23:22a

A third time he said to them: The phrase A third time indicates that Pilate had already appealed to the crowd twice about Jesus (in 23:14 and 23:20). He had told them that Jesus was innocent and did not deserve the death penalty. When he repeated these facts to the people in this verse, it was the third time that he had told them those things.

Some other ways to translate this part of the verse are:

Then Pilate said to them a third time
-or-
Pilate had already appealed to the people twice. But he appealed to them again and asked

23:22b

In Greek, 23:22b begins with a conjunction that is often translated as “for.” It introduces an argument against what the crowd wanted to do. It implies that there is no reason to crucify Jesus, so many English versions translate it as “Why,” as in the New International Version. The Good News Translation translates it as “But.” The Berean Standard Bible does not translate this word, so translate it in a natural way in your language.

What evil has this man done?: Here Pilate asked the people to tell him what crime Jesus had done. There are two ways to translate the question:

• Translate it as a question. For example:

What is his crime, then? (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
What has he done wrong? (God’s Word)
-or-
…what evil has this man done? (New American Standard Bible)

• Translate it as a command or demand. For example:

Tell me what crime he has done then.
-or-
You must tell me what bad thing he has done.

Translate Pilate’s words in a way that fits this context in your language.

evil: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as evil is a general word that refers to anything wrong or evil. In this context it refers to bad or wrong behavior that was against Roman law. See the examples in the preceding note for translation suggestions.

23:22c

I have found in Him no offense worthy of death: This statement is similar to what Pilate said in 23:4 and 23:15. It indicates that Pilate had not discovered any reason to execute Jesus. The phrase no offense worthy are the same words that the Berean Standard Bible translated as “no basis” in 23:4. Other ways to translate the statement are:

I cannot find anything he has done to deserve death! (Good News Translation)
-or-
I have found no reason to sentence him to death. (New Living Translation (2004))

See the notes on 23:4b and 23:15c for more information and translation suggestions.

23:22d

So: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So introduces the logical result of Pilate’s statement in 23:22c. The New International Version translates this conjunction as “Therefore.” You should introduce this logical result in a way that is natural in your language.

after I punish Him, I will release Him: In Greek this statement is the same as what Pilate said in 23:16, though the Berean Standard Bible translates it slightly differently here. You may translate it in the same way or a similar way as you did in 23:16. See the notes at 23:16 for more information and translation suggestions.

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