Big Idea: The Roman governor, under pressure from the Jewish leaders and crowd, reluctantly condemns Jesus to death.

Understanding the Text

In 18:32–33 Jesus predicted that he would be handed over to “the Gentiles” for execution, and that prediction also now comes true. Hitherto, the whole move against Jesus has come from the Jewish leaders and has taken place within Jewish circles, but now the political reality demands that, in order to have Jesus executed, they must involve the Roman governor. But while the governor is clearly in formal charge in this section, it is the Jewish leaders who are orchestrating things. Note their presence and initiative at each stage of the subsequent proceedings (23:1–2, 5, 10, 13); thereafter we hear of “the crowd” or a less specific “they,” but Luke clea…