Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
Began to accuse (hrcanto kathgorein). They went at it and kept it up. Luke mentions three, but neither of them includes their real reason nor do they mention their own condemnation of Jesus. They had indulged their hatred in doing it, but they no longer have the power of life and death. Hence they say nothing to Pilate of that.
We found (euramen). Second aorist active indicative with first aorist vowel a. Probably they mean that they had caught Jesus in the act of doing these things (in flagrante delicto) rather than discovery by formal trial.
Perverting our nation (diastrefonta to eqnov hmwn). Present active participle of diastrefw, old verb to turn this way and that, distort, disturb. In the N.T. only here and Acts 13:10. The Sanhedrin imply that the great popularity of Jesus was seditious.
Forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, (kwluonta forouv kaisari didonai). Note object infinitive didonai after the participle kwluonta. Literally, hindering giving tribute to Caesar. This was a flat untruth. Their bright young students had tried desperately to get Jesus to say this very thing, but they had failed utterly (Luke 20:25).
Saying that he himself is Christ a king (legonta auton Xriston basilea einai). Note the indirect discourse here after the participle legonta with the accusative (auton where auton could have been used), and the infinitive. This charge is true, but not in the sense meant by them. Jesus did claim to be the Christ and the king of the kingdom of God. But the Sanhedrin wanted Pilate to think that he set himself up as a rival to Caesar. Pilate would understand little from the word "Christ," but "King" was a different matter. He was compelled to take notice of this charge else he himself would be accused to Caesar of winking at such a claim by Jesus.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Luke 23:2:
Matthew 27:11
Mark 15:2
Luke 23:5
Luke 23:14
John 18:30
John 18:33
Acts 13:8
Acts 17:7
DISCLAIMER: Church of the Great God (CGG) provides these resources to aid the individual in studying the Bible. However, it is up to the individual to "prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21). The content of these resources does not necessarily reflect the views of CGG. They are provided for information purposes only.
