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Friday, August 29th, 2025
the Week of Proper 16 / Ordinary 21
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Read the Bible

English Standard Version

Luke 23:22

A third time he said to them, "Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him."

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Barabbas;   Complicity;   Demagogism;   Jesus, the Christ;   Opinion, Public;   Politics;   Priest;   Thompson Chain Reference - Pilate, Pontius;   Pontius Pilate;  

Dictionaries:

- Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Exhortation;   Humiliation of Christ;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Crucifixion;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Cross;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Capital Punishment;   Jesus, Life and Ministry of;   Luke, Gospel of;   Pilate, Pontius;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Barabbas;   Crucifixion;   Gospels, Apocryphal;   Pilate;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Barabbas ;   Chastisement;   Discipline (2);   Manuscripts;   Numbers (2);   Punishment (2);   Scourge, Scourging;   Trial of Jesus;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Jesus of Nazareth;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Fault;   Jesus Christ, the Arrest and Trial of;   Pilate, Pontius;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Barabbas;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
A third time he said to them, “Why? What has this man done wrong? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore, I will have him whipped and then release him.”
King James Version (1611)
And hee said vnto them the third time, Why, what euill hath he done? I haue found no cause of death in him, I will therefore chastise him, & let him goe.
King James Version
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.
New American Standard Bible
And he said to them a third time, "Why, what has this Man done wrong? I have found in His case no grounds for a sentence of death; therefore I will punish Him and release Him."
New Century Version
A third time Pilate said to them, "Why? What wrong has he done? I can find no reason to kill him. So I will have him punished and set him free."
Amplified Bible
A third time he said to them, "Why, what wrong has He done? I have found no guilt [no crime, no offense] in Him demanding death; therefore I will punish Him [to teach Him a lesson] and release Him."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
And he said to them the third time, "Why, what evil has this man done? I have found in Him no guilt demanding death; therefore I will punish Him and release Him."
Legacy Standard Bible
And he said to them a third time, "Why, what evil has this man done? I have found in Him no guilt worthy of death; therefore I will punish Him and release Him."
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."
Contemporary English Version
Pilate spoke to them a third time, "But what crime has he done? I have not found him guilty of anything for which he should be put to death. I will have him beaten with a whip and set free."
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."
Darby Translation
And he said the third time to them, What evil then has this [man] done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will chastise him therefore and release him.
Easy-to-Read Version
A third time Pilate said to the people, "Why? What wrong has he done? He is not guilty. I can find no reason to kill him. So I will let him go free after I punish him a little."
Geneva Bible (1587)
And he sayd vnto them the third time, But what euill hath he done? I finde no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him loose.
George Lamsa Translation
And he said to them the third time, What evil has he done? I have found nothing in him, worthy of death; I will therefore chastise him, and release him.
Good News Translation
Pilate said to them the third time, "But what crime has he committed? I cannot find anything he has done to deserve death! I will have him whipped and set him free."
Lexham English Bible
So he said to them a third time, "Why? What wrong has this man done? I found no basis for an accusation deserving death in him. Therefore I will punish him and release him."
Literal Translation
And a third time he said to them, For what evil did this One do? I found no cause of death in Him. Therefore, chastising 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.
Bible in Basic English
And he said to them a third time, Why, what evil has he done? I see no reason for putting him to death: I will give him punishment and let him go.
Hebrew Names Version
He said to them the third time, "Why? What evil has this man done? I have found no capital crime in him. I will therefore chastise him and release him."
International Standard Version
Then he spoke to them a third time: "What has he done wrong? I have found nothing in him worthy of death. So I will punish him and let him go."
Etheridge Translation
He the third time also said to them, Why, what evil hath this done? Cause whatever that is worthy of death, I find not in him: I will therefore chastise him, and dismiss him.
Murdock Translation
And he said to them the third time: But, what evil hath he done? I find no crime in him deserving of death. I will scourge him, therefore, and release him.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
He sayde vnto them the thirde tyme: What euyll hath he done? I finde no cause of death in hym, I wyll therefore chasten hym, and let hym go.
English Revised 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.
World English Bible
He said to them the third time, "Why? What evil has this man done? I have found no capital crime in him. I will therefore chastise him and release him."
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise and release him.
Weymouth's New Testament
A third time he appealed to them: "Why, what crime has the man committed? I have discovered in him nothing that deserves death. I will therefore give him a light punishment and release him."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And the thridde tyme he seide to hem, For what yuel hath this don? Y fynde no cause of deeth in hym; therfor Y schal chastise hym, and Y schal delyuer.
Update Bible Version
And he said to them the third time, Why, what evil has this man done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him and release him.
Webster's Bible Translation
And he said to 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.
New English Translation
A third time he said to them, "Why? What wrong has he done? I have found him guilty of no crime deserving death. I will therefore flog him and release him."
New King James Version
Then he said to them the third time, "Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go."
New Living Translation
For the third time he demanded, "Why? What crime has he committed? I have found no reason to sentence him to death. So I will have him flogged, and then I will release him."
New Life Bible
Pilate said to them the third time, "Why, what bad thing has He done? I have found no reason to put Him to death. I will punish Him and let Him go free."
New Revised Standard
A third time he said to them, "Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, he, the third time, said unto them - Why! what base thing hath this man done? Nothing worthy of death, found I in him. Chastising him, then, I will release him!
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he said to them the third time: Why, what evil hath this man done? I find no cause of death in him. I will chastise him therefore and let him go.
Revised Standard Version
A third time he said to them, "Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no crime deserving death; I will therefore chastise him and release him."
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
He sayde vnto them the thyrde tyme. What evyll hath he done? I fynde no cause of deeth in him. I will therfore chasten him and let him lowse.
Young's Literal Translation
And he a third time said unto them, `Why, what evil did he? no cause of death did I find in him; having chastised him, then, I will release [him].'
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Yet sayde he vnto them, the thirde tyme: What euell the hath he done? I fynde no cause of death in hi, therfore wil I chasten him, and let him go.
Mace New Testament (1729)
however he urg'd it a third time, why, what crime has he done? I don't find he has done any thing that deserves death: I will therefore order him to be whipp'd, and so dismiss him.
THE MESSAGE
He tried a third time. "But for what crime? I've found nothing in him deserving death. I'm going to warn him to watch his step and let him go."
Simplified Cowboy Version
For the third time, Pilate appealed to them, "What for? Look at him! He has done nothing. I will have him whipped, but then I'm releasing him."

Contextual Overview

13 Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. 15 Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. 16 I will therefore punish and release him." But they all cried out together, "Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas"— a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, "Crucify, crucify him!" A third time he said to them, "Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him." But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will. And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. But turning to them Jesus said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!' Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,' and to the hills, ‘Cover us.' For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?" Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews." One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise." It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, "Certainly this man was innocent!" And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things. Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment. 17Jesus Before Pilate Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, "We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king." And Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" And he answered him, "You have said so." Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, "I find no guilt in this man." But they were urgent, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place." When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other. Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. I will therefore punish and release him." 18 But they all cried out together, "Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas"— 19 a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. 20 Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, 21 but they kept shouting, "Crucify, crucify him!" 22 A third time he said to them, "Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Why: Luke 23:14, Luke 23:20, 1 Peter 1:19, 1 Peter 3:18

I will: Luke 23:16

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 20:32 - what hath Matthew 27:4 - the innocent Acts 23:9 - We Hebrews 7:26 - holy

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And he said unto them the third time,.... After Christ had been sent back to him from Herod; for he had declared before he had sent him to him, that he found no fault in him, John 18:38.

Why, what evil hath he done? what capital crime has he committed? is he guilty of murder? or sedition? or blasphemy? or robbery, and theft? or any other enormous a crime?

I have found no cause of death in him; why he should be put to death at all; and much less to this shameful and painful death of the cross, which was the punishment of slaves, and of the vilest of men, which they were desirous of:

I will therefore chastise him, and let him go; this he said, not as if he was determined to do it, whether they liked it, or not; but as signifying what he willed, or chose, and hoped they would be contented with, that he should be scourged, or beaten, and dismissed, as he at first proposed.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See the notes at Matthew 27:20-23.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Luke 23:22. I have found no cause of death in himI find no crime worthy of death in him. There is nothing proved against him that can at all justify me in putting him to death, So here our blessed Lord was in the most formal manner justified by his judge. Now as this decision was publicly known, and perhaps registered, it is evident that Christ died as an innocent person, and not as a malefactor. On the fullest conviction of his innocence, his judge pronounced him guiltless, after having patiently heard every thing that the inventive malice of these wicked men could allege against him; and, when he wished to dismiss him, a violent mob took and murdered him.


 
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