Luke 23 20

Luke 23:20 kjv

Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.

Luke 23:20 nkjv

Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them.

Luke 23:20 niv

Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again.

Luke 23:20 esv

Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus,

Luke 23:20 nlt

Pilate argued with them, because he wanted to release Jesus.

Luke 23 verses

Luke 23 20 Meaning

Luke 23:20 describes Roman Governor Pilate's renewed attempt to release Jesus, despite the vocal demands of the crowd and Jewish leaders for Jesus' crucifixion. This verse emphasizes Pilate's clear preference and continued effort to set Jesus free, demonstrating his assessment of Jesus' innocence and his personal struggle against the political pressure and the will of the agitated populace. His action of "addressing them again" highlights his persistent, though ultimately futile, effort to appeal to reason or a sense of justice in the multitude.

Luke 23 20 Context

Luke 23:20 is situated at a crucial juncture in Jesus' trial before Pilate. Prior to this verse, Jesus has been arrested, brought before the Sanhedrin (Lk 22:66-71), and then handed over to Pilate (Lk 23:1). Pilate's initial questioning found no fault in Jesus regarding the Jewish leaders' charges of subversion and treason (Lk 23:2-4). Pilate, learning Jesus was a Galilean, sent Him to Herod Antipas (Lk 23:6-7), hoping to delegate the responsibility. Herod, finding Jesus equally harmless, sent Him back (Lk 23:11-12). Upon Jesus' return, Pilate reassembled the chief priests, rulers, and the people, publicly declared Jesus innocent of any capital crime for the second time (Lk 23:13-15), and proposed chastising and releasing Him (Lk 23:16). This specific proposal was a compromise: a light punishment to satisfy the Jewish leaders' demands while avoiding an unjust death sentence. However, the crowd violently opposed this, shouting for Barabbas to be released instead and for Jesus to be crucified (Lk 23:18-19). Luke 23:20 then describes Pilate's subsequent, explicit re-engagement with the crowd, demonstrating his unwavering, albeit internally motivated, resolve to release Jesus again, immediately following the crowd's loud refusal. This sequence highlights the escalating tension and the relentless pressure placed upon Pilate by the masses, which ultimately led to his tragic capitulation.

Luke 23 20 Word analysis

• Pilate (Greek: Πιλᾶτος - Pilatos): Refers to Pontius Pilate, the fifth Roman Prefect (later called Procurator) of Judea. He represents the highest Roman authority in the region, endowed with the power of capital punishment. His name here underscores the historical reality of Jesus' trial under Roman oversight. Throughout the Gospel narratives, Pilate is depicted as a pragmatic, indecisive figure, caught between maintaining Roman peace (Pax Romana), upholding some semblance of justice, and yielding to political expediency. His repeated efforts to release Jesus emphasize the true injustice of the accusations.

• therefore (Greek: οὖν - oun): A connective particle indicating a logical sequence or continuation based on previous events. It signals that Pilate's action in this verse is a consequence of the preceding events—specifically, his finding no guilt in Jesus (v.14-15) and the crowd's initial rejection of his compromise (v.18-19). It marks a pivotal shift as Pilate escalates his efforts after their refusal.

• wishing (Greek: θέλων - thelōn): A present active participle of the verb thelō, meaning "to will, wish, desire, intend." This vividly describes Pilate's personal disposition and his ongoing, active inclination. It's not a momentary whim but a deliberate, internal resolve. This reveals his inner conflict; he wishes to do what is right by releasing an innocent man. It sets the stage for the dramatic confrontation.

• to release (Greek: ἀπολῦσαι - apolysai): An aorist infinitive of apolyō, meaning "to release, set free, send away." This specific action is Pilate's objective. In the context of the Passover custom (Lk 23:17), this was a legal means of demonstrating Roman clemency. His desire to release Jesus, rather than condemn him, is central to understanding his moral dilemma.

• Jesus (Greek: Ἰησοῦν - Iēsoun): The accusative form of Iēsous, the name of Christ, meaning "Yahweh is salvation." His presence as the object of Pilate's desire to release highlights his ultimate innocence. The entire drama unfolds around the fate of this one, righteous man.

• again (Greek: πάλιν - palin): An adverb indicating repetition or return. This word is crucial as it emphasizes that Pilate's attempt to release Jesus is not a first but a renewed effort. Luke 23:16 records Pilate's previous proposal, making this the second explicit attempt to persuade the crowd. This underscores Pilate's persistent but failing attempts to free Jesus against overwhelming popular demand, illustrating the relentless pressure he faced.

• addressed (Greek: προσεφώνησεν - prosephōnēsen): An aorist active indicative of prosphoneō, meaning "to call to, speak to, address formally or publicly." This word suggests Pilate raised his voice or made a public proclamation to the entire assembly, aiming to directly persuade them. It denotes a deliberate, official appeal in an effort to change their minds.

• them (Greek: αὐτοῖς - autois): The dative plural pronoun, referring to the "chief priests and rulers and the people" mentioned in Luke 23:13 and those who were clamoring in Luke 23:18. This indicates the audience of Pilate's appeal – the very individuals demanding Jesus' crucifixion. This directly pits Pilate's legal judgment against the mob's popular will.

Words-group analysis:

• "Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus again": This phrase reveals Pilate's internal state and ongoing determination. The "therefore" links it to his prior judgment of innocence. "Wishing" portrays his strong desire and consistent inclination. The "again" highlights the repetition of his efforts, showing his persistent refusal to immediately concede to the crowd's demands for execution, and signaling a heightened dramatic tension in the narrative as Pilate faces increasing opposition. This group of words sets the scene for a desperate attempt at justice against the will of the masses.

• "addressed them": This phrase emphasizes Pilate's direct, public, and deliberate act of communication with the volatile crowd. He is not passively observing but actively trying to negotiate or persuade, using his authoritative voice as a Roman governor. This points to the confrontational and high-stakes nature of the trial, where Pilate seeks to exert influence over an agitated populace rather than merely issuing a command.

Luke 23 20 Bonus section

• Pilate's actions here inadvertently set the stage for the fulfillment of Messianic prophecies, showing that Jesus would be delivered up not merely by Jewish leaders but by Roman Gentile authority as well (Acts 4:27-28).
• Pilate's moral cowardice and concern for political expediency over true justice serves as a stark warning. Despite recognizing Jesus' innocence, he eventually succumbs to the pressure, highlighting humanity's susceptibility to sin, compromise, and peer pressure, even when confronted with profound truth.
• This verse contributes to the portrayal of Jesus as the righteous suffering servant, patiently enduring injustice, rather than fighting against His captors. His silence and innocence contrast sharply with the frenzy of the crowd and Pilate's vacillation.

Luke 23 20 Commentary

Luke 23:20 is a powerful verse that lays bare the immense pressure bearing down on Pontius Pilate and underscores the clear innocence of Jesus. Having twice declared Jesus innocent and even having attempted a compromise (scourging and release), Pilate here makes another determined effort to save Jesus' life. The phrase "wishing to release Jesus again" signifies his consistent inner conviction regarding Jesus' blamelessness, even against the clamor for Barabbas. Pilate's act of "addressing them" highlights his active engagement with the hostile crowd, an attempt to reason with or placate them, demonstrating the escalating dramatic tension of the trial. Ultimately, this verse serves to highlight the grave injustice of Jesus' condemnation, showing that even the Roman authority recognized no legitimate grounds for His death, and was forced into it by an unwavering, politically motivated mob. It starkly contrasts human political maneuvering and weakness with divine innocence facing a pre-ordained yet unjustly administered fate.