There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

LUKE 13:1KJV
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Luke 13:1 (KJV)

What does Luke 13:1 mean?

Luke 13:1 describes a moment when some people told Jesus about Galileans who had been killed by Pilate while they were offering sacrifices. The verse highlights a recent, violent event involving Pilate’s actions against certain Galileans during a religious act.

This scene takes place as Jesus is teaching, and people bring up this tragedy to him, possibly expecting his comment or judgment. The mention of Pilate mixing the Galileans’ blood with their sacrifices points to a shocking and sacrilegious act, which would have been deeply disturbing to Jewish listeners. This sets the stage for Jesus to address questions about suffering, sin, and divine justice in the verses that follow.

The Greek behind Luke 13:1

  • "mingled" (ἔμιξεν, emixen): This Greek word means to mix or blend together. Here, it emphasizes the horror of the event—Pilate’s soldiers killed the Galileans so that their blood was mixed with the blood of their animal sacrifices, a shocking violation of sacred worship.
  • "sacrifices" (θυσίαις, thysiais): This word refers specifically to offerings made to God in the temple. The detail shows that the victims were engaged in a holy act, making the violence even more offensive to Jewish sensibilities.
  • "Galilaeans" (Γαλιλαίων, Galilaiōn): This term identifies the victims as people from Galilee, a region often looked down on by Judean Jews and sometimes associated with political unrest. Mentioning their origin may hint at why Pilate targeted them.

Why Luke 13:1 matters

  • Luke 13:1 provides historical context for Jesus’ teaching on suffering and judgment, showing that people in his audience were wrestling with real tragedies and looking for meaning.
  • The verse highlights the brutality of Roman rule under Pilate and the vulnerability of ordinary worshippers, which would have resonated with Luke’s original readers.
  • By introducing this event, Luke sets up Jesus’ response in the following verses, where he challenges common assumptions about sin, guilt, and divine punishment.

Where else these words appear

“mingled” Greek G3396 · used in 4 verses

  • Matthew 27:34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.
  • Revelation 8:7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
  • Revelation 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

“Galilaeans” Greek G1057 · used in 10 verses

  • Matthew 26:69 Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.
  • Luke 22:59 And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.
  • Acts 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

“present” Greek G3918 · used in 22 verses

  • Matthew 26:50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
  • Acts 24:19 Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me.
  • Galatians 4:18 But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.

“sacrifices” Greek G2378 · used in 29 verses

  • Matthew 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
  • Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
  • Hebrews 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.