Luke 23:22

22 And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil has he done? I have found no cause of death in him; I will therefore chastise him 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 Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spoke again to them.

21 But they cried, saying, crucify him, crucify him. {Gr. stauroo – hang him on a stake}

22 And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil has he done? I have found no cause of death in him; I will therefore chastise him and let him go.

23 And they insisted with loud voices, asking that he be crucified. And the voices of them and of the princes of the priests prevailed.

24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be according to their request.