Jewish TALMUD confirms Gospel Crucifiction Account

Babylonian Talmud: Sanhedrin (tractate) 43a (folio)
http://www.come-and-hear.com/sanhedrin/sanhedrin_43.html

AND A HERALD PRECEDES HIM etc. This implies, only immediately before [the execution], but not previous thereto. [In contradiction to this] it was taught: On the eve of the Passover Yeshu haNotzri was hanged. For forty days before the execution took place, a herald went forth and cried, 'He is going forth to be stoned because he has practised sorcery and enticed Israel to apostacy. Any one who can say anything in his favour, let him come forward and plead on his behalf.' But since nothing was brought forward in his favour he was hanged on the eve of the Passover on the eve of the Sabbath! — Ulla retorted: 'Do you suppose that he was one for whom a defence could be made? Was he not a Mesith [enticer], concerning whom Scripture says, Neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him? [Deut 13:9] With Yeshu however it was different, for he was connected with the government [or royalty, i.e., influential].'



Rabbinic Commentary on Sanhedrin 43a
http://cgi.stanford.edu/group/wais/cgi-bin/index.php?p=6101

The rabbinic commentary in Sanhedrin 43a states that out of deference to the Romans’ concern for Jesus’ welfare, a pretense of an argument on Christ’s behalf had to be mounted by the Sanhedrin because Jesus had “close connections with the non-Jewish authorities who were interested in his acquittal.”