and Pilate, who became friends instead of enemies through Jesus Christ, symbolize the peoples of Israel and the Gentiles, since the future harmony of both follows from the Lord’s passion.^[2] First the people of the nations capture the Word of God and bring it to the people of the Jews, through the devotion of their faith. They clothe with glory the body of Christ, whom they had previously despised.^[3]

Having been bound, Christ went from Caiaphas to Pilate; is this also written? Yes: And having bound him, they led him away as a present to the King of Jarim.^[1] But some keen listener will object: Pilate was not a king. (Let us pass over for the time the main points of the inquiry.) How then, having bound him, did they lead him as a present to the king? But read the Gospel: Pilate, hearing that he was from Galilee, sent him to Herod; for Herod was then king and was present in Jerusalem. Notice the exactness of the prophet, for he says that he was sent as a present. For Herod and Pilate became friends that very day; whereas previously they had been at enmity with each other. It was fitting that he, who was to restore peace between earth and heaven, should first put at peace the very men who condemned him, for the Lord himself was there present, who reconciles the hearts of the princes of the earth.^[2] Mark the exactness of the prophets and their truthful testimony.

They send Christ to Herod and then to Pilate. Although neither pronounces him guilty, both gratify the desires of strange cruelty. Pilate washes his hands but does not wash away his actions. A judge should not yield to either envy or fear and then sacrifice the blood of the innocent.^[1] Pilate’s wife warned him.^[2] Grace shone in the flight. The Godhead was revealed, yet he still did not abstain from a sacrilegious verdict.

What kind of people crucified the Lord of glory!^[1] Those that violently demand the death of an innocent man fittingly seek the release of a murderer. Wickedness has such laws as to hate innocence and love guilt. The interpretation of the name gives the likeness of the image, because Barabbas means son of the father. He belongs to those to whom it is said, You are of your father the devil.^[2] They were about to choose the Antichrist as son of their father, rather than the Son of God.

Many have been crucified throughout the world, but the demons are not afraid of any of these. These people died because of their own sins, but Christ died for the sin of others. He did not sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. It was not Peter, who could be suspected of partiality, who said this, but Isaiah, who, although not present in the flesh, in spirit foresaw the Lord’s coming in the flesh. Why do I bring only the prophet as a witness? Take the witness of Pilate himself. He passed judgment on him, by saying, I find no guilt in this man. When he delivered him over and washed his hands, he said, I am innocent of the blood of this just man.^[1] The robber is another witness to Jesus’ innocence. He is the first man to enter paradise. He rebuked his friend and said, We are receiving what our deeds deserved, but this man has done nothing wrong, because you and I were present at his judgment.^[2]

The word of the Lord is rich, and according to the opinion of Solomon, it must be written on the heart not once but also twice and three times.^[1] Let us to the best of our ability also now attempt to add something to what was said long ago. Let us show how as a type of things to come^[2] this one male goat was sacrificed to the Lord as an offering and the other one was sent away living. Hear in the Gospels what Pilate said to the priests and the Jewish people: Which of these two do you want me to send out to you: Jesus, who is called the Christ, or Barabbas?^[3] Then all the people cried out to release Barabbas and to hand Jesus over to be killed.^[4] Look, you have a male goat who was sent living into the wilderness. He carried with him the sins of the people who cried out and said, Crucify, crucify! The first is a male goat sent living into the wilderness. The second is the male goat that was offered to God as an offering to atone for sins. Christ made a true atonement for those who believe in him.

They brought the holy and just One to Pilate. They spoke violent and unrestrained words against him and poured out falsely invented accusations. They persisted in the ferocity with which they accused him. Pilate then ruled that it should be as they desired, although he had publicly said, I find no wickedness in this man. It says, They cried out, ‘Away with him, crucify him!’ The Lord had rebuked this unmerciful and unlawful cry by the voice of the prophet Isaiah. It is written, The vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting; and he looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, a cry!^[1] In another place, he said of them, Woe to them, for they have strayed from me! Destruction to them, for they have rebelled against me! I would redeem them, but they speak lies against me.^[2] It is written again, Their princes shall fall by the sword, because of the rudeness of their tongue.^[3]

Celsus goes on to say that those who killed Jesus suffered nothing for a long a time afterwards. We must inform him and all who are prone to learn the truth. The Jewish people called for the crucifixion of Jesus with shouts of Crucify him, crucify him! They preferred to set free the robber who had been thrown into prison for sedition and murder. They wanted Jesus, who had been delivered through envy, to be crucified. The city where all these things happened was attacked shortly after this. After a long siege, it was totally overthrown and destroyed. God judged the inhabitants of that place unworthy of living the life of citizens together. Although it may seem incredible to say, God spared this people in delivering them to their enemies. He saw that they were incurably against any improvement and were daily sinking deeper and deeper into evil. All this happened to them because the blood of Jesus was shed at their instigation and on their land. The land was no longer able to bear those who were guilty of so fearful a crime against Jesus.