When the prayer was ended, the priest said with a loud voice, "Stay Jesus for we need to know who you are, for the quieting of our nation." Jesus answered, "I am Jesus, son of Mary, of the seed of David; a man that is mortal and fears God."

The priest said, "In the Book of Moses it is written that our God must send us the Messiah, who will come to announce to us what God wills; and will bring to the world the mercy of God. Therefore, I pray you tell us the truth. Are you the Messiah of God whom we expect?" Jesus answered, "It is true that God has so promised, but indeed I am not him; for he is made before me, and shall come after me."

The priest answered, "By your words and signs at any rate we believe you to be a prophet and a holy one of God, wherefore I pray you in the name of all Judea and Israel that you, for love of God should tell us that how the Messiah will come." Jesus answered, "As God lives, in whose presence my soul stands, I am not the Messiah whom all the tribes of the earth expect; even as God promised to our father Abraham, saying, "In your seed I will bless all the tribes of the earth."

However, when God takes me away from the world, Satan will raise again this accursed sedition, by making the impious believe that I am God and son of God. Whence, my words and my doctrine will be contaminated, insomuch that scarcely there will remain thirty faithful ones. Whereupon, God will have mercy upon the world, and sends his Messenger who comes from the south with power, and destroys the idols with the idolaters. He will bring with him the mercy of God for salvation of them who believe in him, and blessed is he who will believe in his words."

After this speech, the multitude departed with the priest. The governor with Herod had great disputations concerning Jesus and concerning his doctrine. Then the priest requested the governor to write to the senate the whole matter. Accordingly, the senate decreed that on pain of death none should call Jesus the Nazarene, prophet of the Jews, either God or son of God.