Luke 23:16 kjv
I will therefore chastise him, and release him.
Luke 23:16 nkjv
I will therefore chastise Him and release Him"
Luke 23:16 niv
Therefore, I will punish him and then release him."
Luke 23:16 esv
I will therefore punish and release him."
Luke 23:16 nlt
So I will have him flogged, and then I will release him."
Luke 23 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Luke 23:1 | The whole company of them rose up and brought him before Pilate. | Leading to accusation |
| Luke 23:4 | Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” | Pilate's initial judgment |
| Luke 23:13 | Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people. | Presenting Jesus again |
| Luke 23:14 | "You brought me this man as one who misleads the people." | Crowd's accusation |
| Luke 23:15 | "I have examined him in your presence and have found no guilt in him..." | Pilate's reiterated judgment |
| Luke 23:20 | Again Pilate spoke to them, wanting to release Jesus. | Pilate's desire to release Jesus |
| Luke 23:22 | A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has this man done?" | Pilate's insistence |
| John 18:38 | Pilate asked, “What is truth?” Then he went back to the Jews... | Pilate's indecisiveness |
| John 19:4 | Pilate went outside again and said, "See, I bring him out to you so that you may know I find no guilt in him.” | Public declaration of innocence |
| John 19:10 | Pilate replied, “Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know I have power to release you and power to crucify you?” | Pilate's authority claimed |
| John 19:15 | "Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” they shouted. | Crowd's ultimate demand |
| Acts 4:27 | For truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, | Historical confirmation |
| Isaiah 53:5 | But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed. | Foreshadowing scourging |
| Psalm 22:14 | I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast. | Suffering of the righteous |
| Matthew 27:24 | So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” | Pilate washing hands |
| Mark 15:15 | So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them and after flogging Jesus, delivered him up to be crucified. | Mark's parallel account |
| John 19:16 | So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. Then they took Jesus. | John's parallel account |
| 1 Peter 2:24 | He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. | Spiritual significance of wounds |
| 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. | God's plan involved |
| Jeremiah 1:5 | "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations." | Divine foreknowledge |
| Proverbs 29:25 | The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is secure. | Pilate's fear of man |
Luke 23 verses
Luke 23 16 Meaning
This verse describes Pilate's action to placate the crowd by scourging Jesus and then handing him over to be crucified. The core meaning is the political and judicial act of handing Jesus over for execution, motivated by a desire to satisfy popular demand and avoid further unrest or accusation of disloyalty to Caesar.
Luke 23 16 Context
Luke 23:16 is situated within the narrative of Jesus' trial before Pontius Pilate. The chief priests and the Jewish leadership, unable to condemn Jesus themselves, bring him to Pilate with accusations of sedition and treason against Rome. Pilate, after questioning Jesus and finding no basis for these charges (Luke 23:4, 14-15), attempts to appease the crowd by offering to scourge Jesus and then release him (Luke 23:16). This is after he sends Jesus to Herod, who also finds nothing worthy of death (Luke 23:6-12), and brings Jesus back. The crowd, however, rejects this compromise and instead demands the release of Barabbas, a known criminal, and the crucifixion of Jesus (Luke 23:18-23). Pilate's action in verse 16 is a direct response to the escalating pressure from the crowd and the religious leaders.
Luke 23 16 Word Analysis
- Καὶ (Kai): And. A common conjunction, linking this action to the preceding events, highlighting the sequence of Pilate's decisions.
- Πιλάτος (Pilatos): Pilate. The Roman prefect of Judea. His name is given here to mark the judicial authority responsible for the execution.
- ἀπολύσας (apolysas): Having released/freed. This refers to Pilate's action of releasing someone, likely Barabbas as context from Mark and Matthew provides. It underscores the negotiation or alternative presented to the crowd.
- αὐτούς (autous): them. Referring to the crowd or the Jewish accusers, signifying the recipients of Pilate's action or concession.
- Ἰησοῦν (Iēsoun): Jesus. The object of Pilate's decision and the upcoming punishment.
- παραδοὺς (paradous): having delivered/handed over. This is a crucial word. It signifies the transfer of custody and authority. Jesus is handed over from Roman judicial authority to those who will carry out the crucifixion. This act demonstrates Pilate's abdication of his responsibility to justice.
- ἐσταυρώθη (estaurōthē): was crucified. The passive voice emphasizes that Jesus himself did not choose to be crucified; he was acted upon. The ultimate fate planned for him by his accusers and ultimately allowed by Pilate.
Words/Groups of Words Analysis:
- "Pilate therefore, having scourged Jesus...": This phrase emphasizes that the scourging was an act before handing Jesus over. Scourging was a brutal form of punishment, intended to mutilate and weaken, often preceding crucifixion. It was a severe physical torment.
- "...released them Jesus": The grammatical structure suggests Pilate's intention or offer was to release Jesus to them after he had been scourged. However, the crowd rejected this, wanting Barabbas instead. Luke’s phrasing can be understood in relation to what preceded, or as a prelude to his decision to deliver Jesus up to be crucified, as more explicitly stated by Mark (Mark 15:15). The core action is that after an attempted compromise (scourging, then release), the situation leads to Jesus being handed over.
- "...delivered him up that he should be crucified.": This is the culmination of Pilate's action. "Delivered him up" (paradous) signifies a formal transfer for execution. It confirms that Pilate's scourging was not an act of mercy or satisfaction but a step toward crucifixion. The crowd’s will overrides Pilate's perceived judgment of Jesus' innocence.
Luke 23 16 Bonus Section
The scourging Jesus received, prior to his crucifixion, was a severe beating with a Roman whip. This whip, known as a "flagellum," was often made of leather straps with pieces of bone or metal tied into them, designed to cause immense pain and bleeding. This brutal punishment inflicted deep lacerations, stripping the flesh from the bone, as often prophesied and referenced in Old Testament passages describing suffering. The physical torment would have been unbearable, weakening Jesus significantly before he even bore the cross. The Gospel accounts collectively paint a vivid picture of this suffering, which Isaiah 53:5 ("with his stripes we are healed") alludes to in a redemptive sense, indicating that this suffering was part of God's plan for humanity's healing.
Luke 23 16 Commentary
Pilate's decision here is a clear illustration of political expediency over justice. Despite acknowledging Jesus’ innocence, he opts for a public flogging as a concession to the mob's clamor. This barbaric punishment was not an end in itself but a means to quell dissent and maintain Roman order. The scourging was agonizing, designed to tear the flesh, reflecting the profound physical suffering Jesus endured for humanity. However, Pilate ultimately bows to the crowd’s insistence on crucifixion, thereby condemning an innocent man to satisfy human passion and fear of revolt. This act sets the stage for the ultimate sacrifice.
- Practical Usage: This demonstrates the danger of succumbing to popular pressure rather than standing by what is right and true. It also highlights that superficial punishment without addressing the root injustice is insufficient. True justice requires integrity and adherence to truth, even when unpopular.