215 ON JESUS’ LAST WEEK(S) The source of this story may have been an account of the eye- witnesses mentioned in Luke 1,1. Some details find echoes in the Synoptics (mainly Matt), and many more in John, but the passage can hardly be a Christian interpolation, for at least two reasons: firstly, there is no connection between the wonderworker and the wild man (John the Baptist), whose deeds are reported one generation before, under Archelaus; secondly, it attributes to Jesus neither any title, nor any fulfillment of Scripture. He is unnamed, most probably out of magic fear, for the Slavonic later adds an account on his Jewish dis- ciples (after War 2 :221), who perform healings and say that their master is still alive; in other words, his name had a certain power. For the purposes of the present study, we see two stages in the trial of Jesus before Pilate according to this version: the first one results from a plot between the leaders and the high priest, out of fear of Roman repression, and is akin to the suggestion of Caiaphas in John 11,50; then Jesus is unexpectedly released. This corresponds to Judas’ “betrayal” (delivery), followed by a trial in Pilate’s praeto- rium (John 18,28-19,1), which ends with a scourging. The second phase or second trial finishes with the crucifixion, as if it were a Roman sentence — a detail stressed in John 18,31-32 without any mention of bribery. For Josephus, the two stages are separated by several days. For John, they follow one another in dif- ferent places on the same day, an unlikely proceeding. This twofold trial offers a possible solution for Paul’s “the Lord Jesus, on the night when he was handed over, took bread” (1 Cor 11,23). The institution would have taken place on a Saturday evening, after Caiaphas’ denunciation and before Jesus’ arrest by night, but this was “not during the feast”, in order to avoid dangerous disturb- ances 20. However, the scheme was spoiled, because Pilate released him the following day (Sunday). Combining this starting point with a “solar Passover” on Wednes- day and the crucifixion on Friday, it is possible to build a tentative outline of Jesus’ last week: — Saturday evening: possibly at Bethany after the anointing, the rite of bread and wine, with similarities to the Eucharistic rite. Judas is provoked. See W. KLASSEN, Judas : Betrayer or Friend of Jesus? (Minneapolis, 20 MN 1996).