Note 1 at Lu 13:1: History is unclear on what actually happened in this instance. Josephus (The Antiquities of the Jews, Book 18, Chapter 3) did mention Pilate slaying Galileans, but it is unclear if that was what Luke was referring to here. Some things are certain: Pilate had only been ruling for approximately six years at this time (see note 2 at Lu 3:1). Therefore, this act had to have been a very recent one, and it is probable that Jesus already knew about it. The murder of these Galileans by Herod was especially offensive to the Jews, because their blood was mingled with their sacrifices.