There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
There were present at that season - showing that what is here recorded comes, in order of time, immediately after Luke 12:1-59. But what the precise season was, cannot certainly be determined. See opening remarks on Luke 9:51.
Some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. Possibly these were the followers of Judas of Galilee, who, some 20 years before this, taught that Jews should not pay tribute to the Romans, and of whom we learn, from Acts 5:37, that he drew after him a multitude of followers, who, on his being slain, were all dispersed. About this time that party would be at its height, and if Pilate caused this detachment of them to be waylaid and put to death, as they were offering their sacrifices at one of the festivals, that would be "mingling their blood with their sacrifices." So Grotius, Webster and Wilkinson, but doubted by de Wette, Meyer, Alford, etc. News of this-whatever the precise matter referred to may be-having been brought to our Lord, to draw out His views of it, and particularly, whether it was not a judgment of Heaven, He simply points them to the practical view of the matter.