Discovery BoxLuke 23:2 
Context23:2 They 1 began to accuse 2 him, saying, “We found this man subverting 3 our nation, forbidding 4 us to pay the tribute tax 5 to Caesar 6 and claiming that he himself is Christ, 7 a king.”
Luke 23:5
Context23:5 But they persisted 8 in saying, “He incites 9 the people by teaching throughout all Judea. It started in Galilee and ended up here!” 10
Luke 23:19
Context23:19 (This 11 was a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection 12 started in the city, and for murder.) 13
Luke 23:25
Context23:25 He released the man they asked for, who had been thrown in prison for insurrection and murder. But he handed Jesus over 14 to their will. 15
1 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
2 sn They began to accuse him. There were three charges: (1) disturbing Jewish peace; (2) fomenting rebellion through advocating not paying taxes (a lie – 20:20-26); and (3) claiming to be a political threat to Rome, by claiming to be a king, an allusion to Jesus’ messianic claims. The second and third charges were a direct challenge to Roman authority. Pilate would be forced to do something about them.
3 tn On the use of the term διαστρέφω (diastrefw) here, see L&N 31.71 and 88.264.
sn Subverting our nation was a summary charge, as Jesus “subverted” the nation by making false claims of a political nature, as the next two detailed charges show.
4 tn Grk “and forbidding.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated to suggest to the English reader that this and the following charge are specifics, while the previous charge was a summary one. See the note on the word “misleading” earlier in this verse.
5 tn This was a “poll tax.” L&N 57.182 states this was “a payment made by the people of one nation to another, with the implication that this is a symbol of submission and dependence – ‘tribute tax.’”
6 tn Or “to the emperor” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).
7 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”
sn See the note on Christ in 2:11.
8 tn Or “were adamant.” For “persisted in saying,” see L&N 68.71.
9 sn He incites the people. The Jewish leadership claimed that Jesus was a political threat and had to be stopped. By reiterating this charge of stirring up rebellion, they pressured Pilate to act, or be accused of overlooking political threats to Rome.
10 tn Grk “beginning from Galilee until here.”
11 tn Grk “who” (a continuation of the previous sentence).
12 sn Ironically, what Jesus was alleged to have done, started an insurrection, this man really did.
13 sn This is a parenthetical note by the author.
14 tn Or “delivered up.”
15 sn He handed Jesus over to their will. Here is where Luke places the major blame for Jesus’ death. It lies with the Jewish nation, especially the leadership, though in Acts 4:24-27 he will bring in the opposition of Herod, Pilate, and all people.
