Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become.
‘Didn’t we strictly order you not to teach in this name? Look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.’
They were looking for a way to arrest him but feared the crowd because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. So they left him and went away.
Then Herod, when he realised that he had been outwitted by the wise men, flew into a rage. He gave orders to massacre all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, in keeping with the time he had learned from the wise men.
This is what the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, his Holy One, says to one who is despised, to one abhorred by people, , to a servant of rulers: ‘Kings will see, princes will stand up, and they will all bow down because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel #– #and he has chosen you.’
So now, come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of the pits. We can say that a vicious animal ate him. Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams! ’