Luke 23:16
I will therefore chastise him, and release him.
Original Language Analysis
παιδεύσας
I will
G3811
παιδεύσας
I will
Strong's:
G3811
Word #:
1 of 4
to train up a child, i.e., educate, or (by implication), discipline (by punishment)
οὖν
therefore
G3767
οὖν
therefore
Strong's:
G3767
Word #:
2 of 4
(adverbially) certainly, or (conjunctionally) accordingly
Cross References
Matthew 27:26Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.Luke 23:22And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.Mark 15:15And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.Isaiah 53:5But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.Acts 16:37But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.
Historical Context
Roman scourging (flagellatio) was brutal—leather whips embedded with bone or metal shards flayed flesh from the back, often causing death. It normally preceded crucifixion but could serve as independent punishment. Pilate's proposal to scourge and release violated legal principle (innocent parties should face no penalty) but reflected pragmatic governance—yielding partially to demands while avoiding full capitulation to injustice.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Pilate's willingness to punish the innocent man he just acquitted expose the corruption of human justice?
- In what ways does the 'chastisement' intended to satisfy the crowd actually accomplish God's redemptive purpose for humanity?
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Analysis & Commentary
I will therefore chastise him, and release him—Pilate's compromise exposes judicial corruption. The Greek paideusas (chastise) means 'discipline,' 'punish,' often through scourging (flagellation). John 19:1 describes this brutal flogging. Pilate's logic is perverse: 'I find him innocent, therefore I will torture him.' This attempted middle ground—satisfying bloodlust without execution—violates Roman law itself, which prohibited punishing the innocent.
The word paideusas (from paideia, discipline/training) carries educational connotations, but here it's purely punitive violence. Pilate hoped the sight of a scourged, broken Jesus would satiate the mob's demand for blood. Yet this 'chastisement' fulfills Isaiah 53:5: 'the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.' What Pilate intended as political expedience, God ordained as substitutionary atonement. Every lash Pilate inflicted was the punishment our sins deserved, borne by the sinless Lamb.