Luke 23:2

“And they began to accuse him, etc.] After they found that Pilate would not receive him as a malefactor upon their word, and delivery of him to him as such; but insisted on knowing what they had to charge him with, and what accusation they had to bring against him: saying, we have found this fellow perverting the nation; the nation of the Jews. Three of Beza's copies read, “our nation”; and so do the Vulgate Latin, and all the Oriental versions; and it is to be understood, either of his perverting the nation from the true doctrine of Moses and the prophets; by spreading among them new notions, and false principles of religion; whereby he was a troubler of God's Israel, as Ahab charged Elijah,…”

“This fellow - The word “fellow” is not in the original. It conveys a notion of “contempt,” which no doubt they “felt,” but which is not expressed in the “Greek,” and which it is not proper should be expressed in the translation. It might be translated, “We found this man.” Perverting the nation - That is, exciting them to sedition and tumults. This was a mere wanton accusation, but it was plausible before a Roman magistrate; for, The Galileans, as Josephus testifies, were prone to seditions and tumults. Jesus drew multitudes after him, and they thought it was easy to show that this was itself promoting tumults and seditions. Forbidding ... - About their charges they were very cautious and…”

“23:2 The religious charges against Jesus were now replaced by political ones in order to gain a Roman conviction. Pilate was only interested in what concerned Rome. The Jewish charge of blasphemy would not be sufficient, so the council had to show that Jesus was a danger to Rome. They accused Jesus of inciting insurrection against Roman taxation and claiming to be a king. All but the last charge were false.”

“they: Zac 11:8; Mar 15:3-5; Joh 18:30 perverting: Luk 23:5; Kg1 18:17; Jer 38:4; Amo 7:10; Act 16:20, Act 16:21, Act 17:6, Act 17:7, Act 24:5 forbidding: Luk 20:20-25; Kg1 21:10-13; Psa 35:11, Psa 62:4, Psa 64:3-6; Jer 20:10, Jer 37:13-15; Mat 17:27, Mat 22:21, Mat 26:59, Mat 26:60; Mar 12:17, Mar 14:55, Mar 14:56; Act 24:13; Pe1 3:16-18 that: Luk 22:69, Luk 22:70; Mar 14:61, Mar 14:62; Joh 18:36, Joh 19:12 Luke 23:3”