Luke 23:4

23:4 Then 1  Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation 2  against this man.”

Luke 23:14-16

23:14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading 3  the people. When I examined him before you, I 4  did not find this man guilty 5  of anything you accused him of doing. 23:15 Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, he has done nothing 6  deserving death. 7  23:16 I will therefore have him flogged 8  and release him.”

1 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

2 tn Grk “find no cause.”

sn Pilate’s statement “I find no reason for an accusation” is the first of several remarks in Luke 23 that Jesus is innocent or of efforts to release him (vv. 13, 14, 15, 16, 20, 22).

3 tn This term also appears in v. 2.

4 tn Grk “behold, I” A transitional use of ἰδού (idou) has not been translated here.

5 tn Grk “nothing did I find in this man by way of cause.” The reference to “nothing” is emphatic.

6 sn With the statement “he has done nothing,” Pilate makes another claim that Jesus is innocent of any crime worthy of death.

7 tn Grk “nothing deserving death has been done by him.” The passive construction has been translated as an active one in keeping with contemporary English style.

8 tn Or “scourged” (BDAG 749 s.v. παιδεύω 2.b.γ). This refers to a whipping Pilate ordered in an attempt to convince Jesus not to disturb the peace. It has been translated “flogged” to distinguish it from the more severe verberatio.