Bible Strands
Matthew 27:23
“Why?” asked Pilate. “What evil has He done?” But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Pilate addresses the assembled crowd during a judicial hearing, pressing for a legal justification to release Jesus. The crowd responds by intensifying their demand for crucifixion.
The words — The governor asks, “τί (ti) γὰρ (gar) κακὸν (kakon) ἐποίησεν (epoiēsen)?” translating literally to “For what evil did He commit?” This construction establishes a direct inquiry into the absence of criminal conduct.
The thread — The narrative pattern of baseless escalation appears in Genesis 37:18, Acts 7:57, and Acts 23:12. Each passage records a group mobilizing violence against a figure despite lacking legitimate accusation.
Why it lands — The text records a judicial authority acknowledging innocence while the crowd actively rejects it. It requires the reader to confront the mechanism of collective rejection operating independently of factual evidence.
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
And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.
Cross-references
- Genesis 37:18 Now Joseph’s brothers saw him in the distance, and before he arrived, they plotted to kill him.
- Acts 7:57 At this they covered their ears, cried out in a loud voice, and rushed together at him.
- Acts 23:12 When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
- Acts 17:5 The Jews, however, became jealous. So they brought in some troublemakers from the marketplace, formed a mob, and sent the city into an uproar. They raided Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas, hoping to bring them out to the people.
- Acts 22:22 The crowd listened to Paul until he made this statement. Then they lifted up their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He is not fit to live!”
- Acts 23:10 The dispute grew so violent that the commander was afraid they would tear Paul to pieces. He ordered the soldiers to go down and remove him by force and bring him into the barracks.
- 1 Samuel 19:3 I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, so I can ask about you. And if I find out anything, I will tell you.”
- 1 Samuel 20:31 For as long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Now send for him and bring him to me, for he must surely die!”
- Matthew 21:38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and take his inheritance.’
- 1 Samuel 22:14 Ahimelech answered the king, “Who among all your servants is as faithful as David, the king’s son-in-law, the captain of your bodyguard and honored in your house?