23Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate.聽2They began to accuse him, saying, 鈥榃e found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.鈥櫬�3Then Pilate asked him, 鈥楢re you the king of the Jews?鈥� He answered, 鈥榊ou say so.鈥櫬�4Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, 鈥業 find no basis for an accusation against this man.鈥櫬�5But they were insistent and said, 鈥楬e stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place.鈥�
6 When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean.聽7And when he learned that he was under Herod鈥檚 jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time.聽8When 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 him perform some sign.聽9He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer.聽10The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him.聽11Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate.聽12That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies.
13 Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people,聽14and said to them, 鈥榊ou brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him.聽15Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death.聽16I will therefore have him flogged and release him.鈥�
18 Then they all shouted out together, 鈥楢way with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!鈥櫬�19(This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.)聽20Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again;聽21but they kept shouting, 鈥楥rucify, crucify him!鈥櫬�22A third time he said to them, 鈥榃hy, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him.鈥櫬�23But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed.聽24So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted.聽25He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished.
"New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved."
Transcript
Luke鈥檚 narrative of Jesus before the Roman Prefect includes a number of unique elements.聽 Specific charges are brought against Jesus: perverting the nation, forbidding the payment of tribute to Caesar, and claiming to be the Anointed King.聽 Since all three could be evidence of sedition, they would all be of concern to Pilate.聽 After Pilate asks Jesus if he is indeed 鈥渢he king of the Jews,鈥� Jesus seems to agree by replying, 鈥渟o you say.鈥澛� But Pilate instantly proclaims Jesus innocent of all charges.聽 In fact, he will declare Jesus鈥� innocence a total of three times.
Luke鈥檚 Gospel also presents the unique episode of Jesus being brought to Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee. The outcome of this incident is that Antipas and Pilate become fast friends. This is Luke鈥檚 way of saying that no one is unaffected by the reconciling presence of Jesus.聽 During the Barabbas exchange, Pilate states his intention to chastise Jesus, but neither this nor a flogging is ever narrated by Luke.聽 Luke concludes the episode by bluntly contrasting the murderous Barabbas with the innocent Jesus.