27:24 When 1 Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but that instead a riot was starting, he took some water, washed his hands before the crowd and said, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. You take care of it yourselves!” 2
53:11 Having suffered, he will reflect on his work,
he will be satisfied when he understands what he has done. 3
“My servant 4 will acquit many, 5
for he carried their sins. 6
9:9 Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion!
Shout, daughter of Jerusalem!
Look! Your king is coming to you:
he is legitimate 7 and victorious, 8
humble and riding on a donkey 9 –
on a young donkey, the foal of a female donkey.
23:47 Now when the centurion 11 saw what had happened, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent!” 12
23:1 Then 13 the whole group of them rose up and brought Jesus 14 before Pilate. 15
2:22 Now 16 when the time came for their 17 purification according to the law of Moses, Joseph and Mary 18 brought Jesus 19 up to Jerusalem 20 to present him to the Lord
2:1 Now 21 in those days a decree 22 went out from Caesar 23 Augustus 24 to register 25 all the empire 26 for taxes.
2:1 Now 27 in those days a decree 28 went out from Caesar 29 Augustus 30 to register 31 all the empire 32 for taxes.
1 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
2 sn You take care of it yourselves! Compare the response of the chief priests and elders to Judas in 27:4. The expression is identical except that in 27:4 it is singular and here it is plural.
3 tn Heb “he will be satisfied by his knowledge,” i.e., “when he knows.” The preposition is understood as temporal and the suffix as a subjective genitive. Some take בְּדַעְתּוֹ (bÿda’to, “by his knowledge”) with what follows and translate “by knowledge of him,” understanding the preposition as instrumental and the suffix as objective.
4 sn The song ends as it began (cf. 52:13-15), with the Lord announcing the servant’s vindication and exaltation.
5 tn Heb “he will acquit, a righteous one, my servant, many.” צַדִּיק (tsadiq) may refer to the servant, but more likely it is dittographic (note the preceding verb יַצְדִּיק, yatsdiq). The precise meaning of the verb (the Hiphil of צָדַק, tsadaq) is debated. Elsewhere the Hiphil is used at least six times in the sense of “make righteous” in a legal sense, i.e., “pronounce innocent, acquit” (see Exod 23:7; Deut 25:1; 1 Kgs 8:32 = 2 Chr 6:23; Prov 17:15; Isa 5:23). It can also mean “render justice” (as a royal function, see 2 Sam 15:4; Ps 82:3), “concede” (Job 27:5), “vindicate” (Isa 50:8), and “lead to righteousness” (by teaching and example, Dan 12:3). The preceding context and the next line suggest a legal sense here. Because of his willingness to carry the people’s sins, the servant is able to “acquit” them.
6 tn The circumstantial clause (note the vav [ו] + object + subject + verb pattern) is understood as causal here. The prefixed verb form is either a preterite or an imperfect used in a customary manner.
7 tn The Hebrew term צַדִּיק (tsadiq) ordinarily translated “righteous,” frequently occurs, as here, with the idea of conforming to a standard or meeting certain criteria. The Messianic king riding into Jerusalem is fully qualified to take the Davidic throne (cf. 1 Sam 23:3; Isa 9:5-6; 11:4; 16:5; Jer 22:1-5; 23:5-6).
8 tn The Hebrew term נוֹשָׁע (nosha’) a Niphal participle of יָשַׁע (yasha’, “to save”) could mean “one delivered” or, if viewed as active, “one bringing salvation” (similar KJV, NIV, NKJV). It is preferable to take the normal passive use of the Niphal and understand that the king, having been delivered, is as a result “victorious” (so also NRSV, TEV, NLT).
9 sn The NT understands this verse to be a prophecy of the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, and properly so (cf. Matt 21:5; John 12:15), but reference to the universal rule of the king in v. 10 reveals that this is a “split prophecy,” that is, it has a two-stage fulfillment. Verse 9 was fulfilled in Jesus’ earthly ministry but v. 10 awaits a millennial consummation (cf. Rev 19:11-16).
10 sn This man has done nothing wrong is yet another declaration that Jesus was innocent of any crime.
11 sn See the note on the word centurion in 7:2.
12 tn Or “righteous.” It is hard to know whether “innocent” or “righteous” is intended, as the Greek term used can mean either, and both make good sense in this context. Luke has been emphasizing Jesus as innocent, so that is slightly more likely here. Of course, one idea entails the other.
13 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
14 tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
15 sn Pilate was the Roman prefect (procurator) in charge of collecting taxes and keeping the peace. His immediate superior was the Roman governor (proconsul) of Syria, although the exact nature of this administrative relationship is unknown. Pilate’s relations with the Jews had been rocky (v. 12). Here he is especially sensitive to them.
16 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.
17 tc The translation follows most
18 tn Grk “they”; the referents (Joseph and Mary) have been specified in the translation for clarity.
19 tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
20 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
21 tn Grk “Now it happened that.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
22 sn This decree was a formal decree from the Roman Senate.
23 tn Or “from the emperor” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).
24 sn Caesar Augustus refers to Octavian, who was Caesar from 27
25 tn Grk “that all the empire should be registered for taxes.” The passive infinitive ἀπογράφεσθαι (apografesqai) has been rendered as an active in the translation to improve the English style. The verb is regarded as a technical term for official registration in tax lists (BDAG 108 s.v. ἀπογράφω a).
26 tn Grk “the whole (inhabited) world,” but this was a way to refer to the Roman empire (L&N 1.83).
27 tn Grk “Now it happened that.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
28 sn This decree was a formal decree from the Roman Senate.
29 tn Or “from the emperor” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).
30 sn Caesar Augustus refers to Octavian, who was Caesar from 27
31 tn Grk “that all the empire should be registered for taxes.” The passive infinitive ἀπογράφεσθαι (apografesqai) has been rendered as an active in the translation to improve the English style. The verb is regarded as a technical term for official registration in tax lists (BDAG 108 s.v. ἀπογράφω a).
32 tn Grk “the whole (inhabited) world,” but this was a way to refer to the Roman empire (L&N 1.83).