Luke 23:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate.

NIV: Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate.

NASB: Then the entire assembly of them set out and brought Him before Pilate.

CSB: Then their whole assembly rose up and brought him before Pilate.

NLT: Then the entire council took Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor.

KJV: And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.

NKJV: Then the whole multitude of them arose and led Him to Pilate.

It is early Passover morning. The night prior, members of the Sanhedrin had held three different trials. They've been scrambling to find someone who could testify that Jesus is guilty of a capital offense (Luke 22:63–71; Mark 14:53–65).

Their situation is delicate. They need Jesus to be guilty of the Mosaic law so they can justify continuing their investigation. But even if they find legal justification to execute Him, they can't get their own hands dirty. If they overtly kill Jesus, the people who listen to His teaching and benefit from His miracles will rise against them (Luke 22:2). So, they also need Jesus to be guilty of a capital offense according to Roman law. That way, Pilate will be responsible for His death.

The trials the night before were fishing expeditions to find the right charges. Unfortunately for the Sanhedrin, few of the witnesses gave actionable testimony and none of them agreed. Eventually, as if to aid their efforts, Jesus affirmed that He is the Messiah and will receive power and authority from God (Matthew 26:63–64). This is what the Sanhedrin needs: they believe His statements blaspheme God and threaten the emperor.

The language used to identify the members of the group gets a little confusing. Here, the text says, "the whole company." The next verse (Luke 23:2) says, "And they began to accuse him." The truth is, there is at least one member of the Sanhedrin—Joseph of Arimathea—who "had not consented to their decision and action" (Luke 23:51). It may be that Joseph knows he is in a dangerous position and skips these meetings.

Luke 23:1–5 records how the Jewish religious leaders take Jesus to Pilate after questioning Him for most of the night (Luke 22:54–71). The Sanhedrin tries to convince Pilate that Jesus is a threat to the empire because He claims to be king. Their accusations include half-truths and outright lies, but Pilate does not find Jesus guilty. When Pilate discovers Jesus is from Galilee, he sends Him to Herod Antipas who happens to be in town for the Passover. Matthew 27:11–14 and Mark 15:1–5 record much of the same information; John 18:28–38 includes a conversation Pilate has with Jesus.

Luke 23 records the remaining trials, death, and burial of Jesus Christ. He is examined by the Roman governor and the local appointed King, neither of whom are interested in passing a death sentence. Local religious leaders incite the crowd, pressuring the governor, Pilate, to authorize crucifixion. Jesus accepts the faith of another condemned man and dies. Joseph of Arimathea asks for Jesus body and buries it in a tomb cut from rock.

Luke 23 records Jesus' civil trials, crucifixion, and burial. The members of the Sanhedrin have put Jesus through three trials in their attempt to convince Pilate He's a threat (Luke 22:47–71). Their case is weak, but their political influence is powerful enough to force Pilate's hand. Jesus is executed. Three days after Joseph of Arimathea buries Jesus, Jesus reappears on the road to Emmaus where He explains Messianic prophecies in Jewish Scriptures. After spending time with His followers, Jesus ascends into heaven (Luke 24) and the disciples build the church (Acts).

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.