Luke 23:5

Fierce. Or, “urgent.” They persistently insisted that Pilate accede to their demands.

Stirreth up the people. This charge was, of course, all too true, though not in the sense that the leaders would have Pilate believe. During recent weeks, particularly since the resurrection of Lazarus, popular opinion was increasingly favorable to Jesus. Previously, the priests and rulers themselves had ruefully admitted to one another that “the world is gone after him” (John 12:19).

Jewry. Literally, Judea; here probably used inclusively of all Israelite Palestine (see on chs. 1:5; 7:17). To be sure, Luke also uses the term in reference to Judea proper (see Luke 2:4; Acts 1:8; 8:1). However, Luke seems to be the only NT writer to use the term in the broader sense.

Beginning from Galilee. That is, where Jesus’ greatest success had been. Peter uses almost the same phrase in Acts 10:37, to describe the spread of the gospel.

To this place. Jesus’ accusers might have had in mind the dramatic events of the past few days, which aroused fears in their hearts that Jesus was about to enter upon a prolonged and even more successful ministry in Judea than in Galilee.