Heathen men were angry at the brutal treatment of one against whom nothing had been proved. The Roman officers declared that the Jews in pronouncing condemnation upon Jesus were infringing upon the Roman power, and that it was even against the Jewish law to condemn a man to death upon his own testimony. This intervention brought a momentary lull in the proceedings; but the Jewish leaders were dead alike to pity and to shame.

Hedenske mænd var vrede over den brutale behandling af et menneske, mod hvem der intet var blevet bevist. De romerske officerer erklærede, at jøderne ved at fælde dom over Jesus krænkede den romerske magt, og at det endog stred imod den jødiske lov at dømme et menneske til døden på grundlag af hans eget vidnesbyrd. Denne indskriden medførte en kortvarig standsning af deres adfærd; men de jødiske ledende mænd var lige ufølsomme, hvad enten det gjaldt medlidenhed eller skam.