Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Luke: Chapter 23]
23:4 {The multitude} (\tous ochlous\). The first mention of them.
It is now after daybreak. The procession of the Sanhedrin would
draw a crowd (Plummer) and some may have come to ask for the
release of a prisoner ( Mr 15:8). There was need of haste if the
condemnation went through before friends of Jesus came. {I find
no fault} (\ouden heurisk• aition\). In the N.T. Luke alone uses
this old adjective \aitios\ ( Lu 23:4,14,22; Ac 19:40) except
Heb. 5:9. It means one who is the author, the cause of or
responsible for anything. Luke does not give the explanation of
this sudden decision of Pilate that Jesus is innocent. Evidently
he held a careful examination before he delivered his judgment on
the case. That conversation is given in Joh 18:33-38. Pilate
took Jesus inside the palace from the upper gallery ( Joh 18:33)
and then came out and rendered his decision to the Sanhedrin
( Joh 18:38) who would not go into the palace of Pilate ( Joh
18:28).
23:5 {But they were the more urgent} (\hoi de epischuon\).
Imperfect active of \epischu•\, to give added (\epi\) strength
(\ischu•\). And they kept insisting. Evidently Pilate had taken
the thing too lightly. {He stirred up the people} (\anaseiei ton
laon\). This compound is rare, though old (Thucydides), to shake
up (back and forth). This is a more vigorous repetition of the
first charge (verse 2, "perverting our nation"). {Beginning
from Galilee} (\arxamenos apo t•s Galilaias\). These very words
occur in the address of Peter to the group in the house of
Cornelius ( Ac 10:37). The idiomatic use of \arxamenos\ appears
also in Ac 1:22. Galilee (Grote) was the mother of seditious
men (see Josephus).
23:6 {A Galilean} (\Galilaios\). If so, here was a way out for
Herod without going back on his own decision.
23:7 {When he knew} (\epignous\). Second aorist active participle
from \epigin•sk•\, having gained full (\epi\, added knowledge).
{Of Herod's jurisdiction} (\ek t•s exousias H•r•idou\). Herod was
naturally jealous of any encroachment by Pilate, the Roman
Procurator of Judea. So here was a chance to respect the
prerogative (\exousia\) of Herod and get rid of this troublesome
case also. {Sent him up} (\anepempsen\). First aorist active
indicative of \anapemp•\. This common verb is used of sending
back as in verse 11 or of sending up to a higher court as of
Paul to Caesar ( Ac 25:21). {Who himself also was} (\onta kai
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