Luke 23:3

Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He answered him, “So you say.”

World English Bible
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Other translations

WEBBE

Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He answered him, “So you say.”

BSB

So Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.

KJV

And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.

ASV

And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest.

BBE

And Pilate said to him, Are you the King of the Jews? And he said in answer, You say so.

Original Greek

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Ὁ Ho (the) G3588 δὲ de And G1161 Πιλᾶτος Pilatos Pilate G4091 ἠρώτησεν ērōtēsen asked G2065 αὐτὸν auton Him G846 λέγων legōn saying G3004 σὺ su You yourself G4771 εἶ ei are G1510 ὁ ho the G3588 βασιλεὺς basileus King G935 τῶν tōn of the G3588 Ἰουδαίων; Ioudaiōn Jews G2453 ὁ ho (the) G3588 δὲ de And G1161 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis answering G611 αὐτῷ autō him G846 ἔφη ephē He was saying G5346 σὺ su You yourself G4771 λέγεις legeis say G3004

The early church

He answers the governor in the same words which He used to the Chief Priests, that Pilate might be condemned by his own voice; for it follows, And he answering said, Thou sayest.
Bede · d. 735Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
It seems to me that he asked this question of Christ by way of deriding the wantonness or hypocrisy of the alleged charge. As if he said, Thou a poor humble naked man, with none to help Thee, art accused of seeking a kingdom, for which Thou wouldest need many to help Thee, and much money.
Theophylact of Ohrid · d. 1107Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
Our Lord is accused and is silent, for He needs no defence. Let them cast about for defence who fear to be conquered. He does not then confirm, the accusation by His silence, but He despises it by not refuting it. Why then should He fear who does not court safety? The Safety of all men forfeits His own, that He may gain that of all.
Ambrose of Milan · d. 397Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
Now two charges having been brought against our Lord, namely, that He forbade to pay tribute to Cæsar, and called Himself Christ the King, it may be that Pilate had chanced to hear that which our Lord spake, Render unto Cæsar the things which be Cæsar's; and therefore setting aside this accusation as a palpable lie of the Jews, he thought fit to ask concerning that alone of which he knew nothing, the saying about the kingdom; for it follows, Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews, &c.
Bede · d. 735Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 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.

Read Matthew Henry on Luke 23 →

Parallel passages

2

The same words or events elsewhere.

Matthew 27:11Mark 15:2

Cross-references

13

People & places

Pontius

Topics

IndictmentsTreasonSelf-DefensePleading

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.