Luke 23:6

6 And Pilate having heard of Galilee, questioned if the man is a Galilean,

Luke 23:6 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 23:6

When Pilate heard of Galilee
"The name of Galilee", as the Syriac and Persic versions read when that was mentioned, he asked;
the Ethiopic version says, the "Galilaeans"; some of which might be present, being come to the feast of the passover, and were very proper persons to inquire of: whether the man were a Galilean;
so Jesus was reputed to be: for though he was born at Bethlehem of Judah, he was brought up at Nazareth in Galilee, where he spent the greater part of his private life, and his public ministry was chiefly exercised in those parts; hence the Jews thought, that he came out of Galilee, and was a Galilean, ( John 7:41 John 7:52 ) and so he used to be called by Julian the apostate; and it seems, that the answer returned to Pilate was, that he was a Galilean; and so the Persic version adds, and they said, yes; for it follows,

Luke 23:6 In-Context

4 And Pilate said unto the chief priests, and the multitude, `I find no fault in this man;

5 and they were the more urgent, saying -- `He doth stir up the people, teaching throughout the whole of Judea -- having begun from Galilee -- unto this place.'

6 And Pilate having heard of Galilee, questioned if the man is a Galilean,

7 and having known that he is from the jurisdiction of Herod, he sent him back unto Herod, he being also in Jerusalem in those days.

8 And Herod having seen Jesus did rejoice exceedingly, for he was wishing for a long [time] to see him, because of hearing many things about him, and he was hoping some sign to see done by him,