Luke 23 14

Luke 23:14 kjv

Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:

Luke 23:14 nkjv

said to them, "You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him;

Luke 23:14 niv

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.

Luke 23:14 esv

and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him.

Luke 23:14 nlt

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.

Luke 23 verses

Luke 23 14 Meaning

Luke 23:14 captures Pilate's judicial verdict of innocence concerning the political accusations leveled against Jesus. After an investigation, the Roman governor declares that he found no grounds for the charge that Jesus was inciting the people to rebellion, the primary accusation used to compel Roman involvement and justify a capital sentence. This declaration highlights Jesus' blamelessness in the eyes of Roman law regarding sedition, placing the burden of condemnation squarely on the unfounded claims of His accusers.

Luke 23 14 Context

Luke 23 opens with the entire company of the Jewish Sanhedrin bringing Jesus before Pilate, the Roman governor. They had condemned Jesus on religious grounds for blasphemy (Lk 22:70-71), but since they lacked the authority to execute Him, they needed Pilate's sanction. To secure this, they strategically changed their accusations from religious offenses (which Pilate would likely ignore) to political ones, namely that Jesus was "perverting the nation," "forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar," and claiming to be "Christ, a king" (Lk 23:2). These were direct charges of sedition against Roman authority, a capital offense. Pilate then questions Jesus (as recounted more fully in Jn 18:33-38) to ascertain the truth of these political allegations. Verse 14 is Pilate's public declaration following this initial inquiry.

Luke 23 14 Word analysis

• He: Refers to Pontius Pilate, the Roman Prefect of Judea, signifying the Roman legal authority speaking.
• said to them: Addressing the chief priests, scribes, and the accompanying crowd who brought Jesus for judgment.
• You brought me: Highlights the initiative taken by the Jewish leadership; Pilate is reacting to their action, not initiating the trial.
• this man: Pilate's neutral, almost dismissive term for Jesus, signaling his lack of immediate conviction about the charges.
• as one who incites: (Greek: apostréphonta - ἀποστρέφοντα) Means "turning away," "perverting," "misleading." It refers to causing defection or stirring up rebellion.
• the people: Ton laon (τὸν λαόν), emphasizing the political charge that Jesus was disrupting the general populace.
• to rebellion: Not explicitly a distinct Greek word here, but implied by apostréphonta ton laon, signifying the act of causing people to rebel against the established Roman order. This was a grave accusation that would warrant capital punishment.
• and behold: An interjection calling attention to the outcome of his investigation, implying significance or even surprise at his finding.
• having examined him: (Greek: anakrínas - ἀνακρίνας) Indicates a judicial inquiry, investigation, or cross-examination conducted by Pilate. This suggests due diligence in his role as judge.
• before you: Transparency in the process, showing that the examination was public or at least observed by the accusers.
• I have found no guilt: Pilate's decisive verdict, declaring an absence of culpable wrongdoing.
• in this man: Reiterating Jesus' innocence specifically concerning Him.
• concerning what you accuse him of: Limits Pilate's acquittal to the specific political charges (sedition, forbidding taxes) brought by the Jewish leaders. He did not pass judgment on their religious claims, as those were outside his purview and immediate concern.

Words-group analysis:

• "You brought me this man as one who incites the people to rebellion": This phrase directly quotes or paraphrases the main, politically framed accusation used by the Jewish leaders. It's the critical charge that gives Pilate jurisdiction and presents Jesus as a threat to Roman stability. It reflects their strategic shift from religious to civil charges.
• "and behold, having examined him before you": Pilate's strong assertion of due process. He underlines that he has taken the accusation seriously, conducted a transparent investigation, and is now ready to present his findings. It contrasts his judicial impartiality with the accusers' biased motivation.
• "I have found no guilt in this man concerning what you accuse him of": This is the core declaration of acquittal. Pilate explicitly clears Jesus of the precise charges laid against Him, especially the serious one of sedition. It shows Pilate found no evidence that Jesus was an earthly king or rebel posing a threat to Caesar. This finding is central to Pilate's attempts to release Jesus, underscoring the unjust nature of the crucifixion that followed.

Luke 23 14 Bonus section

Pilate's repeated declarations of Jesus' innocence (Luke 23:4, 14, 22; John 18:38, 19:4, 6) serve a significant theological purpose in the Gospels. They powerfully demonstrate that Jesus, the Lamb of God, was indeed without blemish, a perfect and sinless sacrifice. Even the world's secular authority could find no fault in Him regarding the specific charges. This absence of legal guilt under Roman law, particularly concerning rebellion, underscores that Jesus' death was not due to earthly criminal behavior but was part of God's predetermined plan for atonement (Acts 2:23; 4:27-28). It highlights the irony of Jesus being accused of earthly rebellion when His mission was to establish a spiritual kingdom, utterly distinct from political power structures of the day.

Luke 23 14 Commentary

Luke 23:14 is a pivotal declaration, establishing Jesus' innocence from the perspective of the Roman secular authority concerning the capital charge of sedition. Pilate, in his role as a Roman governor, diligently examines Jesus specifically on the political accusations—claims of forbidding tribute to Caesar and claiming to be a king—which were designed to force a Roman execution. His verdict of "no guilt" is explicit and public, emphasizing that Jesus posed no actual threat to Roman imperial rule. This verse is the second of three instances in Luke's account where Pilate emphatically declares Jesus' innocence (Lk 23:4, 23:14, 23:22).

This declaration is crucial because it confirms that Jesus was unjustly condemned by human courts. The Roman justice system, represented by Pilate, found no legal basis for His execution on the charges brought against Him. It exposes the malicious intent of the Jewish religious leadership, who twisted religious disagreements into political charges to manipulate the Roman system for their own ends. Pilate's declaration sets the stage for his attempts to release Jesus, which are ultimately thwarted by the persistence of the crowd and the leaders' unwavering demand for His crucifixion. It silently attests to the fact that Jesus’ kingdom was indeed "not of this world," posing no challenge to Caesar, but to the dominion of sin.