Jesus in the Talmud

64 Chapter 6executed), 1 and slaying by the sword. The talmudic law drops hanging andadds strangling as an independent death penalty, 2 but the discussions inrabbinic literature are largely academic since the rabbis did not have thepower of inflicting the death sentence. 3 With regard to stoning, the mostcommon death penalty, the Mishna explains: 4If they find him [the accused] innocent, they discharge him, and ifnot, he goes forth to be stoned. And a herald goes before him[heralding]:So and so, the son of so and so, is going forth to be stoned becausehe committed such and such a crime, and so and so are his witnesses.Whoever knows anything in his defense, may come and state it.It is on this Mishna that the Bavli comments: 5Abaye said: He [the herald] must also say: On such and such a day,on such and such an hour, and in such and such a place (the crimewas committed), 6 in case there are some who know (to the contrary),so that they can come forward and prove (the original witnesses)to be false witnesses (having deliberately given false testimony).And a herald goes before him etc.: 7 indeed before him, 8 but notbeforehand! 9However, (in contradiction to this) it was taught (tanya):On (Sabbath eve and) 10 the eve of Passover Jesus the Nazarene 11was hanged (tela>uhu). 12 And a herald went forth before him 40 days(heralding): Jesus the Nazarene 13 is going forth to be stoned becausehe practiced sorcery (kishshef ) and instigated (hissit) and seduced(hiddiah) Israel (to idolatry). Whoever knows anything in his defense,may come and state it. But since they did not find anything in his defense,they hanged him on (Sabbath eve and) 14 the eve of Passover.Ulla said: Do you suppose that Jesus the Nazarene 15 was one forwhom a defense could be made? He was a mesit (someone who instigatedIsrael to idolatry), concerning whom the Merciful [God] says:Show him no compassion and do not shield him (Deut. 13:9).