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In this lesson:
Jesus stands before Pontius Pilate and King Herod. Barabbas is released. Study Tip: Make yourself a better person, apply Biblical lessons to your life. |
Jesus stands before Pontius Pilate.
By an unknown Catholic artist |
What was a scourging -
To be scourged was to be stripped to the waist, tied to a post and flogged with a whip (flagellant). Roman whips were made of several leather straps that forked out into several tips. The tip of each strap was embedded with a piece of sharp bone or jagged metal designed to dig into the flesh. Careless spectators who got to close were spattered with blood, and often the victim's bones and internal organs were exposed as the whipping tore away pieces of flesh and muscle. Roman
scourging's were so brutal and prolonged; many victims died before they could be crucified. Neither of the two thieves crucified with Jesus was scourged, and both survived longer on the cross. Additional note: Isaiah 50:6 and 53:5
prophesied Jesus' scourging seven hundred years earlier.
To be scourged was to be stripped to the waist, tied to a post and flogged with a whip (flagellant). Roman whips were made of several leather straps that forked out into several tips. The tip of each strap was embedded with a piece of sharp bone or jagged metal designed to dig into the flesh. Careless spectators who got to close were spattered with blood, and often the victim's bones and internal organs were exposed as the whipping tore away pieces of flesh and muscle. Roman
scourging's were so brutal and prolonged; many victims died before they could be crucified. Neither of the two thieves crucified with Jesus was scourged, and both survived longer on the cross. Additional note: Isaiah 50:6 and 53:5
prophesied Jesus' scourging seven hundred years earlier.
The Gospel According to St. Luke
The King James Bible
The King James Bible
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Luke 23:1-25
Death sentence 1 And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate. 2 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. 3 And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it. 4 Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man. 5 And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place. 6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean. 7 And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time. 8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. 9 Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. 10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. 11 And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate. 12 And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves. 13 And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14 Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: 15 No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. 16 I will therefore chastise him, and release him. 17 (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.) 18 And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas: 19 (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.) 20 Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. 21 But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. 22 And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. 23 And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. 24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. 25 And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will. |
Margin notes:
"Pilate." (23:1) - Pontius Pilate was the fifth governor of Judea, who ruled from 26 AD to 36 AD. Pilate had already served for six years before Jesus stood before him. His cruelty (Luke 13:1) had already forced his superiors to rebuke him once. Another complaint from the Jewish population could jeopardize his political future. "We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute." (23:2) - "We found this man subverting the nation, telling people not to pay taxes." This is a lie meant to turn Pilate against Jesus. In fact, the religious leaders tried without success to trick Jesus into speaking out against paying taxes (Luke 20:22-26). "Art thou the King of the Jews?" (23:3) - "Are you the Jews Messiah?" "Thou sayest it." (23:3) - A colloquial saying meaning, "yes." "Throughout all Jewry." (23:5) - "Throughout all Judea." "Herod's jurisdiction." (23:7) - Herod Antipas, the son of King Herod the Great (who tried to kill Jesus as an infant) ruled over Perea and Galilee, half of his father's former empire. "He was desirous to see him of a long season." (23:8) - Means, "He wanted to meet Jesus for a long time" (Luke 9:9). "He had heard many things of him." (23:8) - As documented in Matthew 14:1. "Men of war set him at nought." (23:11) - "The soldiers (guarding Jesus) ridiculed him." "Arrayed him in a gorgeous robe." (23:11) - "Dressed him in a gorgeous robe." "One that perverteth the people." (23:14) - "One that turns the people against Rome." "Nothing worthy of death Is done unto him." (23:15) - "He hasn't done anything worthy of the death penalty." "I will therefore chastise him, and release him." (23:16) - "I will scourge him and release Him." "He must release one unto them at the feast." (23:17) - As a sign of goodwill, the Romans usually released a prisoner during the Passover holiday (John 18:39). This year, Pilate gave the people a choice between releasing Barabbas or Jesus. "Barabbas." (23:18) - A well-known thief (Matthew 27:16; John 18:40) and murderer (23:19) arrested for taking part in an insurrection against Rome (Mark 15:7). In a few hours, Jesus will be punished instead of Barabbas', and us. Also, see "Today's Question" below. "Sedition." (23:19) - "Insurrection." "Crucify him." (23:21) - "Crucifixion was the most painful and disgraceful form of execution the Romans employed" ("The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville Tennessee; Pg. 1330). "I will therefore chastise him, and let him go." (23:22) - Pilate knew Jesus was innocent (23:4; 23:14-15) and was "determined to let him go" (Acts 3:13). |
Matthew 27:15-26 (lesson 59) and Mark 15:6-15 (lesson 97) verify the story of Barabbas.
New Living Translation
Luke 23:1-25
Jesus' Trial before Pilate
1 Then the entire council took Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor.
2 They began to state their case: "This man has been leading our people astray by telling them not to pay their taxes to the Roman government and by claiming he is the Messiah, a king."
3 So Pilate asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"
Jesus replied, "You have said it."
4 Pilate turned to the leading priests and to the crowd and said, "I find nothing wrong with this man!"
5 Then they became insistent. "But he is causing riots by his teaching wherever he goes-all over Judea, from Galilee to Jerusalem!"
6 "Oh, is he a Galilean?" Pilate asked.
7 When they said that he was, Pilate sent him to Herod Antipas, because Galilee was under Herod's jurisdiction, and Herod happened to be in Jerusalem at the time.
8 Herod was delighted at the opportunity to see Jesus, because he had heard about him and had been hoping for a long time to see him perform a miracle.
9 He asked Jesus question after question, but Jesus refused to answer.
10 Meanwhile, the leading priests and the teachers of religious law stood there shouting their accusations.
11 Then Herod and his soldiers began mocking and ridiculing Jesus. Finally, they put a royal robe on him and sent him back to Pilate.
12 (Herod and Pilate, who had been enemies before, became friends that day.)
13 Then Pilate called together the leading priests and other religious leaders, along with the people,
14 and he announced his verdict. "You brought this man to me, accusing him of leading a revolt. I have examined him thoroughly on this point in your presence and find him innocent.
15 Herod came to the same conclusion and sent him back to us. Nothing this man has done calls for the death penalty.
16 So I will have him flogged, and then I will release him."
Since not all the original Greek manuscripts include verse 17, the "New Living Translation" leaves it out.
18 Then a mighty roar rose from the crowd, and with one voice they shouted, "Kill him, and release Barabbas to us!"
19 (Barabbas was in prison for taking part in an insurrection in Jerusalem against the government, and for murder.)
20 Pilate argued with them, because he wanted to release Jesus.
21 But they kept shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"
22 For the third time he demanded, "Why? What crime has he committed? I have found no reason to sentence him to death. So I will have him flogged, and then I will release him."
23 But the mob shouted louder and louder, demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their voices prevailed.
24 So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded.
25 As they had requested, he released Barabbas, the man in prison for insurrection and murder. But he turned Jesus over to them to do as they wished.
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Jesus' Trial before Pilate
1 Then the entire council took Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor.
2 They began to state their case: "This man has been leading our people astray by telling them not to pay their taxes to the Roman government and by claiming he is the Messiah, a king."
3 So Pilate asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"
Jesus replied, "You have said it."
4 Pilate turned to the leading priests and to the crowd and said, "I find nothing wrong with this man!"
5 Then they became insistent. "But he is causing riots by his teaching wherever he goes-all over Judea, from Galilee to Jerusalem!"
6 "Oh, is he a Galilean?" Pilate asked.
7 When they said that he was, Pilate sent him to Herod Antipas, because Galilee was under Herod's jurisdiction, and Herod happened to be in Jerusalem at the time.
8 Herod was delighted at the opportunity to see Jesus, because he had heard about him and had been hoping for a long time to see him perform a miracle.
9 He asked Jesus question after question, but Jesus refused to answer.
10 Meanwhile, the leading priests and the teachers of religious law stood there shouting their accusations.
11 Then Herod and his soldiers began mocking and ridiculing Jesus. Finally, they put a royal robe on him and sent him back to Pilate.
12 (Herod and Pilate, who had been enemies before, became friends that day.)
13 Then Pilate called together the leading priests and other religious leaders, along with the people,
14 and he announced his verdict. "You brought this man to me, accusing him of leading a revolt. I have examined him thoroughly on this point in your presence and find him innocent.
15 Herod came to the same conclusion and sent him back to us. Nothing this man has done calls for the death penalty.
16 So I will have him flogged, and then I will release him."
Since not all the original Greek manuscripts include verse 17, the "New Living Translation" leaves it out.
18 Then a mighty roar rose from the crowd, and with one voice they shouted, "Kill him, and release Barabbas to us!"
19 (Barabbas was in prison for taking part in an insurrection in Jerusalem against the government, and for murder.)
20 Pilate argued with them, because he wanted to release Jesus.
21 But they kept shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"
22 For the third time he demanded, "Why? What crime has he committed? I have found no reason to sentence him to death. So I will have him flogged, and then I will release him."
23 But the mob shouted louder and louder, demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their voices prevailed.
24 So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded.
25 As they had requested, he released Barabbas, the man in prison for insurrection and murder. But he turned Jesus over to them to do as they wished.
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Key verses from this passage
"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." (23:2)
"Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man." (23:4)
"I will therefore chastise him, and release him." (23:16)
"And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas." (23:18)
"And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will." (23:23-25)
"Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man." (23:4)
"I will therefore chastise him, and release him." (23:16)
"And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas." (23:18)
"And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will." (23:23-25)
Today's Question:
1. What was the significance of Barabbas' release? (23:18)
"The Bible will keep you from sin, and sin will keep you from the Bible." by Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899)
1. What was the significance of Barabbas' release? (23:18)
"The Bible will keep you from sin, and sin will keep you from the Bible." by Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899)
Answer: (Do you agree?)
1. Jesus, innocent of any crime, was put to death while Barabbas, guilty of many crimes, including murder (Mark 15:7), was released. Just as Jesus suffered and died in place of the guilty Barabbas, He suffered and died for guilty mankind. Barabbas was freed by Pilate; we were freed by Jesus.
Additional note: Ironically, the name Barabbas means "son of Abba" or "son of the father," a name more fitting for Jesus.
Application thought for the day:
"Say nothing today that you would not like to be saying when Jesus comes." Oliver B. Greene (1915-1976)
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Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; "The Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies"; "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible". All were critical in putting these lessons together.
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© 2026 evolke