So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no fault in this Man.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Pilate said to the chief priests and the multitudes, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”
- KJV Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.
- BSB Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”
- NASB But Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no grounds for charges in the case of this Man.”
- NLT Pilate turned to the leading priests and to the crowd and said, “I find nothing wrong with this man!”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Pilate tells the chief priests and crowd he finds no basis for a charge against Jesus. He declares Jesus innocent.
Overview
After questioning, Pilate publicly pronounces that he finds no guilt in Jesus. This first declaration of innocence underscores that Jesus is condemned unjustly. His sinlessness, affirmed even by a pagan judge, fits Him to be the spotless sacrifice for sin.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- John 18:38Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” When he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no basis for a charge against him.
- Luke 23:14–15and said to them, “You brought this man to me as one that perverts the people, and see, I have examined him before you, and found no basis for a charge against this man concerning those things of which you accuse him.
- 1 Pet 1:19but with precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish or spot, the blood of Christ;
- Heb 7:26For such a high priest was fitting for us: holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
- Luke 23:22He said to them the third time, “Why? What evil has this man done? I have found no capital crime in him. I will therefore chastise him and release him.”
- 1 Pet 2:22who did not sin, “neither was deceit found in his mouth.”
- Mark 15:14Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they cried out exceedingly, “Crucify him!”
- John 19:4–6Then Pilate went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I bring him out to you, that you may know that I find no basis for a charge against him.”
- 1 Pet 3:18Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;
- Matt 27:23–24But the governor said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they cried out exceedingly, saying, “Let him be crucified!”
- Matt 27:19While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of him.”
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 23:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.