3. The Priests—The question here is, Whither did

these dignitaries resort that they might witness the

scene? The only answer, I believe, is, To the Temple itself;

and if this can be made out, then Calvary must have

been near at hand, as is all along contended for. We

have already looked at the presumptive evidence for this

proximity on the ground that the Temple was the scene

where revolt was most apt to break forth,—that rebel

lious spirit which the punishment of crucifixion was

intended to keep in check. From the northern wall of

the Temple, I believe, the priests looked across at this

deed of savage Jewish spite, and of barbarous Roman

arrogance, while they launched their sneers at the victim

before them. It is usual to suppose that the priests

followed with the crowd to Calvary; but the narra

tive indicates the contrary. In the previous scenes

“ the priests” and “ the people” are mentioned as

mingling with each other and acting together. Thus

“ Pilate said to the priests and people, I find no fault in

the man.” At the bar of Herod, “ the priests and scribes

stood and vehemently accused him.” On his return to

Pilate,- the Roman governor called together the chief

priests and the rulers and the people, and said unto

them, “I find no fault in this man, touching those things

of which ye accuse him: no, nor yet Herod. I will

therefore chastise him and let him go.” “They (the

people) were instant with loud voices, requiring that he

should be crucified, and the voices of them and the chief

priests prevailed,” etc. In view of these passages, I

submit that if “ the priests” had joined in the procession

to the cross, it would have been expressly mentioned.

But it is said simply, “ There followed him a great

company of people”,(polu plethus tou laou), no mention

being made of the priests,—an omission which proves

that they had gone elsewhere. The language of St. Mat

thew indicates that the members of the Sanhedrim, the

chief priests, the scribes, and elders, were together as

they mocked; and that of St. Mark indicates that they

were apart from the crowd. “ Likewise also the chief

priests, mocking, said among themselves (pros allelous),

with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot

save.” That they should keep apart, may be also in

ferred from their fear of defilement during the period of

the Passover festival.

They were in the Temple. Not to dwell on the fact

that a number of sacrifices were being offered, requiring

the presence of many of them there, I direct the atten

tion of the reader to what is said about the conduct of

Judas in the repayment of the thirty pieces of silver.

The sentence had been passed on the Saviour, and all

parties had betaken themselves to their respective posi

tions to gaze on the scene. “ Judas,” it is said, “ who had

betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned,

repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of

silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, I have

sinned, in that I have betrayed innocent blood. And

they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And

he cast down the pieces of silver in the Temple, and

departed, and went and hanged himself. ' And the chief

priests took the silver pieces,” etc. (Matt. xxvii. 3—7.)

Thus then the chief priests were in the Temple, and

thence shout their derision at the crucified. But if so,

it must have been near Calvary, as the sketch repre

sents.

Hence this locality agrees perfectly with the slight

references of the narrative, respecting the position of the

various groups at the crucifixion, and the feeling and

conduct which they displayed. If any other site can be

pointed out, as equally verifying and illustrating the

language, then by all means let it be tried ; for my part,

I know not where it is to be found.