Luke 23
23
1And the whole company of them rose up, and brought him before Pilate. 2And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this man perverting our nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cæsar, and saying that he himself is Christ a king. 3And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest. 4And Pilate said unto the chief priests and the multitudes, I find no fault in this man. 5But they were the more urgent, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Judæa, and beginning from Galilee even unto this place. 6But when Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man were a Galilæan. 7And when he knew that he was of Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him unto Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem in these days.
8Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was of a long time desirous to see him, because he had heard concerning him; and he hoped to see some miracle done by him. 9And he questioned him in many words; but he answered him nothing. 10And the chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him. 11And Herod with his soldiers set him at nought, and mocked him, and arraying him in gorgeous apparel sent him back to Pilate. 12And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day: for before they were at enmity between themselves.
13And Pilate called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14and said unto them, Ye brought unto me this man, as one that perverteth the people: and behold, I, having examined him before you, found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: 15no, nor yet Herod: for he sent him back unto us; and behold, nothing worthy of death hath been done by him. 16I will therefore chastise him, and release him. 17#23:17 Many ancient authorities insert v. 17. Now he must needs release unto them at the feast one prisoner. Comp. Mat 27:15; Mrk 15:6; Jhn 18:39. Others add the same words after v. 19. 18But they cried out all together, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:— 19one who for a certain insurrection made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison. 20And Pilate spake unto them again, desiring to release Jesus; 21but they shouted, saying, Crucify, crucify him. 22And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath this man done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him and release him. 23But they were urgent with loud voices, asking that he might be crucified. And their voices prevailed. 24And Pilate gave sentence that what they asked for should be done. 25And he released him that for insurrection and murder had been cast into prison, whom they asked for; but Jesus he delivered up to their will.
26And when they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, and laid on him the cross, to bear it after Jesus.
27And there followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women who bewailed and lamented him. 28But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. 29For behold, the days are coming, in which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the breasts that never gave suck. 30Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. 31For if they do these things in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry?
32And there were also two others, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.
33And when they came unto the place which is called The skull, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand and the other on the left. 34And Jesus said, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And parting his garments among them, they cast lots. 35And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also scoffed at him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, his chosen. 36And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, offering him vinegar, 37and saying, If thou art the King of the Jews, save thyself. 38And there was also a superscription over him, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39And one of the malefactors that were hanged railed on him, saying, Art not thou the Christ? save thyself and us. 40But the other answered, and rebuking him said, Dost thou not even fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42And he said, Jesus, remember me when thou comest in thy kingdom. 43And he said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise.
44And it was now about the sixth hour, and a darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45the sun’s light failing: and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. 46And Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said this, he gave up the ghost. 47And when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. 48And all the multitudes that came together to this sight, when they beheld the things that were done, returned smiting their breasts. 49And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed with him from Galilee, stood afar off, seeing these things.
50And behold, a man named Joseph, who was a councillor, a good and righteous man 51(he had not consented to their counsel and deed), a man of Arimathæa, a city of the Jews, who was looking for the kingdom of God: 52this man went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. 53And he took it down, and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb that was hewn in stone, where never man had yet lain. 54And it was the day of the Preparation, and the sabbath drew on. 55And the women, who had come with him out of Galilee, followed after, and beheld the tomb, and how his body was laid. 56And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments.
And on the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
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Luke 23: ASV
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Luke 23
23
Jesus Before Pilate.#Mt 27:1–2, 11–14; Mk 15:1–5; Jn 18:28–38. 1#23:1–5, 13–25] Twice Jesus is brought before Pilate in Luke’s account, and each time Pilate explicitly declares Jesus innocent of any wrongdoing (Lk 23:4, 14, 22). This stress on the innocence of Jesus before the Roman authorities is also characteristic of John’s gospel (Jn 18:38; 19:4, 6). Luke presents the Jerusalem Jewish leaders as the ones who force the hand of the Roman authorities (Lk 23:1–2, 5, 10, 13, 18, 21, 23–25). Then the whole assembly of them arose and brought him before Pilate. 2They brought charges against him, saying, “We found this man misleading our people; he opposes the payment of taxes to Caesar and maintains that he is the Messiah, a king.”#20:22–25; Acts 17:7; 24:5. 3Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He said to him in reply, “You say so.”#22:70; 1 Tm 6:13. 4Pilate then addressed the chief priests and the crowds, “I find this man not guilty.” 5But they were adamant and said, “He is inciting the people with his teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to here.”#23:14, 22, 41; Mt 27:24; Jn 19:4, 6; Acts 13:28.
Jesus Before Herod. 6#The appearance of Jesus before Herod is found only in this gospel. Herod has been an important figure in Luke (Lk 9:7–9; 13:31–33) and has been presented as someone who has been curious about Jesus for a long time. His curiosity goes unrewarded. It is faith in Jesus, not curiosity, that is rewarded (Lk 7:50; 8:48, 50; 17:19). On hearing this Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean; 7and upon learning that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod who was in Jerusalem at that time.#3:1; 9:7. 8Herod was very glad to see Jesus; he had been wanting to see him for a long time, for he had heard about him and had been hoping to see him perform some sign.#9:9; Acts 4:27–28. 9He questioned him at length, but he gave him no answer.#Mk 15:5. 10The chief priests and scribes, meanwhile, stood by accusing him harshly.#Mt 27:12; Mk 15:3. 11[Even] Herod and his soldiers treated him contemptuously and mocked him, and after clothing him in resplendent garb, he sent him back to Pilate.#Mt 27:28–30; Mk 15:17–19; Jn 19:2–3. 12Herod and Pilate became friends that very day, even though they had been enemies formerly. 13Pilate then summoned the chief priests, the rulers, and the people 14and said to them, “You brought this man to me and accused him of inciting the people to revolt. I have conducted my investigation in your presence and have not found this man guilty of the charges you have brought against him,#23:4, 22, 41. 15nor did Herod, for he sent him back to us. So no capital crime has been committed by him. 16#23:22; Jn 19:12–14. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him.” [17]#This verse, “He was obliged to release one prisoner for them at the festival,” is not part of the original text of Luke. It is an explanatory gloss from Mk 15:6 (also Mt 27:15) and is not found in many early and important Greek manuscripts. On its historical background, see notes on Mt 27:15–26.
The Sentence of Death.#Mt 27:20–26; Mk 15:6–7, 11–15; Jn 18:38b–40; 19:14–16; Acts 3:13–14. 18But all together they shouted out, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us.” 19(Now Barabbas had been imprisoned for a rebellion that had taken place in the city and for murder.) 20Again Pilate addressed them, still wishing to release Jesus, 21but they continued their shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” 22Pilate addressed them a third time, “What evil has this man done? I found him guilty of no capital crime. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him.” 23With loud shouts, however, they persisted in calling for his crucifixion, and their voices prevailed. 24The verdict of Pilate was that their demand should be granted. 25So he released the man who had been imprisoned for rebellion and murder, for whom they asked, and he handed Jesus over to them to deal with as they wished.
The Way of the Cross.#An important Lucan theme throughout the gospel has been the need for the Christian disciple to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Here this theme comes to the fore with the story of Simon of Cyrene who takes up the cross and follows Jesus (see Lk 9:23; 14:27) and with the large crowd who likewise follow Jesus on the way of the cross. See also note on Mk 15:21. 26#Mt 27:32, 38; Mk 15:21, 27; Jn 19:17. As they led him away they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country; and after laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus. 27A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him. 28#19:41–44; 21:23–24. Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children, 29for indeed, the days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed.’ 30At that time people will say to the mountains, ‘Fall upon us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’#Hos 10:8; Rev 6:16. 31for if these things are done when the wood is green what will happen when it is dry?” 32Now two others, both criminals, were led away with him to be executed.
The Crucifixion.#Mt 27:33–44; Mk 15:22–32; Jn 19:17–24. 33When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left.#22:37; Is 53:12. 34[Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”]#[Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”]: this portion of Lk 23:34 does not occur in the oldest papyrus manuscript of Luke and in other early Greek manuscripts and ancient versions of wide geographical distribution. They divided his garments by casting lots.#Nm 15:27–31; Ps 22:19; Mt 5:44; Acts 7:60. 35The people stood by and watched; the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said,#Ps 22:8–9. “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Messiah of God.”#4:23. 36Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine#Ps 69:22; Mt 27:48; Mk 15:36. 37they called out, “If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.” 38Above him there was an inscription that read, “This is the King of the Jews.”
39#This episode is recounted only in this gospel. The penitent sinner receives salvation through the crucified Jesus. Jesus’ words to the penitent thief reveal Luke’s understanding that the destiny of the Christian is “to be with Jesus.” Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us.” 40The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? 41And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.”#23:4, 14, 22. 42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”#9:27; 23:2, 3, 38. 43He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”#2 Cor 12:3; Rev 2:7.
The Death of Jesus.#Mt 27:45–56; Mk 15:33–41; Jn 19:25–30. 44#Noon…three in the afternoon: literally, the sixth and ninth hours. See note on Mk 15:25. It was now about noon#Am 8:9. and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon 45because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle.#Ex 26:31–33; 36:35. 46Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”; and when he had said this he breathed his last.#Ps 31:6; Acts 7:59. 47The centurion who witnessed what had happened glorified God and said, “This man was innocent#This man was innocent: or, “This man was righteous.” beyond doubt.” 48When all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had happened, they returned home beating their breasts;#18:13; Zec 12:10. 49but all his acquaintances stood at a distance, including the women who had followed him from Galilee and saw these events.#8:1–3; 23:55–56; 24:10; Ps 38:12.
The Burial of Jesus.#Mt 27:57–61; Mk 15:42–47; Jn 19:38–42; Acts 13:29. 50Now there was a virtuous and righteous man named Joseph who, though he was a member of the council, 51had not consented to their plan of action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea and was awaiting the kingdom of God.#2:25, 38. 52He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53After he had taken the body down, he wrapped it in a linen cloth and laid him in a rock-hewn tomb in which no one had yet been buried.#19:30; Acts 13:29. 54It was the day of preparation, and the sabbath was about to begin. 55The women who had come from Galilee with him followed behind, and when they had seen the tomb and the way in which his body was laid in it,#8:2; 23:49; 24:10. 56they returned and prepared spices and perfumed oils. Then they rested on the sabbath according to the commandment.#Ex 12:16; 20:10; Dt 5:14.
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Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc