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Luke 23:6

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Luke 23:6 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “But when Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

But when Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.
Luke 23:6 — American Standard Version

Context — Luke 23

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
3And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest.
4And Pilate said unto the chief priests and the multitudes, I find no fault in this man.
5But they were the more urgent, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Judaea, and beginning from Galilee even unto this place.
6But when Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.
7And when he knew that he was of Herod`s jurisdiction, he sent him unto Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem in these days.
8Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was of a long time desirous to see him, because he had heard concerning him; and he hoped to see some miracle done by him.
9And he questioned him in many words; but he answered him nothing.
← Luke 23:5Luke 23:7 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“When Pilate heard of Galilee, etc.] “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, (<430741>John 7:41,52) and so he used to be called by Julian the…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Whether he were a Galilean - He asked this because, if he was, he properly belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, who reigned over Galilee. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“23:6-7 Realizing that Jesus was a Galilean and thus under the jurisdiction of Herod Antipas, Pilate saw an opportunity to get out of this sticky situation without condemning an innocent man or angering the religious leaders.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“a Galilaean: Luk 13:1; Act 5:37 Luke 23:7”
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Related study paths

Read Luke 23 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification