Luke 23:1-5

Luke 23:1 (KJB)
And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.

Since they had now pronounced the verdict of death upon Jesus, they were not allowed to put anyone to death so what they did was they now brought Jesus to Pontius Pilate the governor. This was the same method of indictment used during the Middle ages when the Inquisition was going on. The Roman Catholic Institution could not put someone to death so what they did was get the local authorities involved and let them legally put some one to death. However, many true believers died in the torture chambers run by the Roman Catholics. So in the same way the Sanhedrin handed Jesus over to the civil authorities, the believers down through history were also handed over to the civil authorities, something Jesus had warned His disciples about. They knew that Pilate was a weak Governor and it would not take much for them to get their way.

Luke 23:2 (KJB)
And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.

They knew that Pilate would not accept a prisoner for execution just on their say so, so what they had to do was trump up charges against Him that would concern the Roman Empire. If they brought Jesus to Pilate and Pilate thought that He was a threat to them, then there would be no problem having Him executed. So what they did was make up a huge lie that Jesus told the people who He ministered to that they should not give tribute to Caesar. Of course, Jesus had said to render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s. He did not forbid tribute or the paying of taxes. Then they also accused Jesus of perverting the official teachings of Judaism which was the law plus their oral law. They wanted to show Pilate that He was twisting their Scriptures to gain a following. Then they accused Him of being Christ the King. Anyone who challenges the authority of the Emperor is put to death because that is considered insurrection. This way when He gained His following He could then claim that He was their King.

Luke 23:3 (KJB)
And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.

While there were no official charges against Jesus, one can conclue from the question which Pilate asked Jesus concerning whether He was King of the Jews. Anyone who claimed to be a king in an area occupied by Rome without Roman authority for that position can be considered a seditionist and be put to death. Emperor Tiberius had decreed that anyone who claims kingship rivals Caesar and must be executed. Many were executed during the last years of his reign on charges of “pretensions of power.” Pilate asks Jesus the question and Jesus responds in the same manner He responded to the High Priest, “Thou sayest.” This was a response of confirmation of what Pilate had asked. (John 18:36-37 KJV) Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. {37} Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. In John, we have the conversation which Jesus had with Pilate stating that His kingdom is not of this world or else His subjects would fight for Him and that He was indeed a King.

Luke 23:4 (KJB)
Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.

Pilate then said to the chief priests that he found no fault in Jesus. There was nothing in Him that would be a threat to Rome. As far as Pilate was concerned, Jesus was just another preacher who was innocent. There would be no reason for any type of punishment, especially execution. Pilate had thought that Jesus should be set free.

Luke 23:5 (KJB)
And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.

They had tried to enforce their false accusation that Jesus was promoting some type of sedition in all the places where He had ministered, from the northern part of Israel in Galilee all the way down to Jerusalem. They wanted Pilate to believe that Jesus was stirring up the people, that is, to excite the people in a move against Rome in the entire nation of Israel. They wanted to get Jesus on a charge of sedition so He would be executed but so far they had failed miserably.

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