What does Luke 23:13 mean?
This is the second of three trials Jesus faces before Pilate. In the first, the chief priests, scribes, and elders brought Jesus to Pilate, charging Him with agitating and misleading the people, keeping them from paying taxes, and claiming He was a king. Pilate quickly determined that Jesus is innocent (Luke 23:1–4).When Pilate found out Jesus is from Galilee, he sent Him to Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, who happened to be in Jerusalem. Antipas had wanted to see Jesus but found himself disappointed when Jesus refused to perform any miracles or even defend Himself against the Jewish leaders' vehement accusations. Antipas mocked Jesus and sent Him back to Pilate (Luke 23:6–12).
Pilate again explains to the Sanhedrin that Jesus is innocent: he knows it and Antipas knows it. Jesus has not committed a capital offense; He does not deserve death. To appease them, Pilate offers to flog Jesus and then let Him go (Luke 23:14–16).
The representatives of the Jewish people reject Pilate's offer. The "chief priests" have a particular amount of political power. The Mosaic law talks about chief priests and describes the role of the high priest. However, at this time, the high priest was appointed by the Roman governor, meaning the "chief priests" and high priest were not an accurate reflection of the priestly role as prescribed in the Mosaic law. That brought a level of political stability to the region but invited corruption as well. The "rulers" are non-priest leaders including scribes and elders: experts in the Law and prominent businessmen. These three categories of men make up the Sanhedrin, although not everyone in the Sanhedrin wants Jesus to die (Luke 23:50–51).
The "people" are a crowd that the chief priests and elders have persuaded to their side. The leaders convince the crowd to demand that Pilate release a murderer and crucify Jesus (Matthew 27:20). They have done what they accused Jesus of doing: stirred up a crowd that threatens Pilate's ability to keep the peace.
