And he lifted up his hand, hinting thereby at Judas’ former evil-speaking.  In a short time all remarked this change in him, and rejoiced at it:  only Jesus looked on him still with the same detached look, although he gave no direct indication of His dislike.  And even John, for whom Judas now showed a profound reverence, as the beloved disciple of Jesus, and as his own champion in the matter of the three denarii, began to treat him somewhat more kindly, and even sometimes entered into conversation with him.

“What do you think, Judas,” said he one day in a condescending manner, “which of us, Peter or I, will be nearest to Christ in His heavenly kingdom?”

Judas meditated, and then answered—­

“I suppose that you will.”

“But Peter thinks that he will,” laughed John.

“No!  Peter would scatter all the angels with his shout; you have heard him shout.  Of course, he will quarrel with you, and will endeavour to occupy the first place, as he insists that he, too, loves Jesus.  But he is already advanced in years, and you are young; he is heavy on his feet, while you run swiftly; you will enter there first with Christ?  Will you not?”

“Yes, I will not leave Jesus,” John agreed.

On the same day Simon Peter referred the very same question to Judas.  But fearing that his loud voice would be heard by the others, he led Judas out to the farthest corner behind the house.

“Well then, what is your opinion about it?” he asked anxiously.  “You are wise; even the Master praises you for your intellect.  And you will speak the truth.”

“You, of course,” answered Iscariot without hesitation.  And Peter exclaimed with indignation, “I told him so!”

“But, of course, he will try even there to oust you from the first place.”

“Certainly!”

“But what can he do, when you already occupy the place?  Won’t you be the first to go there with Jesus?  You will not leave Him alone?  Has He not named you the rock?”

Peter put his hand on Judas’ shoulder, and said with warmth:  “I tell you, Judas, you are the cleverest of us all.  But why are you so sarcastic and malignant?  The Master does not like it.  Otherwise you might become the beloved disciple, equally with John.  But to you neither,” and Peter lifted his hand threateningly, “will I yield my place next to Jesus, neither on earth, nor there!  Do you hear?”

Thus Judas endeavoured to make himself agreeable to all, but, at the same time, he cherished hidden thoughts in his mind.  And while he remained ever the same modest, restrained and unobtrusive person, he knew how to make some especially pleasing remark to each.  Thus to Thomas he said: 

“The fool believeth every word:  but the prudent taketh heed to his paths.”

While to Matthew, who suffered somewhat from excess in eating and drinking, and was ashamed of his weakness, he quoted the words of Solomon, the sage whom Matthew held in high estimation: