Jesus Brought Before Pilate

23 And the whole assembly of them rose up and[a] brought him before Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us[b] to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying he himself is Christ, a king!” And Pilate asked him, saying, “Are you the king of the Jews?” And he answered him and[c] said, “You say so.” So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation against this man.” But they insisted, saying, “He incites the people, teaching throughout the whole of Judea and beginning from Galilee as far as here.”

Jesus Brought Before Herod

Now when[d] Pilate heard this,[e] he asked if the man was a Galilean. And when he[f] found out that he was from the jurisdiction of Herod, he sent him over to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem in those days. And when[g] Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see some miracle performed by him. So he questioned him at considerable length,[h] but he answered nothing to him. 10 And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there vehemently accusing him. 11 And Herod with his soldiers also treated him with contempt, and after[i] mocking him[j] and[k] dressing him[l] in glistening clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. 12 And both Herod and Pilate became friends with one another on that same day, for they had previously been enemies of one another.[m]

Pilate Releases Barabbas

13 So Pilate called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people 14 and[n] said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people, and behold, when I[o] examined him[p] before you, I found nothing in this man as basis for the accusation which you are making[q] against him. 15 But neither did Herod, because he sent him back to us. And behold, nothing deserving death has been done[r] by him. 16 Therefore I will punish him and[s] release him.”[t] [u] 18 But they all cried out in unison, saying, “Take this man away, and release for us Barabbas!” 19 (who had been thrown in prison because of a certain insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder). 20 And Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them[v][w] again, 21 but they kept crying out, saying, “Crucify! Crucify him!” 22 So he said to them a third time, “Why? What wrong has this man done? I found no basis for an accusation deserving death[x] in him. Therefore I will punish him and[y] release him.”[z] 23 But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he be crucified. And their cries prevailed. 24 And Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. 25 And he released the one who had been thrown into prison because of insurrection and murder, whom they were asking for, but Jesus he handed over to their will.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 23:1 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“rose up”) has been translated as a finite verb
  2. Luke 23:2 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  3. Luke 23:3 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb
  4. Luke 23:6 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal
  5. Luke 23:6 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  6. Luke 23:7 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“found out”) which is understood as temporal
  7. Luke 23:8 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal
  8. Luke 23:9 Literally “with many words”
  9. Luke 23:11 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“mocking”) which is understood as temporal
  10. Luke 23:11 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  11. Luke 23:11 Here “and” is supplied to connect the two participles (“mocking” and “dressing”) in keeping with English style
  12. Luke 23:11 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  13. Luke 23:12 Literally “for they had previously existed being at enmity with each other”
  14. Luke 23:14 Here “and” is supplied because the participle in the previous verse (“called together”) has been translated as a finite verb
  15. Luke 23:14 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“examined”) which is understood as temporal
  16. Luke 23:14 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  17. Luke 23:14 Literally “you are accusing”
  18. Luke 23:15 Literally “is having been done”
  19. Luke 23:16 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“punish”) has been translated as a finite verb
  20. Luke 23:16 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  21. Luke 23:16 Many of the most important Greek manuscripts lack v. 17, “Now he was obligated to release for them at the feast one person.”
  22. Luke 23:20 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  23. Luke 23:20 Some manuscripts explicitly state “them”
  24. Luke 23:22 Literally “of death”
  25. Luke 23:22 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“punish”) has been translated as a finite verb
  26. Luke 23:22 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

23 Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate.(A) And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation.(B) He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar(C) and claims to be Messiah, a king.”(D)

So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”(E)

But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee(F) and has come all the way here.”

On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean.(G) When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod,(H) who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him.(I) From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer.(J) 10 The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe,(K) they sent him back to Pilate. 12 That day Herod and Pilate became friends(L)—before this they had been enemies.

13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him.(M) 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will punish him(N) and then release him.” [17] [a]

18 But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!”(O) 19 (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)

20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

22 For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”(P)

23 But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 23:17 Some manuscripts include here words similar to Matt. 27:15 and Mark 15:6.

Jesus’ Trial before Pilate

23 Then the entire council took Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor. They began to state their case: “This man has been leading our people astray by telling them not to pay their taxes to the Roman government and by claiming he is the Messiah, a king.”

So Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

Jesus replied, “You have said it.”

Pilate turned to the leading priests and to the crowd and said, “I find nothing wrong with this man!”

Then they became insistent. “But he is causing riots by his teaching wherever he goes—all over Judea, from Galilee to Jerusalem!”

“Oh, is he a Galilean?” Pilate asked. When they said that he was, Pilate sent him to Herod Antipas, because Galilee was under Herod’s jurisdiction, and Herod happened to be in Jerusalem at the time.

Herod was delighted at the opportunity to see Jesus, because he had heard about him and had been hoping for a long time to see him perform a miracle. He asked Jesus question after question, but Jesus refused to answer. 10 Meanwhile, the leading priests and the teachers of religious law stood there shouting their accusations. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers began mocking and ridiculing Jesus. Finally, they put a royal robe on him and sent him back to Pilate. 12 (Herod and Pilate, who had been enemies before, became friends that day.)

13 Then Pilate called together the leading priests and other religious leaders, along with the people, 14 and he announced his verdict. “You brought this man to me, accusing him of leading a revolt. I have examined him thoroughly on this point in your presence and find him innocent. 15 Herod came to the same conclusion and sent him back to us. Nothing this man has done calls for the death penalty. 16 So I will have him flogged, and then I will release him.”[a]

18 Then a mighty roar rose from the crowd, and with one voice they shouted, “Kill him, and release Barabbas to us!” 19 (Barabbas was in prison for taking part in an insurrection in Jerusalem against the government, and for murder.) 20 Pilate argued with them, because he wanted to release Jesus. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

22 For the third time he demanded, “Why? What crime has he committed? I have found no reason to sentence him to death. So I will have him flogged, and then I will release him.”

23 But the mob shouted louder and louder, demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their voices prevailed. 24 So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded. 25 As they had requested, he released Barabbas, the man in prison for insurrection and murder. But he turned Jesus over to them to do as they wished.

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Footnotes

  1. 23:16 Some manuscripts add verse 17, Now it was necessary for him to release one prisoner to them during the Passover celebration. Compare Matt 27:15; Mark 15:6; John 18:39.