23:14a–b

and said to them: When the leaders arrived, Pilate spoke to them. Connect this verse to 23:13 in a natural way in your language. Some other ways to do this are:

⌊When they came,⌋ he spoke to them, saying
-or-

⌊After they arrived,⌋ he told them

You brought me this man: The phrase You brought me this man refers to the Jewish leaders bringing Jesus to Pilate for judgment. In some languages there may be a special way to describe this. For example:

You have charged this-one before me
-or-
You came to me, accusing this man

Translate this meaning in a natural way in your language.

as one who was inciting the people to rebellion: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as as one who was inciting the people to rebellion is more literally “as perverting/misleading the people.” Here Pilate was repeating the charge that the Jewish leaders made against Jesus in 23:2,5. The phrase has the same meaning here as the phrase “subverting our nation” in 23:2b. You may translate it in a similar way. For example:

and you say that he has influenced the people to oppose the government
-or-
accusing him of leading a revolt (New Living Translation (2004))

23:14c–d

In 23:14c–d Pilate told the Jewish leaders his decision about the charge against Jesus. In Greek, this decision begins with a phrase that is more literally, “and look/listen!” It indicates that the people should pay special attention to the next statement. Pilate was about to announce that he had examined Jesus and decided that there was no basis for their charges against him.

Use a natural way in your language to emphasize that a statement is very important. Some ways to do this in English are:

Listen carefully!
-or-
Pay attention to this:
-or-
I want you all to realize that… (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

See the General Comment on 23:14c–d at the end of 23:14d for other examples. In some languages it may be more natural to put this emphasis at the beginning of 23:14d.

23:14c

I have examined Him here in your presence: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as I have examined Him here in your presence is more literally “I before you having-examined.” It indicates that the Jewish leaders were there listening when Pilate asked Jesus questions about their accusations against him. Some other ways to translate this statement are:

I have questioned him before you all (New Century Version)
-or-
You were listening as I asked him questions about the charges
-or-
Now having examined him in your hearing

Use a natural way in your language to describe questioning a person to determine whether he is guilty or innocent.

I: In 23:14c–d the word I is emphatic. It probably emphasizes that Pilate himself investigated the charges by questioning Jesus. His own investigation was one of his reasons for deciding that Jesus was innocent. In 23:15 he says that Herod also investigated Jesus and did not condemn him. This was another reason to decide that Jesus was innocent. Translate this emphasis in a natural way in your language.

23:14d

found Him not guilty of your charges against Him: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as found Him not guilty of your charges against Him is more literally “have not found in this man any cause/basis for what you accuse him.” It is very similar to the statement in 23:4. It means that Pilate did not find/discover any support for their accusations against Jesus. There was no evidence that Jesus had done anything to arouse the Jewish people to rebel against the Roman government.

Other ways to translate this phrase are:

I have not found him guilty of any of the crimes you accuse him of (Good News Translation)
-or-
and found nothing in him to support your charges (Revised English Bible)
-or-
and find him innocent (New Living Translation (2004))

General Comment on 23:14c–d

In Greek Pilate’s conclusion about Jesus in 23:14c–d is emphasized. Some ways to translate this emphasis are:

Now that I have examined him in your presence, listen to my decision: there is no evidence/support for your charges against him.
-or-
You have all heard me question him. Now I have concluded that he is not guilty of anything that you have accused him of doing.

Translate 23:14c–d in a natural and emphatic way in your language.

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