The Jewish Sanhedrin, hastily summoned at the hour of dawn, having elicited from Jesus the profession of His messiahship and deity, and having concluded on the death sentence, set themselves to induce Pilate, the Roman governor, to concur in their verdict. In order to do this, they urged that Jesus imperiled the Roman supremacy.
Pilate was accustomed to deal with men, and after careful examination, was satisfied that there was no ground for the death sentence. I find no fault. As God's Paschal Lamb, the Savior was searched to discover if there were spot, or blemish, or anything that could invalidate His claim to sinlessness. Only the sinless could save sinners. In his heart Pilate knew that our Lord should be acquitted, but his fear of the Jews deflected the verdict of his conscience. By sending the case to Herod, he hoped to get the right thing done, without incurring the odium incident to doing it. [source]
Chapter Summary: Luke 23
1Jesus is accused before Pilate, and sent to Herod 8Herod mocks him 12Herod and Pilate become friends 13Barabbas is desired of the people, 24and is released by Pilate, and Jesus is given to be crucified 26He tells the women, that lament him, the destruction of Jerusalem; 34prays for his enemies 39Two criminals are crucified with him 46His death 50His burial
Greek Commentary for Luke 23:9
He questioned [επηρωτα] Imperfect active, kept on questioning. [source]
In many words [εν λογοις ικανοις] Same use of ικανος hikanos as in Luke 23:8. [source]
John 19:9Whence art thou? [ποτεν ει συ] Pilate knew that Jesus was from Galilee (Luke 23:6.). He is really alarmed. See a like question by the Jews in John 8:25. Gave him no answer See same idiom in John 1:22. Αποκρισις Apokrisis (old word from αποκρινομαι apokrinomai) occurs also in Luke 2:47; Luke 20:26. The silence of Jesus, like that before Caiaphas (Mark 14:61; Matthew 26:63) and Herod (Luke 23:9), irritates the dignity of Pilate in spite of his fears. [source]
What do the individual words in Luke 23:9 mean?
He kept questioningthenHiminwordsmanyHehowevernothingansweredhim
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἐπερωτάω
Sense: to accost one with an enquiry, put a question to, enquiry of, ask, interrogate.
Greek Commentary for Luke 23:9
Imperfect active, kept on questioning. [source]
Same use of ικανος hikanos as in Luke 23:8. [source]
Compare long, Luke 23:8. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 23:9
Pilate knew that Jesus was from Galilee (Luke 23:6.). He is really alarmed. See a like question by the Jews in John 8:25. Gave him no answer See same idiom in John 1:22. Αποκρισις Apokrisis (old word from αποκρινομαι apokrinomai) occurs also in Luke 2:47; Luke 20:26. The silence of Jesus, like that before Caiaphas (Mark 14:61; Matthew 26:63) and Herod (Luke 23:9), irritates the dignity of Pilate in spite of his fears. [source]