The Tomb of Jesus — Page 25
25 were of no avail, but that, on the contrary, a tumult was arising he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying,- 'I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man: See ye to it. '-All the people replied,—'His blood be on us, and on our children. ' And their clamors, and those of the chief priests prevailed; for Pilate, desirous to satisfy the multitude, gave sentence that their demand should be executed. So he released to them Barabbas, imprisoned on account of sedition and murder, whom they had desired, and delivered Jesus to them to be crucified. ,,28. VIII. The evening was drawing nigh. The. Jews were becoming anxious to remove the crucified body from the accursed tree. They were seriously alarmed lest they should pollute the sanctity of the following day, the day of Sabbath, by allowing it to remain suspended on the cross. . Jesus had a number of secret followers who were men of wealth and influence. One of these,. Joseph of Arimathaea, who was a distinguished member of the Sanhedrin, and a noble man of high character, seeing the life of his beloved master in danger, flung his secrecy to the winds, and boldly came to Pilate and sought Jesus' 28. Stroud, On The Physical Cause of the Death of Christ. P. 39.