What does Luke 23:24 mean?
Luke continues to use wording which must be understood in its context. "Their demand" is the insistence of a priest-led mob clamoring for Jesus to be executed. Pilate has declared Jesus' innocence and tried to release Him several times (Luke 23:4, 14–16, 20, 22). First the religious leaders demand Pilate destroy Jesus. Then they stir up a crowd (Mark 15:11). The crowd is in such frenzy they border on riot (Matthew 27:24).Why does Pilate capitulate? For one, as governor he has the responsibility to determine who will be the high priest. Caiaphas is high priest from about AD 18 to 36; Pilate is governor from about AD 26 to 36. That suggests they have a good working relationship, something Pilate would be reluctant to disrupt.
Another possibility is Pilate's reputation for cruelty. History suggests that Pilate's frequent use of force bred unrest in his region—which is exactly the opposite of what Rome wanted. Luke 13:1 describes an event during which Pilate shed the blood of Galileans during sacrifices. We don't know what event this is referring to, but it seems to mean Pilate killed them during a previous Passover. If he refuses to crucify Jesus and the Jews riot, he will be required to respond with violence. Considering the timing, that's not a good idea. Another ugly incident could result in the loss of his position.
Pilate doesn't simply hand Jesus over. Matthew adds more detail:
"So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, 'I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves.' And all the people answered, 'His blood be on us and on our children!'" (Matthew 27:24–25).The people's cry is not a formal admission of guilt. It's the equivalent of a modern person saying, "let me worry about that, just do what I say."
Pilate didn't want to be seen as someone who failed to prevent a riot. Neither did he want to be known as someone who crucified an innocent man. Most of all, probably, Pilate didn't want to be manipulated in such an obvious way by the chief priests.
However, within a few years, Pilate will attack a group of Samaritans he thinks is trying to mount an insurrection. These people had been duped by a false prophet into looking for artifacts of Moses. He'll lose his office because of his careless cruelty.
