Judas, the traitor, when saw that Jesus has fled, lost the hope of becoming powerful in the world, for he carried Jesus' purse, wherein was kept all that was given him for love of God. He hoped that Jesus would become king of Israel, and so he himself would be a powerful man. Therefore, having lost this hope, he said within himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know that I steal his money; and so, he would lose patience and cast me out of his service, knowing that I do not believe in him. Moreover, if he were a wise man, he would not flee from the honour that God wills to give him. Wherefore, it will be better that I make arrangement with the chief priests and with the scribes and Pharisees, and see how to give him up into their hands, for so I will be able to obtain something good."

Whereupon, having made his resolution, he gave notice to the scribes and Pharisees how the matter had passed in Nain. They took counsel with the high priest, saying, "What shall we do if this man becomes king? Surely, we shall fare badly, because he is fain to reform the worship of God after the ancient custom. How shall we fare under the sovereignty of such a man? Now, we have a king and a governor that are alien to our Law, who does not care for our Law, even as we do not care for theirs. Therefore, we are able to do whatsoever we list, for, even though we sin, our God is so merciful that he is appeased with sacrifice and fasting.

Moreover, this man says that the Messiah is not from the seed of David (as one of his chief disciples has told us), but says that he shall come of the seed of Ishmael, and that the promise was made in Ishmael and not in Isaac."

Therefore, having heard the proposal, the high priest answered that he must treat with Herod and with the governor, "because the people are so inclined towards him that without the soldiery, we are not able to do anything; and may it please God that with the soldiery we may accomplish this business."

Wherefore, having taken counsels among themselves, they plotted to seize Jesus by night, when the governor and Herod should agree thereto.