Bible Strands
Luke 23:16
Therefore I will punish Him and release Him.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Pilate speaks to the chief priests, officials, and crowd during the trial proceedings, immediately after Herod has returned Jesus to him and declared Him innocent of capital crimes.
The words — The verse centers on παιδεύσας (paideusas), meaning "having chastised," and ἀπολύσω (apolusō), meaning "I will release." These terms outline Pilate’s stated intention to administer a flogging before setting Jesus free.
The thread — This declared intention aligns with the recorded outcome in Matthew 27:26 and Mark 15:15, where Pilate flogs Jesus and releases Barabbas. It directly precedes Luke 23:22, where Pilate repeats his finding of no guilt deserving death.
Why it lands — The text records how a declared finding of innocence is overridden by a political compromise to satisfy a crowd. It requires the reader to note that institutional pressure, not judicial evidence, determines the immediate outcome.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
I will therefore chastise him, and release him.
Cross-references
- Matthew 27:26 So Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.
- Luke 23:22 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.”
- Mark 15:15 And wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.
- Isaiah 53:5 But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.
- John 19:1 Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him flogged.
- Acts 5:40 At this, they yielded to Gamaliel. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them.
- Acts 16:37 But Paul said to the officers, “They beat us publicly without a trial and threw us into prison, even though we are Roman citizens. And now do they want to send us away secretly? Absolutely not! Let them come themselves and escort us out!”