Luke 23:1-24

Expanded Bible

Pilate Questions Jesus^(A)

23 Then the whole group stood up and led Jesus to Pilate [^CPontius Pilate, governor of Judea from ad 26 to 36; see 3:1]. ² They began to accuse Jesus, saying, “We caught this man ·misleading [subverting] our ·people [nation]. He ·says that we should not pay [opposes/forbids paying] taxes to Caesar, and he ·calls himself [claims to be] the ·Christ [Messiah], a king.”

³ Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

Jesus answered, “·Those are your words [or It is as you say; ^LYou say so; ^Can indirect affirmation; see 22:70].”

⁴ Pilate said to the ·leading [^Tchief] priests and the ·people [crowd], “I find ·nothing against [no basis for a charge against; no guilt in] this man.”

⁵ [^LBut] They were insisting, saying, “But Jesus ·makes trouble with [is inciting/stirring up] the people, teaching all around Judea. He began in Galilee, and now he is here.”

Pilate Sends Jesus to Herod

⁶ Pilate heard this and asked if ·Jesus [^Lthe man] was ·from Galilee [a Galilean]. ⁷ ·Since [^LLearning that] Jesus was under Herod’s authority, Pilate sent Jesus to Herod [^CAntipas; see 3:1], who was in Jerusalem at that time. ⁸ When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, because he had heard about Jesus and had wanted to ·meet [^Lsee] him for a long time. He was hoping to see Jesus ·work a miracle [perform a sign]. ⁹ Herod asked Jesus many questions, but Jesus said nothing. ¹⁰ The ·leading [^Tchief] priests and ·teachers of the law [scribes] were standing there, ·strongly [vehemently; vigorously] accusing Jesus. ¹¹ After Herod and his soldiers had ·made fun of [ridiculed and mocked] Jesus, they dressed him in a ·kingly [elegant; splendid; ^Lbright] ·robe [clothing] and sent him back to Pilate. ¹² In the past, Pilate and Herod had always been enemies, but on that day they became friends.

Jesus Must Die^(B)

¹³ Pilate called together the ·leading [^Tchief] priests, the ·rulers [leaders] and the people. ¹⁴ He said to them, “You brought this man to me, saying he ·makes trouble among [misleads; subverts; incites] the people. But I have questioned him before you all, and I have not found ·him guilty of what you say [any basis for the charges]. ¹⁵ Also, Herod found nothing wrong with him; [^Lbecause] he sent him back to us. Look, he has done nothing ·for which he should die [worthy/deserving of death]. ¹⁶ So, after I ·punish him [have him flogged], I will let him go free.” |¹⁷ Every year at the Passover Feast, Pilate had to release one prisoner to the people.|^[a]

¹⁸ But ·the people [^Lthey] shouted together, “Take this man away [^Cfor execution]! ·Let Barabbas go free [^LRelease Barabbas to/for us]!” ¹⁹ (Barabbas was a man who was in prison for his part in a ·riot [insurrection] in the city and for murder.)

²⁰ Pilate wanted to let Jesus go free and [^Lagain] ·told this to [appealed to; addressed] the crowd. ²¹ But they shouted again, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

²² A third time Pilate said to them, “Why? What ·wrong [crime; evil] has he done? I can find no reason to kill him. So I will have him ·punished [flogged] and set him free.”

²³ But they continued to shout, demanding that Jesus be crucified. Their ·yelling became so loud [^Lvoices prevailed so] that ²⁴ Pilate decided to give them what they ·wanted [requested; demanded].