The Greek verb anaseiō means to stir up, incite, or agitate. Occurring twice in the NT (Mark 15:11; Luke 23:5), it describes the chief priests stirring up the crowd to demand Jesus' crucifixion. The word combines ana (up) with seiō (to shake, as in earthquake).
Anaseiō appears at the pivotal moment of Christ's trial — the religious leaders 'stirred up' the crowd, manipulating public opinion against the innocent Jesus. This word exposes the mechanics of mob manipulation and the corruption of justice. Theologically, it shows that Christ's death was not accidental but orchestrated by the hardened hearts of those who refused the truth — yet even this was within God's sovereign plan (Acts 2:23). It warns against being 'stirred up' by populist pressure rather than standing on truth.