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.
Original Language Analysis
οἱ
G3588
οἱ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
1 of 19
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἐπίσχυον
they were the more fierce
G2001
ἐπίσχυον
they were the more fierce
Strong's:
G2001
Word #:
3 of 19
to avail further, i.e., (figuratively) insist stoutly
λέγοντες
saying
G3004
λέγοντες
saying
Strong's:
G3004
Word #:
4 of 19
properly, to "lay" forth, i.e., (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas g2036 and g5346 generally refer to an
ὅτι
G3754
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
7 of 19
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
λαὸν
the people
G2992
λαὸν
the people
Strong's:
G2992
Word #:
8 of 19
a people (in general; thus differing from g1218, which denotes one's own populace)
καθ'
throughout
G2596
καθ'
throughout
Strong's:
G2596
Word #:
10 of 19
(prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined)
ὅλης
all
G3650
ὅλης
all
Strong's:
G3650
Word #:
11 of 19
"whole" or "all", i.e., complete (in extent, amount, time or degree), especially (neuter) as noun or adverb
τῆς
G3588
τῆς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
12 of 19
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Ἰουδαίας
Jewry
G2449
Ἰουδαίας
Jewry
Strong's:
G2449
Word #:
13 of 19
the judaean land (i.e., judaea), a region of palestine
ἀπὸ
from
G575
ἀπὸ
from
Strong's:
G575
Word #:
15 of 19
"off," i.e., away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative)
τῆς
G3588
τῆς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
16 of 19
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Γαλιλαίας
Galilee
G1056
Γαλιλαίας
Galilee
Strong's:
G1056
Word #:
17 of 19
galilaea (i.e., the heathen circle), a region of palestine
Cross References
Mark 1:14Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,John 2:11This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.John 1:43The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.Matthew 4:23And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.Acts 10:37That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;Acts 7:57Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,Acts 5:33When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.Acts 23:10And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.Acts 7:54When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.Psalms 57:4My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
Historical Context
The mention of Galilee and Judea reflects the political geography under Roman rule. Galilee was ruled by Herod Antipas (tetrarch), while Judea was under direct Roman administration through Pilate. Teaching 'throughout all Jewry' would indeed raise Roman suspicions of sedition during the volatile Passover season when nationalist fervor ran high and Jerusalem's population swelled with pilgrims.
Questions for Reflection
- Why do religious leaders often become 'more fierce' when their unjust agenda is challenged by truth?
- How can we guard against the same vehement insistence when our accusations or judgments are proven false?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
They were the more fierce (ἐπίσχυον, epischyon)—literally 'they kept insisting more urgently' or 'grew more vehement.' When Pilate's verdict contradicted their agenda, the chief priests intensified their accusations rather than accepting the judgment. Their claim that Jesus stirreth up the people (ἀνασείει τὸν λαόν, anaseisei ton laon) ironically uses revolutionary language—anaseisei means 'incites to revolt,' precisely what they themselves were doing by manipulating the crowd.
Their geographical reference—from Galilee to this place—attempts to portray Jesus's ministry as a subversive movement spanning all Jewish territories. Yet this unwitting testimony actually confirms the breadth of Christ's teaching ministry (Luke 4:14-15, 8:1). The accusers' desperation to secure execution despite legal acquittal reveals the spiritual blindness Isaiah prophesied: 'He is despised and rejected of men' (Isaiah 53:3).