Knowing The Word in Luke 23:1-5, Jesus Before Pilate

The Sanhedrin takes Jesus to Pilate, the Roman Governor, accusing him first of sedition. The second and third charges are more serious to get Pilate’s attention, that he taught against paying taxes (a lie) and that he claimed to be king. The real problem the Sanhedrin has is the issue of blasphemy. The Romans could have cared less. To get the Romans to take action against Jesus, they had to accuse him of being a king and a political revolutionary. Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” All four gospels record this exact question with the “you” emphatic. Jesus’ answer gives reluctant consent to the question. He was the King of the Jews but not a king in the sense of what Pilate was asking. Luke abbreviates the proceeding with Pilate quickly finding no capital offense.

Luke 23:1-5

1 Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” 3 And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” 4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” 5 But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.”

Prayer

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Book of Common Prayer