Luke 23:15 kjv
No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.
Luke 23:15 nkjv
no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him.
Luke 23:15 niv
Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death.
Luke 23:15 esv
Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him.
Luke 23:15 nlt
Herod came to the same conclusion and sent him back to us. Nothing this man has done calls for the death penalty.
Luke 23 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lk 23:4 | Then Pilate said to the chief priests... "I find no guilt in this man." | Pilate's initial declaration of innocence. |
| Lk 23:14 | ...you brought this man to me... and I have found no guilt in him... | Pilate reaffirms Jesus' innocence before the people. |
| Lk 23:22 | ...He has done nothing to deserve death. I will therefore punish him... | Pilate's third declaration; compromise offered. |
| Jn 18:38 | Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" After he had said this, he went out... and told them, "I find no guilt in him." | Pilate's verdict after questioning Jesus directly. |
| Jn 19:4 | Pilate went out again and said to them, "See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him." | Pilate brings Jesus out, declaring him blameless. |
| Jn 19:6 | ...the chief priests... cried out, "Crucify him, crucify him!" Pilate said... "Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him." | Pilate reiterates innocence against mob demands. |
| Mt 27:24 | So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing... he took water and washed his hands... saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood..." | Pilate attempts to absolve himself publicly. |
| Acts 13:28 | And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed. | Apostles affirm Jesus' innocence. |
| Is 53:9 | ...he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. | Prophecy of the innocent suffering Servant. |
| 1 Pet 2:22 | He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. | Jesus' blamelessness echoed from Isaiah. |
| 2 Cor 5:21 | For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. | Jesus, though innocent, bears our sin. |
| Heb 4:15 | ...we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. | Jesus' sinless nature confirmed. |
| Lk 23:11 | Herod... mocked him... and sent him back to Pilate. | Herod's response: mockery, but no conviction. |
| Lk 23:6-7 | When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod... | Pilate's decision to send Jesus to Herod. |
| Ps 35:11 | Malicious witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I do not know. | Theme of false accusations against the innocent. |
| Dan 6:4 | Then the high officials and satraps sought to find a reason to accuse Daniel... but they could find no ground for accusation... | Example of innocent man being framed. |
| Acts 2:23 | ...this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. | Divine plan accomplished through human injustice. |
| Acts 3:13-14 | The God of Abraham... glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. You denied the Holy and Righteous One... | Peter highlights the denial of the innocent. |
| Lk 22:66-71 | The Sanhedrin finds Jesus guilty of blasphemy, demanding death. | The contrasting verdict of the Jewish religious court. |
| Matt 27:18 | For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. | Pilate understood the motivation of the accusers. |
| Jer 12:1 | Righteous are you, O Lord, when I complain to you; yet I would plead my case before you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? | Reflection on divine justice amidst human injustice. |
| Job 27:5-6 | Far be it from me to say that you are right; till I die I will not put away my integrity from me... my heart does not reproach me for any of my days. | A righteous man holding onto innocence. |
Luke 23 verses
Luke 23 15 Meaning
Luke 23:15 presents Pilate's pronouncement that Herod Antipas, to whom Jesus was sent for judgment, also found Jesus innocent of any crime worthy of death. This declaration reiterates Pilate's earlier assessment, underscoring the legal innocence of Jesus despite the severe charges brought against Him by the Jewish leaders. It highlights a rare agreement between two previously estranged rulers concerning Jesus' blamelessness.
Luke 23 15 Context
Luke 23:15 occurs during the trial of Jesus, specifically after Pilate, the Roman governor, had sent Jesus to Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee, to appease the Jewish authorities and to rid himself of the responsibility of judging a Galilean (Lk 23:6-7). This move also helped to reconcile Pilate and Herod, who had been at odds (Lk 23:12). Herod, though pleased to see Jesus and hoping to witness a miracle, found no specific grounds for condemning Jesus after questioning him and having his soldiers mock him (Lk 23:8-11). This verse is Pilate's report back to the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, confirming that even Herod's assessment corroborates Pilate's repeated declaration of Jesus' innocence from any capital offense.
Luke 23 15 Word analysis
- Neither: Greek οὐδὲ (oude). Signifies "not even" or "nor yet." It adds emphasis to the negative declaration, linking Herod's judgment directly with Pilate's own.
- indeed: Greek γὰρ (gar). This conjunction means "for," "since," or "indeed." Here, it provides the reason or explanation for Pilate's subsequent statement. It reinforces that Herod's finding is consistent.
- has Herod: Greek Ἡρῴδης (Hērōdēs). Refers to Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, son of Herod the Great. His authority over Galilean subjects means his opinion held weight, especially concerning a charge against someone from his territory.
- for I sent you: Greek ἀνέπεμψα γὰρ ὑμᾶς (anepempsa gar hymas). `ἀναπέμπω` (anapempō) means "to send up," "refer," or "send back." While Pilate sent Jesus to Herod, the 'you' here is most likely referring to the accusers (the Jewish Sanhedrin representatives). Pilate is emphasizing that he fully processed their complaint by involving another relevant authority, indicating diligence on his part.
- to him: Greek πρὸς αὐτόν (pros auton). Refers to Herod.
- and see: Greek καὶ ἰδοὺ (kai idou). A strong interjection meaning "and behold!" or "and look!" It draws immediate attention to the startling result of Herod's investigation.
- nothing: Greek οὐδὲν (ouden). A definitive negation; absolutely no ground.
- worthy of death: Greek ἄξιον θανάτου (axion thanatou). This legal phrase signifies a crime for which the penalty is death. It's a clear statement of acquittal from capital charges.
- has been done: Greek πεπραγμένον (pepragmenon). A perfect passive participle of `πράσσω` (prassō), meaning "to do," "perform," or "commit." It points to a completed action.
- by him: Greek αὐτῷ (autō). The dative case can signify "by him" (referring to Jesus having done something) or "to him/against him" (referring to what was done to Jesus or what was found in Jesus by Herod). Given the context of a legal accusation, the most natural understanding is that Jesus has not committed anything worthy of death. Modern translations generally reflect "done by him" meaning no crime was committed by Jesus.
- "Neither indeed has Herod": This phrase functions as an immediate rejection of the implied possibility that Herod found Jesus guilty. It establishes a double confirmation of innocence. Pilate skillfully leverages Herod's lack of condemnation to bolster his own position and try to escape the crowd's demands.
- "for I sent you to him, and see": This group of words details Pilate's procedural steps and then introduces the critical outcome. Pilate stresses that he followed protocol and even deferred to another jurisdiction, further legitimizing the findings of innocence. The "see" calls for attention to the unexpected or significant result.
- "nothing worthy of death has been done by him": This forms the core legal verdict. It is an absolute dismissal of the most severe charge. The phrasing focuses on Jesus' actions, declaring that He committed no capital offense, thereby dismantling the foundation of the accusers' demand for His execution.
Luke 23 15 Bonus section
The mutual declaration of innocence by both Pilate and Herod (Luke 23:14-15) is unique to Luke's Gospel and serves several purposes. It further vindicates Jesus' blamelessness in the eyes of the secular authorities. Additionally, it highlights the irony that despite their earlier enmity, these two rulers found common ground in identifying Jesus as politically innocuous, thus becoming "friends" on that day (Lk 23:12) even as they condemned Him indirectly. This temporary alliance of earthly powers, though unable to find legal fault, ultimately consented to His death, serving God's larger redemptive purpose (Acts 4:27-28). The scene functions as a powerful testament to Christ's absolute righteousness, even in the face of fabricated charges and political expediency.
Luke 23 15 Commentary
Luke 23:15 is a pivotal declaration in Jesus' trial, demonstrating a striking consensus of innocence from both Roman (Pilate) and Herodian (Antipas) political authorities. Despite Pilate's attempts to delegate responsibility to Herod, the outcome was unchanged: neither ruler found Jesus guilty of any capital crime. This repeated and shared legal acquittal from differing political and geographical jurisdictions tragically underscores the utter injustice of Jesus' eventual condemnation and crucifixion. It highlights that the judicial system failed not due to lack of evidence or legal fault on Jesus' part, but due to the overwhelming political pressure and spiritual blindness of those involved. Jesus, the innocent lamb, was led to slaughter not because of His guilt, but because of humanity's will and God's predetermined plan of redemption.