Luke 23:6 kjv
When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.
Luke 23:6 nkjv
When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean.
Luke 23:6 niv
On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean.
Luke 23:6 esv
When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean.
Luke 23:6 nlt
"Oh, is he a Galilean?" Pilate asked.
Luke 23 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lk 23:1 | Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. | Jewish leaders brought Jesus to Pilate. |
| Lk 23:2 | And they began to accuse him, saying, "We found this man misleading...king." | The charges against Jesus to Pilate. |
| Lk 23:4 | Pilate then said to the chief priests... "I find no guilt in this man." | Pilate's initial assessment of Jesus' innocence. |
| Lk 23:5 | But they were urgent, saying, "He stirs up the people... from Galilee..." | The specific detail Pilate heard. |
| Lk 23:7 | When he learned that Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him... | Pilate acts on the jurisdictional info. |
| Lk 23:8-12 | When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad... But Herod and his soldiers... | Jesus' appearance before Herod Antipas. |
| Lk 3:1 | ...Herod, being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch... | Confirms Herod Antipas's rule over Galilee. |
| Mk 15:1 | As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation... | Jesus brought to Pilate early morning. |
| Jn 18:28 | Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the praetorium... | Jesus led to Pilate's headquarters. |
| Jn 18:33 | So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus... | Pilate's questioning of Jesus. |
| Acts 4:27 | for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy child | Herod and Pilate acted together against Jesus. |
| Mt 2:22 | But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his... | Example of jurisdictional awareness. |
| Mt 26:69 | Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant girl... | Jesus' followers identified as Galilean. |
| Mt 27:2 | And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate. | Jesus' arrest and delivery to Pilate. |
| Mk 14:70 | But he denied it again. And a little later, those who stood by said again | Galilean accent used to identify a follower. |
| Jn 7:41 | Others said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "Is the Christ to come..." | Dispute over Jesus' origin (Galilee vs. Bethlehem). |
| Jn 7:52 | They answered him, "Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet... | Judeans' disdain for prophets from Galilee. |
| Acts 1:11 | and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven?..." | Disciples are identified as Galileans. |
| Amos 7:12-17 | Amaziah said to Amos, "O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah... | An example of trying to move a prophet's ministry out of a jurisdiction. |
| 1 Pet 2:13-14 | Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to the.. | Highlights authority and submission in rulers. |
| Rom 13:1 | Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no... | God-ordained authority of governing bodies. |
Luke 23 verses
Luke 23 6 Meaning
Luke 23:6 describes Roman Governor Pilate's reaction upon learning of Jesus' connection to Galilee. Pilate's question reveals his immediate intention to determine jurisdiction. He sought to discover if Jesus belonged to the region governed by Herod Antipas, a political maneuver to potentially pass the case onto Herod and avoid rendering a difficult verdict himself.
Luke 23 6 Context
Luke chapter 23 begins with Jesus being brought before Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, by the Jewish leaders. They accuse Jesus of sedition, forbidding tribute to Caesar, and claiming kingship. Despite Pilate's initial finding of "no guilt" (Luke 23:4), the crowd intensifies its accusations, specifically mentioning that Jesus stirred up the people throughout Judea, "beginning from Galilee to this place" (Luke 23:5). This crucial mention of Galilee prompts Pilate's strategic inquiry in verse 6, opening a pathway to deflect the case. Historically, Galilee was governed by Herod Antipas, a tetrarch under Roman authority, while Judea was directly under Pilate's control.
Luke 23 6 Word analysis
- When Pilate heard: This signifies an immediate mental shift for Pilate. The information acted as a trigger for a specific legal strategy. The source of his hearing was the continued vehement accusations of the chief priests and scribes (Lk 23:5).
- of Galilee: Greek: Galilaia (Γαλιλαία). This refers to the region, north of Judea, where Jesus primarily ministered. It was a region within the tetrarchy of Herod Antipas (Luke 3:1). Pilate immediately associated "Galilee" with its specific ruler and jurisdiction. This was crucial for him politically and judicially.
- he asked: Pilate is taking initiative. His question is not born of curiosity but a strategic legal and political assessment. He seeks confirmation for a pre-conceived idea.
- whether the man: The term "the man" is somewhat impersonal, reflecting a legal setting where the accused is often referred to objectively. It is not a title of honor or respect, but rather a descriptor for the prisoner before him.
- were a Galilean: A geographical and jurisdictional identifier. Being a Galilean meant one typically fell under the rule of Herod Antipas, especially for major legal cases. This detail offered Pilate an escape route from judging Jesus.
Luke 23 6 Bonus section
- Passing the Buck: Pilate's action exemplifies the human tendency to "pass the buck" or avoid responsibility, particularly when faced with uncomfortable decisions. This is a common theme throughout human history where leaders try to shift accountability.
- Divine Providence: Although driven by human weakness and political expediency, Pilate's decision to send Jesus to Herod ironically fulfilled divine prophecy, drawing more rulers into the narrative of Christ's Passion (e.g., Ps 2:2, Acts 4:27-28). The hatred against Jesus unified disparate powers.
- Roman Judicial Protocol: While passing jurisdiction might seem like an evasion, it was not entirely outside Roman legal conventions for cases involving individuals from different provinces or territories under a different, though subordinate, ruler.
- Herod Antipas's Curiosity: Herod, known for his curiosity about Jesus (Luke 9:7-9) and for previously executing John the Baptist, welcomed this unexpected transfer, hoping to see a miracle performed by Jesus (Luke 23:8). This highlights another dimension of worldly power interacting with divine authority.
Luke 23 6 Commentary
Luke 23:6 is a short but profoundly significant verse, revealing the intricate political dynamics at play during Jesus' trial. Pilate, having declared Jesus innocent of the charges of sedition (Luke 23:4), finds himself under immense pressure from the insistent Jewish crowd. The mention of Galilee, therefore, is not a mere detail; it is a lifeline for Pilate. By establishing Jesus' origin as Galilean, Pilate swiftly identifies an opportunity to shunt the responsibility of judging Jesus onto Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee. This avoids a potentially volatile political confrontation with the Jewish leaders and populace, and prevents him from having to condemn a man he himself had deemed guiltless. It is an example of an earthly ruler seeking to divest himself of responsibility and judgment. This maneuver ultimately leads to the dramatic encounter between Jesus and Herod (Luke 23:7-12) and highlights the complex, interconnected layers of authority in Roman-occupied Judea.