Read the Passage: Luke 23:1–25

Listen to the Redeemed Mind Podcast: Luke 23:1-25

First Roman Trial (23:1–7)

After Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, he was tried six different times in the early hours and morning on Friday of the Passion Week. Although Luke does not give specific details about each of Christ’s religious trials, Jesus had been tried by Annas, Caiaphas, and the Sanhedrin (cf. Luke 22:54–71). As could be expected from the religious leaders, each of these trials resulted in a guilty verdict. After the Sanhedrin found Christ worthy of death for claiming to be the Son of God (cf. Luke 22:70), Luke 23:1 reports, “The whole multitude of them arose and led Him to Pilate.” While this may lead to the conclusion that the decision to condemn Jesus was unanimous, we later learn that at least one man, Joseph of Arimathea, “Had not consented to their decision and deed” (Luke 23:51). The reason the Jews brought Jesus to Pilate was that they lacked the authority to kill Him (John 18:31).

The members of the Sanhedrin presented two charges against Jesus before Pilate. First, they accused Him of forbidding people to pay taxes to Caesar. This was an outright lie that was designed to incite Pilate against Christ. Observe that in Luke 20:19–26 the religious leaders had specifically asked Jesus about paying taxes, and Christ endorsed (and even commanded) the payment of taxes to Caesar. It seems that Pilate may have been aware of the leaders’ duplicity here, as he did not question Jesus about this matter. Second, the Sanhedrin accused Christ of claiming to be a King. This obviously was an attempt to paint Jesus as a usurper to Rome. This did lead Pilate to question Christ about His identity at Luke 23:3. In his Gospel John gives more details about the dialog between Pilate and Jesus (cf. John 18:33–38). Having interrogated Christ, Pilate concluded that Jesus was innocent.

Second Roman Trial (23:8–12)

The Sanhedrin’s presentation of Jesus to Pilate was a political dilemma, for while Pilate realized that Jesus was innocent (cf. Luke 23:4), and he knew that the religious leaders had delivered Him out of jealousy (cf. Matt. 27:18), nevertheless Pilate surely could sense the agitated state of the leaders and the crowd. Therefore, when Pilate was informed that Christ was a Galilean, he seized upon the opportunity to send Jesus to Herod. For his part, Herod was “exceedingly glad” (Luke 23:8) to meet Jesus, as he desired to see Christ perform a miracle. Observe that only Luke reports Jesus’ trial before Herod. Next, when Herod questioned Christ, “Jesus answered him nothing” (Luke 23:9). Given that Herod had executed John the Baptist rather than listening to him (cf. Mark 6:14–29; Luke 9:7–9), Jesus’ knew that speaking truth to Herod was futile (cf. Prov. 23:9; Matt. 7:6; 15:14).

Third Roman Trial (23:13–25)

The third and perhaps most important trial of Jesus is recorded at Luke 23:13–25. Since Christ would not speak with Herod, Jesus was “treated . . . with contempt and mocked” (Luke 23:11) by both Herod and his soldiers, before being sent back to Pilate. This led to Jesus’ third Roman trial, which was His second time appearing before Pilate. Pilate had already declared Christ to be innocent (cf. Luke 23:4). Here, yet again, Pilate publicly said, “I have found no faulty in this Man . . . [and] neither did Herod” (Luke 23:14–15). Since the Jews had a tradition of Rome freeing a prisoner during Passover, at Luke 23:16 Pilate declared his intent to release Jesus. Yet, rather than receiving Christ, the religious leaders induced the crowds to ask for Barabbas to be freed. This request was significant, for Barabbas was both a thief (cf. John 18:40) and a murderer (cf. Luke 23:19).

Perhaps more than the other Gospel writers, Luke presents Pilate in a slightly favorable light, as Luke emphasizes that Pilate “wished to release Jesus” (Luke 23:20) and records that Pilate tried to do so on at least three occasions. Observe that Luke omits the narrative of Pilate’s wife warning him not to condemn Christ (cf. Matt. 27:19), as well as the account of Pilate publicly washing his hands (cf. Matt. 27:24). In the end, Pilate agreed to the religious leaders’ request to crucify Jesus, for Pilate feared for his own position (cf. John 19:12), he perceived that a riot was on the verge of breaking out (cf. Matt. 27:24), and he wanted to gratify the angry crowd (cf. Mark 15:15). Furthermore, as they had requested, Pilate released Barabbas. Indeed, the middle cross that Jesus would occupy was likely meant for Barabbas, and the two thieves who were crucified with Christ were probably Barabbas’ companions.

Application Questions:

1. What factors contributed to Jesus undergoing six different trials—three being religious in nature and three being civil?
2. Is it surprising that only one man among the seventy members of the Sanhedrin—that is, Joseph of Arimathea—dissented from the majority?
3. How can Christians discern when it is right to speak truth to others, and when it is better to keep silent?
4. Why was Pilate unmoved by the charges that the members of the Sanhedrin leveled against Jesus?
5. How can we guard ourselves so we are not manipulated by others, as Pilate was, to commit sin?