Definition: And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this [fellow] perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this passage from Luke 23. It's a really important part of Jesus’ final moments and speaks about what happened after his arrest. Here's the explanation in simpler terms: Basically, these men were angry at Jesus because he was defying Roman law. Let’s unpack that: “They began to accuse him…” – This means they started to make statements against him, often with anger and judgment. “…saying, We found this [fellow] perverting the nation…” – This is a very strong phrase. “Perverting the nation” means they believed Jesus was trying to undermine or change the rules and laws of Rome, which was their powerful empire. They thought he was doing something wrong that would upset Roman power. “…and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar…” – This is where it gets a little tricky. “Caesar” was the Roman Emperor at the time. Jesus was telling them not to pay taxes to him. He was saying this because he was defying Rome’s laws, and that's what they believed would cause trouble. “…saying that he himself is Christ a King.” – This is the most shocking part. They were claiming Jesus was somehow divine, like a king, and that he was ruling over everyone! They thought this was a big blasphemy. So, what’s the message behind this? It's a really powerful statement about Roman power and how it challenged Jesus. It shows that even though Jesus was crucified, he wasn’t just a random person; he was being treated as if he was some kind of divine ruler. This suggests that the Romans were very concerned with controlling people and their beliefs, and they saw Jesus as a threat to their authority. Important Note: It's crucial to understand this passage in context. It’s part of a larger story about the events leading up to Jesus' death. --- Do you want me to explain any of these parts further? For example, would you like me to delve deeper into: The significance of "perverting the nation"? The context of Roman power at this time?