Luke 23:1
in Luke 23Then the whole council rose and led Jesus away to Pilate.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And the whole company of them rose up, and brought him before Pilate.
KJV
And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.
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This verse in Luke 23
Commentary
12 notes on this verseOur Lord is accused and is silent, for He needs no defence. Let them cast about for defence who fear to be conquered. He does not then confirm, the accusation by His silence, but He despises it by not refuting it. Why then should He fear who does not court safety? The Safety of all men forfeits His own, that He may gain that of all.
This site's exposition
the whole multitude of them arose
on Luke 23:1-2
The whole multitude of the Sanhedrin arose and led Jesus to Pilate, and their accusation is a study in translation from religious charge to political crime, for the council had condemned him for blasphemy but Rome does not try blasphemy. So they bring three counts before the governor: perverting the nation, forbidding tribute to Caesar, and claiming to be Christ a King. The bench notes the second charge is a flat lie, since Jesus had just told them to render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and the third twists messiahship into sedition.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
(de Con. Ev. lib. iii. c. 7.) Luke, after he had finished relating the denial of Peter, recapitulated all that took place concerning our Lord during the morning, mentioning some particulars which the others omitted; and so he has composed his narrative, giving a similar account with the rest, when he says, And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him to Pilate, &c.
For when He was brought before Pilate, they proceeded to urge Him with the serious charge , of declaring Himself to be Christ the King; that is, undoubtedly, as the Son of God, who was to sit at God's right hand.
A commentator
Ambrose of MilanEXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 10.97-98 · Written before 397.
proposed
There follows an admirable place, where the patience to bear moral harm is poured into the human breast. The Lord is accused, and he is silent: and he is right to be silent, who does not need to defend himself. Let those who fear to be conquered, roam around seeking to be defended. Therefore, he does not confirm the accusation by fearing it, but he despises it by not refuting it. For what would he fear, who does not seek salvation? He betrayed his own salvation for the salvation of all, that it may be acquired by all. And here Pilate absolves: but he absolves by judgment, he crucifies by mystery. But this is specific to Christ: the human aspect, that with unjust judges it seemed more a matter of unwillingness than inability to be defended. But why did the Lord remain silent? He himself gave the answer, saying: If I tell you, you will not believe me; if I ask you, you will not answer me. However, the most remarkable thing is that he preferred to prove himself as a king rather than to speak; so that those who accuse him could not have a reason to condemn him, as they confess what they object to.
The Medieval Church2 voices
That the word of Jesus might be fulfilled which He prophesied of His own death, He shall be delivered to the Gentiles, that is, to the Romans. For Pilate was a Roman, and the Romans had sent him as governor to Judæa.
And the whole multitude of them arose and led him unto Pilate. That the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he had predicted concerning his death: For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: …
5 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
First, therefore, as regards the wicked accusation, he says: And the whole multitude of them arose and led him to Pilate. The multitude came so that him whom they could not overcome by reason, they might at least conquer by numbers: Wisdom 4: "The manifold …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And the whole multitude of them,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
The whole multitude - It seems most probable that the chief priests, elders, scribes, and captains of the temple, together with their servants, dependents, and other persons hired for the purpose, made up the multitude mentioned here. The common people were generally favourers of Christ; and for this reason the Jewish rulers caused him to be apprehended in the night, and in the absence of the people, Luk 22:6, and it was now but just the break of day, Luk 22:66.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
proposed
Let us observe, for one thing, in this passage — what false accusations were laid to our Lord Jesus Christ's charge. We are told that the Jews accused Him of "subverting the nation, forbidding to give taxes to Caesar, and stirring up the people." In all this indictment, we know, there was not a word of truth. It was nothing but a devious attempt to enlist the Roman governor against our Lord. Lying and slander are two favorite weapons of the devil. He was a liar from the beginning, and is still the father of lies. (John 8:44.)
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
proposed
Let us observe, for one thing, in this passage — what false accusations were laid to our Lord Jesus Christ's charge. We are told that the Jews accused Him of "subverting the nation, forbidding to give taxes to Caesar, and stirring up the people." In all this indictment, we know, there was not a word of truth. It was nothing but a devious attempt to enlist the Roman governor against our Lord. Lying and slander are two favorite weapons of the devil. He was a liar from the beginning, and is still the father of lies. (John 8:44.) When he finds that he cannot stop God's work — his next device is to blacken the character of God's servants, and to destroy the value of their testimony. With this weapon, he assaulted David , "False witnesses," he says, "testify against me. They accuse me of crimes I know nothing about." With this weapon, he assaulted the prophets. Elijah was accused of being a "troubler of Israel!" Jeremiah was accused of undermining the nation, and being a traitor! With this weapon Satan assaulted the apostles . They were "pestilent fellows," and men who "turned the world upside down." With this weapon he assaulted our Lord all through His ministry. He stirred up his agents to call Him a glutton and a drunkard, a Samaritan and a devil! (Luke 7:34; John 8:48.) And here, in the verses before us, we find Satan plying his old weapon to the very last. Jesus is arraigned before Pilate upon charges which are utterly untrue. The servant of Christ must never be surprised if he has to drink of the same cup with his Lord. When He who was holy, harmless, and undefiled, was foully slandered — then who can expect to escape? "If they called the master of the house Beelzebub — then how much more will they call those of his household?" (Matthew 10:25.) Nothing is too evil to slander a saint with.
The words behind it
11 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἀναστὰν | anastan | having risen up | G450 → | 107 times |
| ἅπαν | hapan | all | G537 → | 33 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πλῆθος | plethos | multitude | G4128 → | 31 times |
| αὐτῶν | auton | of them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἤγαγον | egagon | they led | G71 → | 68 times |
| αὐτὸν | auton | Him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἐπὶ | epi | to | G1909 → | 883 times |
| τὸν | ton | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Πιλᾶτον.¶ | pilaton | Pilate. | G4091 → | 55 times |
ΚαὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἀναστὰνhaving risen up
anastanG450 →107 times
ἅπανall
hapanG537 →33 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
πλῆθοςmultitude
plethosG4128 →31 times
αὐτῶνof them
autonG846 →5565 times
ἤγαγονthey led
egagonG71 →68 times
αὐτὸνHim
autonG846 →5565 times
ἐπὶto
epiG1909 →883 times
τὸν<the>
tonG3588 →19766 times
Πιλᾶτον.¶Pilate.
pilatonG4091 →55 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
5 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Luke 22:66At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and scribes, met together. They led Jesus into their Sanhedrin and said,
it leads to
- Matthew 27:1
When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people conspired against Jesus to put Him to death.
- Mark 15:1
Early in the morning, the chief priests, elders, scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin devised a plan. They bound Jesus, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate.
- Acts 22:5
as the high priest and the whole Council can testify about me. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and I was on my way to apprehend these people and…
- Matthew 5:22
But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who…
- Acts 4:25–28
You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of Your servant, our father David: ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
- Matthew 27:1
Where this verse is studied
About Luke
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Gospels; Ambrose of Milan, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Ambrose of Milan, EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 10.97-98; Augustine of Hippo, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bede, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bede, On the Gospel of Luke; Bonaventure, Commentary on Luke, Chapter 23; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Tertullian, Against Marcion Book IV.