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.
LUKE 23:22KJVWhat does Luke 23:22 mean?
Luke 23:22 shows Pilate, the Roman governor, telling the crowd for the third time that he finds no reason to sentence Jesus to death and instead proposes to punish Jesus and then release him. Pilate is questioning what wrong Jesus has done and insists there is no valid charge deserving execution.
In this scene, Pilate is speaking directly to the people demanding Jesus’ crucifixion. He is trying to reason with them, pointing out that he has found no evil (serious wrongdoing) in Jesus. Pilate offers to "chastise" (meaning to punish or whip) Jesus as a compromise, hoping this will satisfy the crowd and allow him to let Jesus go free.
The Greek behind Luke 23:22
- κακόν (kakon, G2556) — This word means "evil" or "wrong." Pilate is asking what actual wrongdoing Jesus has committed, highlighting that no real crime has been found.
- θάνατος (thanatos, G2288) — This means "death." Pilate is saying he has found no cause or reason for a death sentence in Jesus’ actions.
- παιδεύσω (paideusō, G3811) — This means "to chastise" or "to punish." Pilate is not declaring Jesus innocent but is offering a lesser punishment, hoping to appease the crowd without resorting to execution.
Why Luke 23:22 matters
- Luke 23:22 clarifies that Pilate did not see Jesus as deserving death, which highlights the injustice of what is about to happen.
- The verse shows Pilate’s repeated attempts to avoid condemning Jesus, underlining the pressure he faced from the crowd and religious leaders.
- This moment connects to the larger narrative of Jesus’ trial, showing the tension between Roman authority and the demands of the people, and sets up the events leading to the crucifixion.