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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Luke 23:2 - 23:2
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Began to accuse (ērxanto katēgorein). They went at it and kept it up. Luke mentions three, but neither of them includes their real reason nor do they mention their own condemnation of Jesus. They had indulged their hatred in doing it, but they no longer have the power of life and death. Hence they say nothing to Pilate of that.
We found (heuramen). Second aorist active indicative with first aorist vowel a. Probably they mean that they had caught Jesus in the act of doing these things (in flagrante delicto) rather than discovery by formal trial.
Perverting our nation (diastrephonta to ethnos hēmōn). Present active participle of diastrephō, old verb to turn this way and that, distort, disturb. In the N.T. only here and Act 13:10. The Sanhedrin imply that the great popularity of Jesus was seditious.
Forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, (kōluonta phorous kaisari didonai). Note object infinitive didonai after the participle kōluonta. Literally, hindering giving tribute to Caesar. This was a flat untruth. Their bright young students had tried desperately to get Jesus to say this very thing, but they had failed utterly (Luk 20:25).
Saying that he himself is Christ a king (legonta hauton Christon basilea einai). Note the indirect discourse here after the participle legonta with the accusative (hauton where auton could have been used), and the infinitive. This charge is true, but not in the sense meant by them. Jesus did claim to be the Christ and the king of the kingdom of God. But the Sanhedrin wanted Pilate to think that he set himself up as a rival to Caesar. Pilate would understand little from the word “Christ,” but “King” was a different matter. He was compelled to take notice of this charge else he himself would be accused to Caesar of winking at such a claim by Jesus.