Luke 23:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The innocent was sent to Herod and then redirected to Pilate. While neither ruler passes judgment, they succumb to the demands of an unusual cruelty. Despite Pilate washing his hands (Matthew 27:24), he cannot cleanse himself of the actions taken. A judge must not yield to jealousy or fear, for doing so could lead to the betrayal of the innocent's blood. Pilate's wife urged him (Matthew 27:19), and divine grace illuminated the darkness, revealing the presence of the Divine. Yet, he did not overturn the wicked sentence.

During the time Jesus Christ was in Herod's palace, crowds assembled continually outside Pilate's residence (Luke 23:13). Their purpose was not merely to observe the trial of the Galilean Prophet—of which His arrest was not yet common knowledge throughout the city—but rather to engage in voicing their support for the liberation of the imprisoned man.

The Sanhedrin approached Pilate after their encounter with Herod, yet Pilate realized that his cleverness had not aided him, leaving him in the same predicament as before. He grappled with the prideful Sanhedrin and pondered the issue of Jesus’ purity. He informed the Sanhedrin that based on his investigation conducted in their presence, Jesus Christ was found innocent, and Herod's judgment had also deemed Him undeserving of death. Pilate concluded that he should either punish Jesus and release Him. The Sanhedrin remained silent, and Pilate understood that this was far from their expectation. The internal conflict between his frailty and his conscience remained unresolved, prompting him to consider another strategy.

Seeing the determination of the chief priests, Pilate suggested that Jesus be released, adhering to the custom of freeing a prisoner during Passover. This would allow the ruling of the Sanhedrin to hold and spare the accused's life. However, to appease their animosity towards Jesus, Pilate had Him subjected to scourging. The crowd, influenced by the chief priests, shouted for Barabbas to be released instead of Jesus. Confused about how to proceed, Pilate received a message from his wife, who had experienced a troubling dream that strongly involved the Righteous One. She urged him not to condemn this just man, which Pilate recognized (Matt. 27:19). This plea swayed Pilate further towards releasing Jesus, as the idea of condemning an innocent One to death troubled even a Gentile. Yet, the chief priests intensified their pressure, accusing Jesus of inciting rebellion among the people and instructing them not to pay taxes to Caesar. They amplified their allegations by claiming Jesus brought this teaching from Galilee (Luke 23:2).

Incensed by their disappointment, the chief priests and various members of the Sanhedrin trailed Jesus to the Praetorium of Pilate.

From Herod's palace through the thoroughfares of the northern region of the Upper City, the Lord Jesus Christ makes His way once more to Pilate's Praetorium, with the gathering crowd around Him swelling even more during these passages. The Gospel narrative indicates that the procurator's court was a distinct structure, likely elevated, featuring a platform at its entrance made of stone, which the Evangelist describes as ‘a place called Lyphostroton, and in Hebrew Gabbatha’ Λιθόστροτον - a stone platform, גבעתא - a raised platform. To avoid ritual contamination, the Jews refrain from entering the Praetorium itself—this previously being quite routine—but instead remain at the entrance, likely in a spacious area before Gabbatha.

Gathering the chief priests, leaders, and the populace, Pilate sought not only the input of the Sanhedrin members who had brought charges against the Lord but also wished to hear the sentiments of the crowd. It is likely that a gathering of people had formed upon learning that a prominent prophet—Teacher—was on trial. The crowd may have swelled during the journey to Herod and back. Pilate may have been aware of the crowd's leanings towards the Lord and, by calling them to the trial alongside the rulers, hoped their opinions would provide a balance to the leaders' accusations. Before this assembled crowd, Pilate reiterated his belief in the innocence of the accused regarding the alleged crimes and supported his statement by referencing Herod, who similarly found no grounds for a death sentence.

Herod's viewpoint further reinforced Pilate's belief in Christ's righteousness. However, when he communicated this to the Sanhedrin, they insisted once more on Christ's execution. The indecisive Pilate lacked the resolve to oppose the Sanhedrin's unjust demand. He sought a solution that would appease both the Sanhedrin and himself while preserving Christ's life. Pilate intended to utilize the tradition of releasing one prisoner selected by the populace each year during the Passover festival. At that moment, a notorious criminal named Barabbas, who faced execution due to his numerous murders and incitements against Roman authority, was detained. When Pilate proposed the release of Jesus, the Sanhedrin members, along with the crowd they influenced, began to cry out: Not him, but Barabbas (John 18:40).