Міжзірковий мандрівник
Chapter 17
Asforme,Icouldnotdistinguishhowmuchofthefermentwasduetotheteachingsofthewanderingfisherman,andhowmuchofitwasduetoJewishhatredforRome.
“Atithe,nomore,andmaybenotsomuch,isduetothisJesus,”Pilateansweredmyquery.“LooktoCaiaphasandHananforthemaincauseoftheexcitement.Theyknowwhattheyareabout.Theyarestirringitup,towhatendwhocantell,excepttocausemetrouble.”
“Yes,itiscertainthatCaiaphasandHananareresponsible,”Miriamsaid,“butyou,PontiusPilate,areonlyaRomananddonotunderstand.WereyouaJew,youwouldrealizethatthereisagreaterseriousnessatthebottomofitthanmeredissensionofthesectariesortrouble-makingforyouandRome.ThehighpriestsandPharisees,everyJewofplaceorwealth,Philip,Antipas,myself—weareallfightingforverylife.
“Thisfishermanmaybeamadman.Ifso,thereisacunninginhismadness.Hepreachesthedoctrineofthepoor.Hethreatensourlaw,andourlawisourlife,asyouhavelearnederethis.Wearejealousofourlaw,asyouwouldbejealousoftheairdeniedyourbodybyathrottlinghandonyourthroat.ItisCaiaphasandHananandalltheystandfor,oritisthefisherman.Theymustdestroyhim,elsehewilldestroythem.”
“Isitnotstrange,sosimpleaman,afisherman?”Pilate’swifebreathedforth.
