Luke

By Joyce Webb 2021

Chapter 23 Verses 1-21

Verse 1 After Jesus had been questioned by the priests, —the priests took Jesus to the Roman governor who was over Jerusalem. His name was Pilate.

The Romans ruled over the Jewish people at this time. The Jewish people were not allowed to put anyone to death.

The priests had decided that since Jesus said—that he was the son of God—and that meant that Jesus was saying he was God—he should be put to death. No man should be saying that he was God. They thought this was a very bad thing.

Since they were not allowed to put any one to death, they had to go to the Roman leaders and ask them to do it. This means that they had to prove to the Roman leader that the person should be put to death.

A Roman ruler would not care about someone saying they were God. The Romans may think the person was crazy, but not worth putting them to death.

When the priests took Jesus to Pilate, Pilate could see that the only thing they really had against Jesus was that he said he was God. Jesus had not broken any Roman laws. He had not done any crime.

The priests had to think of some other way to get Pilate to listen to them about Jesus. So they made up some things.

Verse 2 The priests said that they found this man saying things against the Roman government —he was telling people not to pay the tax to the Romans, saying that he was Christ the King.

(Jesus did not say that. When Jesus was asked —if they should pay the tax to Rome, Jesus said to them, give to Rome-Caesar—the things that belong to Caesar and give to God the things that belong to God. Mark 12:17)

Verse 3 Pilate asked Jesus, Are you the king of the Jews?
Jesus said, You say so.

Verse 4 Pilate told the priest, I do not find any fault or wrong in this man.

Verse 5 The priests said, He tried to make trouble among the people. He went around teaching and talking all over the country from Galilee to Jerusalem.

Verse 6 When Pilate heard them say Galilee, he asked Jesus, Are you from Galilee? Pilate asked this because Herod was the ruler over that part of the country.

Herod was in Jerusalem at that time. So Pilate sent him before Herod to hear Jesus.

Verse 8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was glad to see him. He had heard many things about Jesus —he was glad to meet him.

He hoped that Jesus would do some miracle so he could see it.

Verse 9 Herod asked Jesus many questions, but Jesus would not answer him.

The chief priest stood nearby and he became angry that Jesus would not answer Herod.

Verse 11 Herod’s soldiers began to mock Jesus. They put a robe on him like on a king. Then send him back to Herod.

Verse 12 Pilate and Herod had not been friends before—but after that day they became friendly with each other.

Verse 13 Pilate called the chief priests and the other Jewish leaders together.

He said–you have brought this man to me—you said that he is trying to make trouble for Rome by saying things to the people.

I have talked with him, and I do not find any wrong doing with him.

Verse 15 Herod has talked to him, and he has not found any wrong doing in him.

Nothing worthy of death.

Verse 16 I will punish him and let him go.

Verse 17 The Romans had an agreement with the Jews that during their Passover time, the Romans would release one prisoner to them as a sign of “grace, forgiveness” in honor of their Passover
beliefs.

Verse 18 The Jewish leaders said, NO. Do away with this man.
Let Barabbas go instead.

Verse 19 Barabbas tried to get the people to go against the Roman government and to fight against the Roman rule.

He had killed someone—maybe more than one—he was in prison for it.

Verse 20, 21 Pilate wanted to let Jesus go. He spoke to the Jewish leaders again. But they shouted louder, Crucify him, Crucify him.