Key of Knowledge

SR No.: 006702
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Champat Rai Jain
Publisher: ZZZ Unknown
Publication Year: 1919
Total Pages: 1204
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 25 MB

Page 562

RESURRECTION,
541
convenient to do. The circumstantial evidence is all against it. Till the malefactors were actually crucified, nobody seemed to know anything about their very existence, so much so that one is tempted to imagine that these venerable gentlemen determined, of their own free will and accord, to join Jesus in death, so that Isaiah's word might not be broken. Luke, indeed, does say that the malefactors were also led with him, but he is too loquacious on the point, and had best he left out of the witness-box.
There is nothing in the language of Pilate to suggest that there were any other persons besides Barabbas and Jesus to be crucified. Matthew (XXVII. 17) gives us the exact words used by him (Pilate) on the occasion, and they were :
“Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ ?"
There is no reference to a third prisoner in this speech. Besides, it is highly incredible that persons whose only fault was that they had been guilty of theft (Matthew, XXVII. 38 & 44; Mark, XV. 27) would be put to death, but Barabbas, who was a notable prisoner, as he had taken part in an insurrection against the established authority, and was also guilty of murder (Matthew, XXVII. 16),-a murderer and an insurgent (Mark, XV. 7), a seditionist and murderer (Luke, XXIII. 19),--and a robber (John, XVIII. 40), should be released. Thus, from the standpoint of the historian, the intrinsic evidence furnished by the Bible itself is sufficient to prove that the two malefactors were not men of flesh and bone.