Devine Scripture

Luke 13:1

What does Luke 13:1 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 13:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 13:1 means

Some people present told Jesus about a specific tragedy involving Galileans. These individuals were killed by Pilate while they were offering sacrifices in the temple. The detail that their blood was "mingled with their sacrifices" suggests a particularly gruesome and sacrilegious act, where their very worship became the scene of their violent death. This incident was likely a well-known event, possibly politically charged, and the people mentioning it were perhaps seeking Jesus' theological or political commentary on why such a thing occurred.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Now there were some present at that very season who told him of the Galilæans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

There were present at that season some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Now there were some present at that very season who told him of the Galilæans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Now some people who were there at that time, gave him an account of how the blood of some Galilaeans had been mixed by Pilate with their offerings.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And there were present certain at that time, telling him about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate did mingle with their sacrifices;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And there were present, at that very time, some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Now at the same time there were present some who told him of the Galileans whose blood Pilate mingled with [that of] their sacrifices.

Context

This verse immediately sets the tone for Jesus' teaching on suffering and repentance. It introduces a current event, a violent act by Pilate, which serves as the direct catalyst for Jesus' subsequent discourse. This concrete example allows Jesus to address common misconceptions about the relationship between sin and calamity, moving from a specific news item to a universal spiritual truth about the need for repentance.

v.1This passage

v.2And he answered and said unto them, Think ye that these Galilæans were sinners above all the Galilæans, because they have suffered these things?

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Matthew 27:2

    and they bound him, and led him away, and delivered him up to Pilate the governor.

  • Lamentations 2:20

    See, O Jehovah, and behold to whom thou hast done thus! Shall the women eat their fruit, the children that are dandled in the hands? Shall the priest and the prophet be slain in the sanctuary of the Lord?

  • 1 Peter 4:17

    For the time is come for judgment to begin at the house of God: and if it begin first at us, what shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God?

  • Ezekiel 9:5

    And to the others he said in my hearing, Go ye through the city after him, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity;

  • Acts 5:37

    After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the enrolment, and drew away some of the people after him: he also perished; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad.

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