Luke 23 15

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 verses

(h2) MeaningLuke 23:15 reveals Pontius Pilate's continued declaration of Jesus' innocence. Having previously found no basis for a death sentence (Lk 23:4, 23:14), Pilate reinforces this by stating that even Herod Antipas, to whom he had referred Jesus, also found no crime deserving of death. This verse thus solidifies the legal vindication of Jesus Christ, affirming that despite the intense accusations against Him, no actual capital offense could be proven by either Roman or Herodian authorities. It highlights the stark injustice of His impending condemnation.

(h2) Cross References

(h2) ContextLuke 23 opens with the Jewish religious leaders bringing Jesus before Pilate, the Roman governor, with accusations of sedition: subverting the nation, forbidding tribute to Caesar, and claiming to be king (Lk 23:1-2). Pilate immediately questions Jesus about being "King of the Jews," and Jesus' answer leads Pilate to declare His innocence (Lk 23:3-4). However, the Jewish leaders persist, emphasizing Jesus' origin from Galilee (Lk 23:5-6). Recognizing Galilee as Herod Antipas's jurisdiction, Pilate, seeing an opportunity to shed responsibility and perhaps avoid a difficult decision, sends Jesus to Herod (Lk 23:7). Herod, excited to see a miracle from Jesus, instead encounters a silent prisoner (Lk 23:8-9). After mocking Jesus, dressing Him in a splendid robe, Herod sends Him back to Pilate without any legal judgment or condemnation (Lk 23:11-12). This act incidentally reconciles Herod and Pilate, who had previously been at odds (Lk 23:12). Luke 23:15 then captures Pilate's summary of these events to the chief priests, rulers, and people (Lk 23:13), affirming that neither he nor Herod found any fault in Jesus deserving of death. This moment underscores the profound injustice and the conspiracy against a truly innocent man.

(h2) Word analysis(ul)

• For (γάρ - gar): A conjunction indicating a reason or explanation. Here, it introduces the reason for Pilate's renewed declaration of innocence – because Herod has also confirmed it.
• indeed: An intensifier in English translations, highlighting the certainty and factual nature of Pilate's statement. It conveys "truly" or "certainly."
• Herod (Ἡρώδης - Hērōdēs): Refers to Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, who had jurisdiction over Jesus as a Galilean. His involvement signifies an independent assessment of the charges.
• has sent him back (ἀνέπεμψεν - anepempsen): From anapempō, meaning "to send up" or "to send back." It denotes a formal judicial referral or returning to the original jurisdiction. The perfect tense indicates a completed action with lasting results.
• to us (πρὸς ἡμᾶς - pros hēmas): Referring to Pilate's Roman court and implicitly, to him as the presiding authority. It signifies that Jesus has returned to his jurisdiction after Herod's non-condemnation.
• Look (ἰδού - idou): An emphatic interjection common in Luke's Gospel, meaning "behold" or "see." It draws attention to what follows, emphasizing the significant finding Pilate is about to state.
• nothing (οὐδὲν - ouden): A strong absolute negative pronoun, indicating an utter absence of any qualifying action or characteristic.
• deserving (ἄξιον - axion): An adjective meaning "worthy," "fit," "suitable," or "deserving." In legal contexts, it implies what is due as a penalty for an offense.
• of death (θανάτου - thanatou): Genitive case of thanatos (death). It specifically denotes a crime that merits the ultimate penalty under law.
• has been done (πεπραγμένον - pepragmenon): Perfect participle passive of prassō (to do, perform, commit). This emphasizes that no deed or act worthy of death has been committed by Jesus. The passive voice highlights the absence of such action from Him.
• by him (αὐτῷ - autō): Dative case of autos (he/himself), here indicating the agent of the action, confirming that Jesus committed no such crime.

(ul)

• "For indeed Herod has sent him back to us": This phrase explains why Pilate is addressing them again and reiterating Jesus' innocence. It signifies a political and judicial maneuver: Pilate attempted to transfer responsibility, but Herod declined to judge, implicitly agreeing with Pilate's assessment by returning Jesus without a verdict of guilt. This act also formally brings Jesus back under Pilate's direct jurisdiction for final decision.
• "Look, nothing deserving of death has been done by him!": This is Pilate's emphatic, conclusive declaration. The "Look" demands attention to a clear, established fact. The "nothing" stresses absolute blamelessness concerning capital crimes. This isn't just Pilate's opinion; it's reinforced by Herod's own findings (or lack thereof), providing a dual endorsement of Jesus' legal innocence. It underscores the baselessness of the Jewish leaders' charges and highlights the profound miscarriage of justice that is about to unfold.

(h2) CommentaryLuke 23:15 is a critical verse within the Passion narrative, reinforcing the central theme of Jesus' undeniable innocence, even by the very human authorities meant to prosecute Him. Pilate's repeated declarations of "nothing deserving of death" are pivotal because they originate from a secular, judicial perspective. His decision to send Jesus to Herod was a political evasion, a bid to either appease the Jewish leaders or offload a problematic case. Yet, even this cynical maneuver inadvertently served a divine purpose: it led to a second independent judicial review, confirming Pilate's initial assessment. The phrase "Herod has sent him back to us" means that Herod, though he mocked Jesus and desired a sign, found no basis for a death sentence himself. This absence of condemnation from both the Roman governor and the Jewish-appointed tetrarch serves as powerful testimony to Jesus' purity from any actionable crime. It lays bare the corrupt motivations of Jesus' accusers and the weak character of the judges, who, despite recognizing His blamelessness, succumb to external pressure. This absolute and divinely ordained blamelessness of Jesus is essential to His identity as the perfect Lamb of God, whose sacrificial death would be not for His own sin (for He had none), but for the sins of humanity.

(h2) Bonus sectionThe irony in Luke 23:15 is profound: the worldly powers of Rome and the semi-autonomous Jewish tetrarchy (Herod), typically at odds, conspire to affirm the very thing that proves their own corruption—the spotless character of Jesus Christ. Their declaration of His innocence serves to heighten the injustice of His crucifixion, paradoxically validating the Lamb of God who was led to the slaughter "without spot or blemish" (1 Pet 1:19). This mutual, though indirect, legal vindication by two distinct and independent legal authorities further highlights that His execution was not based on any just cause but on the hatred and fear of the religious establishment, which was ultimately used by God to fulfill His redemptive plan. The entire incident serves as a stark contrast between human systems, driven by politics and fear, and the divine truth of an utterly righteous Christ, enduring the cross for the sake of the unrighteous.