Luke 23:22

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G1161} he said {G2036} unto {G4314} them {G846} the third time {G5154}, Why {G1063}, what {G5101} evil {G2556} hath {G4160} he {G3778} done {G4160}? I have found {G2147} no {G3762} cause {G158} of death {G2288} in {G1722} him {G846}: I will {G3811} therefore {G3767} chastise {G3811} him {G846}, and let him go {G630}.

Complete Jewish Bible

A third time he asked them, “But what has this man done wrong? I haven’t found any reason to put him to death. So I’m going to have him flogged and set free.”

Berean Standard Bible

A third time he said to them, “What evil has this man done? I have found in Him no offense worthy of death. So after I punish Him, I will release Him.”

American Standard Version

And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath this man done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him and release him.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 23:22 records Pontius Pilate's third public declaration of Jesus' innocence, a desperate attempt to release Him despite the escalating demands of the Jewish crowd for His crucifixion. This pivotal moment reveals Pilate's internal conflict between upholding justice and succumbing to political pressure, as he proposes a compromise of scourging Jesus before releasing Him, hoping to appease the volatile mob.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the dramatic narrative of Jesus' trial before Pontius Pilate, immediately following the crowd's vehement shouts for Jesus' crucifixion (Luke 23:21). It marks the climax of Pilate's repeated attempts to exonerate Jesus, having previously declared, "I find no fault in this man" (Luke 23:4), and reiterating his finding of "no cause of death in him" after sending Jesus to Herod and receiving Him back (Luke 23:14). Pilate's offer to "chastise him, and let him go" is a desperate political maneuver, an attempt to find a middle ground between justice and mob rule, highlighting the immense pressure he faced from the chief priests and the people. The subsequent verses will show the crowd's unwavering insistence, ultimately leading to Pilate's capitulation and the release of Barabbas instead.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Pontius Pilate, as the Roman prefect of Judea, held ultimate judicial and executive authority, responsible for maintaining Roman order and collecting taxes. His primary concern was civil unrest, especially during the Passover festival, which drew large, fervent crowds to Jerusalem and was a known flashpoint for nationalist sentiment. The Jewish leaders, particularly the chief priests and scribes, sought Jesus' death, but lacked the authority to execute capital punishment under Roman rule, hence their bringing Jesus to Pilate. Scourging (Latin: *flagellum*) was a brutal Roman punishment, often a prelude to crucifixion, designed to inflict extreme pain and public humiliation. Pilate's proposal to scourge Jesus, despite declaring Him innocent, was a common Roman tactic to placate an angry crowd or extract confessions, demonstrating his willingness to compromise justice for political expediency and fear of a riot or report to Rome.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Luke's Gospel and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores **Jesus' Undeniable Innocence**, a theme consistently highlighted by Pilate's multiple declarations, emphasizing that Jesus' condemnation was entirely unjust and without legal basis. This judicial verdict is crucial for understanding Jesus as the spotless Lamb of God, a perfect sacrifice. Secondly, it exposes **Pilate's Moral Weakness and Political Expediency**, as he prioritizes maintaining Roman order and his own position over upholding truth and justice. His compromise to "chastise him, and let him go" (Luke 23:22) reveals a tragic failure of leadership. Finally, the scene vividly portrays the **Spiritual Blindness and Hostility of the Crowd and Jewish Leaders**, who, despite clear evidence of Jesus' innocence, are manipulated by their leaders and persist in demanding His death, choosing a murderer (Barabbas) over the Messiah, as recounted in [Luke 23:18-19](/luke/23-18-19 "Luke 23:18-19 - The Crowd Demands Barabbas"). This rejection of the light is a recurring motif throughout Jesus' ministry, culminating in this climactic moment.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **evil (Greek, _kakós'_):** This term denotes something intrinsically worthless, depraved, or objectively injurious. In this context, Pilate is asserting that Jesus has done nothing inherently bad or harmful that would warrant a capital charge. His actions or teachings, from a Roman legal perspective, did not constitute a crime deserving of death.
* **cause (Greek, _aítion'_):** Referring to a reason or a crime, this word emphasizes the legal basis for a charge. Pilate explicitly states he has found no *aítion* (cause or fault) for death in Jesus, meaning there is no legal ground or criminal act committed by Jesus that would justify the death penalty under Roman law. This reinforces Jesus' judicial innocence.
* **chastise (Greek, _paideúō'_):** While this word can broadly mean to train, educate, or discipline a child, in this specific context of a Roman trial, it refers to corporal punishment, specifically a severe flogging or scourging. Pilate's intent was to inflict a painful, humiliating physical beating upon Jesus, hoping this lesser punishment would satisfy the crowd's bloodlust and allow him to release Jesus, thus avoiding further unrest.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he said unto them the third time,"**: This opening clause highlights Pilate's persistent and repeated attempts to persuade the crowd. The "third time" emphasizes his reluctance to condemn Jesus and the increasing pressure he was under, underscoring his conviction of Jesus' innocence.
* **"Why, what evil hath he done?"**: This rhetorical question is a desperate appeal from Pilate, challenging the crowd to provide any legitimate reason for their demand. It underscores the absence of any real wrongdoing on Jesus' part, further emphasizing the injustice of the situation.
* **"I have found no cause of death in him:"**: This is Pilate's explicit legal verdict. He, as the presiding Roman authority, has thoroughly investigated the charges and found no capital offense that would warrant the death penalty according to Roman law. This declaration serves as a powerful testament to Jesus' judicial innocence.
* **"I will therefore chastise him, and let [him] go."**: This final clause reveals Pilate's compromise. Despite finding no cause for death, he proposes a severe physical punishment (scourging) as a concession to the mob, hoping that this lesser act of cruelty will appease them and allow him to release Jesus, thereby avoiding a full-blown riot or political repercussions from Rome.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. **Repetition** is evident in Pilate's multiple declarations of Jesus' innocence (this being the "third time"), which serves to underscore the profound injustice of the situation and the clear absence of any legitimate charge against Jesus. This repetition also highlights Pilate's internal struggle and his desperate attempts to avoid condemning an innocent man. **Irony** is powerfully present, as the Roman governor, representing the law, declares Jesus innocent, while the religious leaders and the very people who should have recognized their Messiah demand His execution. The truly innocent is condemned by those who claim righteousness. Furthermore, Pilate's proposal to "chastise him" functions as a form of **Foreshadowing**, hinting at the physical suffering Jesus will endure, a prelude to the ultimate act of crucifixion, even as Pilate intends it as a means of release.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 23:22 is a profound theological statement on the nature of divine justice and human sin. Pilate's repeated declarations of Jesus' innocence underscore the absolute blamelessness of the Son of God, a critical theological truth that validates His perfect sacrifice. The fact that the highest earthly authority finds no fault in Him highlights that His death was not a consequence of His own sin, but a deliberate act of atonement for the sins of humanity. This scene vividly portrays the depths of human depravity and spiritual blindness, where truth is rejected, justice is perverted, and an innocent life is sacrificed for political expediency and mob rule. It foreshadows the ultimate triumph of God's sovereign plan, where even human injustice serves to fulfill divine prophecy and bring about salvation.

* [Isaiah 53:9](/isaiah/53-9 "Isaiah 53:9 - He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.")
* [Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus was tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.")
* [1 Peter 2:22](/1_peter/2-22 "1 Peter 2:22 - He committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in his mouth.")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This verse serves as a powerful reminder that truth and justice are not always upheld in human systems, and that societal pressure can often override moral conviction. Pilate's tragic compromise, despite knowing Jesus' innocence, challenges us to examine our own willingness to stand for what is right, even when it is unpopular or costly. In a world where truth is often relative and convictions are easily swayed by public opinion or personal convenience, the unwavering innocence of Jesus stands as a beacon. For believers, this passage reinforces the foundational truth of Jesus' sinless nature, which was absolutely essential for Him to be the perfect, unblemished sacrifice for our sins. It calls us to resist the temptation to compromise our faith or values under pressure, and to instead courageously uphold biblical truth, even when it means standing against the tide of popular opinion.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Pilate's repeated declaration of Jesus' innocence challenge my understanding of Jesus' sacrifice?**
* **In what areas of my life might I be tempted to compromise truth or justice for the sake of convenience, popularity, or fear of conflict?**
* **What does this passage reveal about the nature of human depravity and the importance of spiritual discernment?**

### FAQ
**Why did Pilate offer to chastise Jesus if he found no fault in Him?**

Answer: Pilate's offer to "chastise him, and let him go" was a desperate political maneuver. As the Roman governor, his primary concern was maintaining order and avoiding civil unrest, especially during the volatile Passover festival. He had repeatedly declared Jesus innocent of any capital crime (e.g., [Luke 23:4](/luke/23-4 "Luke 23:4 - Pilate finds no fault in Jesus") and [Luke 23:14](/luke/23-14 "Luke 23:14 - Pilate's second declaration of innocence")). However, faced with an increasingly agitated crowd instigated by the Jewish leaders, who were demanding Jesus' crucifixion, Pilate sought a compromise. Scourging was a severe flogging, a common Roman punishment often inflicted before crucifixion, intended to inflict extreme pain and humiliation. Pilate hoped that this lesser, but still brutal, punishment would appease the crowd's bloodlust and allow him to release Jesus, thereby avoiding a riot and protecting his own political standing with Rome. It was a tragic act of injustice, prioritizing political expediency over righteous judgment.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Pilate's repeated declaration of Jesus' innocence in Luke 23:22, despite his subsequent compromise, profoundly underscores the Christ-centered fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. The Roman governor's judicial verdict serves as an authoritative, secular confirmation that Jesus was truly "without sin" ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus was tempted yet without sin")), the unblemished Lamb of God required for the perfect sacrifice. His death was not a consequence of His own wrongdoing, but a voluntary act of substitutionary atonement for humanity's sin. Pilate's attempt to "chastise him, and let him go" inadvertently foreshadows the physical suffering Jesus would endure as part of His atoning work, yet it also highlights the divine irony that the truly innocent One would bear the punishment for the guilty. Jesus' blamelessness, affirmed by Pilate, is foundational to His role as the righteous Savior, whose blood cleanses us from all sin ([1 John 1:7](/1_john/1-7 "1 John 1:7 - The blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin")). His unjust condemnation and subsequent suffering, though orchestrated by human hands, were part of God's sovereign plan to reconcile humanity to Himself, fulfilling ancient prophecies of a suffering servant who would bear the iniquity of us all ([Isaiah 53:5-6](/isaiah/53-5-6 "Isaiah 53:5-6 - The Suffering Servant")). Thus, Pilate's declaration, even in its failure to secure Jesus' release, serves to magnify the perfect righteousness of Christ, essential for our salvation and His ultimate triumph over sin and death ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God demonstrates his love for us")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Luke 23:14

Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined [him] before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:

Luke 23:20

Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.

1 Peter 3:18

¶ For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

Luke 23:16

I will therefore chastise him, and release [him].

1 Peter 1:19

But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: