Luke 23:5

And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(5) Teaching throughout all Jewry.—This is one of the few passages in which the old English equivalent for Judæa retains its place in the Authorised version (Daniel 5:13); in the Prayer Book version of the Psalms, from the Great Bible (see Introduction), we find it in Psalm 76:1. Traces of the general use of the word remain in Shakespeare’s way of speaking of “Herod of Jewry,” and in the Old Jewry as the name of the Jews’ quarter in ancient London. The charge of “beginning from Galilee” probably rested upon the crowds that had followed Him on His last journey to Jerusalem.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

23:1-5 Pilate well understood the difference between armed forces and our Lord's followers. But instead of being softened by Pilate's declaration of his innocence, and considering whether they were not bringing the guilt of innocent blood upon themselves, the Jews were the more angry. The Lord brings his designs to a glorious end, even by means of those who follow the devices of their own hearts. Thus all parties joined, so as to prove the innocence of Jesus, who was the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The more fierce - The more urgent and pressing. They saw that there was a prospect of losing their cause, and they attempted to press on Pilate the point that would be most likely now to affect him. Pilate had, in fact, acquitted him of the charge of being an enemy to Caesar, and they, therefore, urged the other point more vehemently.

Stirreth up the people - Excites them to tumult and sedition.

All Jewry - All Judea.

From Galilee to this place - To Jerusalem - that is, throughout the whole country. It is not merely in one place, but from one end of the land to the other.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

CHAPTER 23

Lu 23:1-5. Jesus before Pilate.

(See on [1733]Mr 15:1-5; and [1734]Joh 18:28-19:22.)

Matthew Poole's Commentary

See Poole on "Luke 23:1"

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And they were the more fierce,.... Or urgent to have him put to death; so the Hebrew word is rendered in Exodus 12:33 which answers to that here used. "They cried out", as the Syriac, Persic, and Ethiopic versions read; they were more clamorous and noisy; they cried out louder, and exerted themselves with great fury and violence, and added strength to their clamour, and increased their charges:

saying, he stirreth up the people; to sedition and rebellion:

teaching throughout all Jewry; or "Judea"; not in one, or a few places only, but every where:

beginning from Galilee; where indeed our Lord did begin his ministry, and where he chiefly taught; see Matthew 4:12 and which they rather chose to mention, because that the Galilaeans were reckoned a seditious people, and had been drawn into rebellion, and had suffered for it; see Acts 5:37

to this place; the city of Jerusalem, the metropolis of the nation; suggesting, that he taught seditious principles not only in Galilee, but all the way from thence throughout Judea, and even in their chief city, and had drawn many disciples after him every where; so that it was a notorious case, as well as of great consequence, and much danger, and ought not to be trifled with.

Geneva Study Bible

And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Luke 23:5. ἐπίσχυον (here only in N.T.), they kept insisting, used absolutely = “invalescebant,” Vulg[191]—ἀνασείει, stirs up, a stronger word than διαστρέφειν.—διδάσκων, teaching, the instrument of excitement. Jesus did, in fact, produce a great impression on the people by His teaching, and one not favourable to the Pharisees, but He did not set Himself to stir up the people even against them.—καθʼ ὅλης τ. Ἰ.: κατὰ with the genitive of place as in Luke 4:14 = in the whole of Judaea. This, considering the purpose, should mean Judaea strictly, Pilate’s province, and so taken it bears witness to more work done by Jesus in the south than is recorded in the Synoptists. But the testimony is of little value. The accusers said what suited their purpose, true or false.—καὶ ἀρξάμενος: the καὶ is a difficult reading, and just on that account probably correct. It gives the impression of an unfinished sentence, something left out = and beginning from Galilee He has spread His mischievous doctrine over the land even to this holy city. The words from καὶ to Γαλιλαίας are omitted in some MSS., and it is not inconceivable that they are an early gloss to explain Luke 23:6 (so Weiss in Meyer).

[191] Vulgate (Jerome’s revision of old Latin version).

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

5-24. The Trial before Herod. Further endeavours of Pilate to procure His acquittal. The Choice of Barabbas. The condemnation to the Cross.

5. And they were the more fierce] Rather, But they were more urgent. This and similar expressions hardly convey to us the terrible violence and excitement of an Oriental mob.

fewry] Rather, Judaea (comp. Daniel 5:13). These words furnish one of the traces in the Synoptists of the Judaean ministry which they imply, but do not narrate. Comp. “throughout the whole of Judaea,” Acts 10:37.

beginning from Galilee] See Luke 4:14. This is probably mentioned to prejudice Pilate all the more against Him, as he had a quarrel with the Galilaeans, but dum rem amplificant, Pilato dant rimam. Bengel.

Bengel's Gnomen

Luke 23:5. Γαλιλαίας, from Galilee) Whilst they are exaggerating the matter, they give a loop-hole of escape to Pilate.

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 5-12. - Pilate sends Jesus to be tried by Herod. Verse 5. - And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place. On hearing the Roman governor's declaration that in his opinion the Prisoner was innocent, the Sanhedrists became more vehement, repeating with increased violence their accusation that Jesus had been for a long time past a persistent stirrer-up of sedition, not only here in the city, but in the northern districts of Galilee. Luke 23:5

Vincent's Word Studies

Were the more fierce (ἐπίσχυον)

Only here in New Testament. The verb means, literally, to grow strong. See on Luke 14:30; and Luke 16:3. Here the sense is, they were more energetic and emphatic. Rev., urgent. Wyc., waxed stronger.

Stirreth up (ἀνασείει)

See on Mark 15:11. The increased urgency is shown by the use of a stronger word than perverteth (Luke 23:2).