Author's Note: Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Aqua Elsa posted the following review of the previous chapter: "not trying to be rude, but I don't think Jesus said anything when he was being tried. I read the KJV. and I don't remember Him saying anything." Thank you very much for the review and the question, Aqua Elsa, and don't worry, I don't think you were rude. What follows is an explanation of my sources for this part of the story. Mark 14: 60-63 (NASB) says, "The high priest stood up and came forward and questioned Jesus, saying, 'Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?' But He kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, 'Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?' And Jesus said, 'I Am; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of Heaven.' Tearing his clothes, the high priest said, 'What further need do we have of witnesses?'" The other three gospels record slightly different words for Jesus' statement here, but this is NOT a discrepancy. The reason for the slight difference is actually quite simple: Jesus said everything that He is recorded as saying in the four gospels, but the different writers left certain words and phrases out, because it was not relevant to the story they were trying to tell or their target audience. Matthew's audience being the Jews, Mark's being the Romans, Luke's being the Greeks, and John's audience was the whole world. I just wanted to clear that up. Reviews are always welcome, especially if you have any questions about the story, like the review mentioned above. Now, on with the story!

Roman Praetorium in Jerusalem, Friday 7 April A.D. 30, 6:00 AM

Mary, John Mark, Mr. Peabody, Sherman, and Penny were waiting in the courtyard for Claudia to return from speaking with Pilate.

"Penny, if you keep walking back and forth that way, you'll wear a path in the floor," Mary remarked.

"Well, where is she?" Penny retorted. "We've been waiting in this courtyard for more than an hour. Jesus could be anywhere by now."

"You needn't fear for the Master, Penny," Sherman said, in an attempt to calm her down. "I overheard some of the servants saying Pilate has sent Him to Herod. Now Herod can do nothing without Pilate's permission."

"There is hope, Penny," Mary added.

"My dear Mary!" Claudia greeted her friend as she walked up.

"Claudia!" Mary returned.

"And you've brought your son, John Mark. My how you've grown!" Claudia continued. "But who are these three with you?"

"These are my friends, Peabody, Sherman, and Penny," John Mark replied somewhat hesitantly.

"You are welcome in my home," Claudia acknowledged them.

"Thanks. Where's Jesus?" Penny asked rudely.

"Penny!" Mr. Peabody admonished her.

"Well, whatever else you may be, you're certainly rude," Claudia remarked.

"Oh, forgive her Claudia. We are all very anxious about Jesus," Mary offered.

"Yes, I know, I could tell from your message," Claudia replied.

"Is He still with Herod?" Mr. Peabody asked.

"Oh, no," Claudia answered. "He's been back for some time now."

"Can we see Him? Penny asked.

"I'm afraid not. He's in another part of the palace. He's being whipped," Claudia replied. The five gasped at the news. "Now, now, it's just appearances," Claudia continued. "Everyone brought before the governor is flogged. Even those who are going to be released."

"You mean, Pilate's going to let Jesus go?" Sherman asked, afraid for a moment that they had contaminated the timeline.

"Well, it looks quite promising," Claudia answered. "That's why it took so long for me to come out. I convinced my husband to give the crowd a choice between your Jesus and one of the worst criminals in our dungeons, a murderer by the name of Barabbas. It almost assures us that they will choose Jesus."

"Oh, thank God!" Mary exclaimed.

Claudia scoffed. "Your God had nothing to do with it. It was my influence over my husband."

"Oh, Claudia," Mary gushed. "You are a wonderful friend to do this."

"Well…I didn't do it just for our friendship either," Claudia explained. "I had a terrible nightmare about your Jesus early this morning. It convinced me that He really IS innocent." The crowd began to grow anxious. "Ah, my husband must be bringing Him out."

"If only we could be near Him," Mary commented.

"Well why can't we?" Claudia asked before realizing. "Oh, that's right. You can't enter the palace because of your holiday. Oh, no matter. This courtyard has a divine view of the judgment seat. We'll be able to see and hear everything that's going on from here. Come this way."

"There's Pilate. And the Master," John Mark noted.

"The back of His robe is all bloody," Sherman observed.

"Our guards are nothing if not quite thorough," Claudia commented. "Shh. Here he comes."

"I have given you time to make your decision," Pilate's voice boomed out over the crowd. "Which one do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" The crowd began to chant "Barabbas!"

"They want Barabbas!" Penny said shocked.

"But I-I don't understand," Claudia puzzled. "Why would they want a murderer over an innocent Man?"

"Who cares?" Penny snapped, then shouted, "Let Jesus go! Let Him go!"

"What shall I do then, with the One you call King of the Jews?" Pilate asked. The crowd chanted "Crucify Him!" Pilate continued, "I find no basis for a charge against Him. Shall I crucify your King?"

"This makes no sense at all," Claudia continued to puzzle. "They want to kill an innocent Man!"

"We know that!" Penny snapped again. "Instead of sitting there trying to figure it out, help us stop it!" She shouted again, "Let Him go!"

"I find no basis for a charge against Him!" Pilate repeated. He heard a voice from the roaring crowd say "He claims to be the Son of God." "The Son of God?" Pilate questioned. "Where do You come from Jesus? Speak! Don't You realize I have the power to release You or crucify You?"

"You would have no power over Me if it were not given to you from above," Jesus replied. "Therefore those who handed Me over to you are guilty of a greater sin."

"I-I tell you I-I find no basis for a charge against this Man!" Pilate shouted to the crowd again.

"Then let Him go!" Penny shouted once more.

Finally, Pilate ordered, "Bring me water! Pour it over my hands." Once this was done, he said "I am innocent of this Man's blood. It is your responsibility. Take Him and crucify Him!"

"NO!" Penny shouted.

"Oh, dear Lord!" Mary exclaimed.

"The Master is finished!" John Mark cried.

"I'm…sorry," Claudia sighed.

"Sorry?!" Penny exclaimed. "Is that all you can say?! I'm sorry?!"

"Penny!" Mr. Peabody admonished her, for what seemed like to him was the umpteenth time this trip.

"Why did Pilate give in?" Penny continued. "He could have stopped it!"

"I-I don't know!" Claudia replied.

"But Jesus is innocent! You said so yourself!" Penny continued to lash out. "Doesn't that mean anything to your husband?"

"Justice means a great deal to all Romans," Claudia replied as she composed herself. "I'm sure the man had his reasons."

"I don't know what the people of this accursed land want!" grumbled Pilate as he walked up to his wife and the rest of the group. "I'm sorry my dear Claudia, I tried."

"Well you didn't try hard enough!" Penny snapped at the governor.

"Penny!" Sherman clamped his hand over Penny's mouth and pulled her up against him, terrified for her because he knew what Pilate could do to her.

"You dare talk to me in that manner?!" Pilate roared. "Who are you?!"

"She's a friend of my son, lord Pilate, forgive her," Mary intervened. "She is concerned about Jesus."

"Concerned, nothing!" Penny screamed as she tore Sherman's hand away from her mouth. "You could have let Him go if you really wanted to! You looked to me like you were scared!"

"Hold your tongue, girl!" Pilate yelled.

"Penny, you-you can't talk to the governor that way!" Mr. Peabody admonished, realizing the very real possibility that Pilate could imprison her at the snap of his fingers.

"Some governor! He can't even save an innocent Man!" Penny cried as she tore herself from Sherman's grasp and began to follow the crowd, hoping to find Jesus.

"Where are you going? I gave you no permission to leave!" Pilate demanded.

"Somebody's gotta stop this thing," Penny roared. "And if none of you will do it then I will!"

"That's it!" Pilate screamed. "Guards, seize her!" And they did.

"Let go of me!" Penny yelled.

"Oh, have mercy on her great Pilate, she is just a girl!" Mr. Peabody begged. "Even girls must learn respect for Roman law," Pilate retorted. "Lock her in a cell until she learns to hold her tongue!"

"No! Penny!" Sherman called after her as the guards drug her away. He turned to Pilate. "Take me instead! I'll serve her punishment!"

"That's not the way it works. Come, Claudia," Pilate turned to his wife. Let's get back into the palace, I'm sick of these crowds." And he turned and walked away.

"Again, I-I'm sorry," Claudia apologized to Mary before following after Pilate.

Author's Note: Uh-oh! Cliffhanger! What's going to happen to Penny? Will Mr. Peabody and Sherman be able to free her from prison? And what's next for Jesus? The only way to find out is to keep reading! In the meantime, reviews are appreciated, especially if you have any questions about my sources for certain parts of the story, what parts of the story mean, or really just about anything at all. God bless!