complete verse (Luke 23:1)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 23:1:

  • Noongar: “All the people got up and took Jesus before Pilate.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “after that, all those judges stood up and they took Yesus to Governor Pilatus.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Then all the councilors stood up and brought Isa before Pilatus.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And then all of those rulers who were gathered there, they took Jesus to Governor Pilate so that he might judge him.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Then they all stood up to take Jesus to Governor Pilato. When they arrived there,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well, without anything further, all those who were members of the Sanedrin stood up, and all together they took Jesus to the Romano governor who was Pilato.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Scriptures Plain & Simple (Luke 23:1-5)

Barclay Newman, a translator on the teams for both the Good News Bible and the Contemporary English Version, translated passages of the New Testament into English and published them in 2014, “in a publication brief enough to be non-threatening, yet long enough to be taken seriously, and interesting enough to appeal to believers and un-believers alike.” The following is the translation of Luke 23:1-5:

The self-appointed committee of inquisitors
       then took Jesus to Governor Pilate of Judea
and started making accusations, “This man is a terrorist!
He’s telling our people not to pay taxes to Rome,
       and he claims to be king of our nation!”

“Are you their king?” asked Pilate.

“Those are your words,” Jesus replied.

“Not guilty!” declared Pilate in front of everyone.

But they kept objecting,
       “He’s been causing trouble all over Judea,
              ever since he came here from Galilee.”

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 23:1

Section 23:1–5

The Jewish leaders accused Jesus to Governor Pilate

In this section the Jewish leaders brought Jesus to the Roman governor, who was named Pilate. They wanted to accuse Jesus to him so that Pilate would condemn Jesus to death.

Some other examples of headings for this section are:

Pilate Questions Jesus (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Jesus’ Trial before Pilate (New Living Translation (2004))

There are parallel passages for this section in Matthew 27:1–2, 27:11–14, Mark 15:1–5 and John 18:28–38.

Paragraph 23:1–3

23:1a–b

Then the whole council rose and led Jesus away to Pilate: This clause tells what the council members did after they decided that Jesus was guilty in 22:71. They took Jesus to Pilate. The word rose emphasizes that action. It is used in a similar way in 4:29, where the Berean Standard Bible translates it as “got up.” Another way to translate the clause is:

Then the entire assembly stood up and took him to Pilate. (God’s Word)

In some languages there may be an idiom to translate this. For example:

Then they all jumped to their feet and took him away to Pilate.

In some languages it may not be natural to use a verb like rose or “stood” here, since it is already implied by the next action. For example:

Then the entire council took Jesus to Pilate (New Living Translation (2004))

Translate the statement in a natural way in your language.

the whole council: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the whole council is literally “the whole crowd of them.” It refers to the entire group that was present in 22:71. This group was the Jewish council (Sanhedrin). It included all the Jewish leaders who were at the meeting in 22:66.

Refer back to the council in 22:71 in a natural way in your language. You should not imply that Luke referred to a different assembly here. For example:

Then the whole group of them (NET Bible)
-or-
Then they all

led Jesus away to Pilate: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as led Jesus away to Pilate is more literally “led/brought him before Pilate.” In this context, the members of the council led Jesus to Pilate so that Pilate would judge him. Use a natural phrase in your language to indicate this. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

brought Jesus before Pilate (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
took Jesus to Governor Pilate so that he might judge him

Pilate: The name Pilate refers here to Pontius Pilate, who was the Roman governor of the district of Judea. He was mentioned along with his title in 3:1. It may be helpful to include this title here. For example:

Governor Pilate
-or-
Pilate, the Roman governor (New Living Translation (2004))

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