Luk 23:2 | NETfull | STEP | They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man subverting our nation, forbidding us to pay the tribute tax to Caesar and claiming that he himself is Christ, a king.”

Luke 23:2

2 They ^{▼▼ Here δέ (de) has not been translated.} began to accuse ^{▼▼ They began to accuse him. There were three charges: (1) disturbing Jewish peace; (2) fomenting rebellion through advocating not paying taxes (a lie - 20:20–26); and (3) claiming to be a political threat to Rome, by claiming to be a king, an allusion to Jesus’ messianic claims. The second and third charges were a direct challenge to Roman authority. Pilate would be forced to do something about them.} him, saying, “We found this man subverting ^{▼▼ On the use of the term διαστρέφω (diastrefō) here, see L&N 31.71 and 88.264.} ^{▼▼ Subverting our nation was a summary charge, as Jesus “subverted” the nation by making false claims of a political nature, as the next two detailed charges show.} our nation, forbidding ^{▼▼ Grk “and forbidding.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated to suggest to the English reader that this and the following charge are specifics, while the previous charge was a summary one. See the note on the word “misleading” earlier in this verse.} us to pay the tribute tax ^{▼▼ This was a “poll tax.” L&N 57.182 states this was “a payment made by the people of one nation to another, with the implication that this is a symbol of submission and dependence - ‘tribute tax.’”} to Caesar ^{▼▼ Or “to the emperor” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).} and claiming that he himself is Christ, ^{▼▼ Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”} ^{▼▼ See the note on Christ in 2:11.} a king.”