Luke 23:5

And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.

And {G1161} they were the more fierce {G2001}, saying {G3004}{G3754}, He stirreth up {G383} the people {G2992}, teaching {G1321} throughout {G2596} all {G3650} Jewry {G2449}, beginning {G756} from {G575} Galilee {G1056} to {G2193} this place {G5602}.

But they persisted. “He is inciting the people with his teaching throughout all Y’hudah — he started in the Galil, and now he’s here!”

But they kept insisting, “He stirs up the people all over Judea with His teaching. He began in Galilee and has come all the way here.”

But they were the more urgent, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Judæa, and beginning from Galilee even unto this place.

Luke 23:5 vividly captures the escalating tension during Jesus' trial before Pontius Pilate. Despite Pilate's initial assessment that Jesus was innocent of any capital crime, the Jewish leaders intensified their accusations, shifting from religious charges to politically charged allegations of sedition.

Context

This verse follows Pilate's declaration in Luke 23:4 that he found no fault in Jesus. The chief priests and scribes, desperate to secure a condemnation, respond with increased vehemence. They needed to frame Jesus' actions as a threat to Roman authority, knowing that religious blasphemy would not be a concern for the Roman governor. Their accusation of "stirring up the people" across "all Jewry" was designed to paint Jesus as a dangerous revolutionary, leveraging the volatile political climate of the region.

Key Themes

  • Unjust Accusation and Slander: The core of the accusation—that Jesus was inciting rebellion—was a deliberate distortion of His peaceful teachings about the Kingdom of God. Jesus' ministry was spiritual, not political, as He Himself stated that His kingdom was not of this world.
  • Escalating Opposition: The phrase "they were the more fierce" highlights the relentless and growing determination of Jesus' accusers. Their increasing hostility demonstrates their commitment to seeing Him condemned, regardless of the truth.
  • The Scope of Jesus' Ministry: The mention of Jesus "teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place" accurately reflects the widespread impact of His ministry. What was a testament to His reach and influence was twisted into evidence of seditious activity. Galilee, in particular, was known for its potential for nationalist unrest, making the accusation more potent to Pilate.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated "fierce" is ischyroteros, meaning "stronger" or "more powerful," indicating their increased vehemence and determination. "Stirreth up" comes from anasei, which means "to shake up," "to excite," or "to incite to revolt," directly pointing to the charge of sedition against Roman rule. These terms underscore the deliberate and forceful nature of the accusations.

Related Scriptures

The accusations here contrast sharply with Jesus' actual teachings, which focused on repentance and the good news of the Kingdom, as seen in His early ministry in Galilee. This verse also sets the stage for the crowd's eventual cry for crucifixion, which Pilate ultimately yielded to, as recorded in Luke 23:21.

Practical Application

Luke 23:5 serves as a powerful reminder that truth often faces fierce opposition, especially when it challenges established powers or popular opinion. It illustrates how good intentions and beneficial work can be twisted into malicious accusations. For believers, it encourages perseverance in living out one's faith, even when facing slander or unjust criticism, drawing strength from Christ's example of enduring false accusations with grace and truth.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • John 2:11

    This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

  • John 1:43

    ¶ The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.

  • Mark 1:14

    ¶ Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

  • Matthew 4:23

    ¶ And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

  • Acts 23:10

    And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring [him] into the castle.

  • Luke 4:14

    ¶ And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.

  • Luke 4:15

    And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.

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