Luke 23:22

22 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.

Luke 23:22 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 23:22

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.

Luke 23:22 In-Context

20 And Pilate again said to them that it was his desire to let Jesus go free.

21 But crying out they said, To the cross with him

22 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.

23 But they went on crying out loudly, Let him be put to death on the cross. And they had their way.

24 And Pilate gave his decision for their desire to be put into effect.