Luke 23
23
Jesus Before Pilate
1 #
Matt. 27:2; Mark 15:1; John 18:28 Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. 2And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man #ver. 14; [Acts 17:6, 7; 24:5] misleading our nation and #[ch. 20:25] forbidding us to give tribute to #ch. 2:1; 3:1 Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, #John 18:33, 36, 37; 19:12; [Acts 17:7]a king.” 3#Matt. 27:11; Mark 15:2 And Pilate asked him, #ver. 37, 38; Matt. 2:2; John 18:39; 19:3 “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, #See ch. 22:70“You have said so.” 4Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, #ver. 14, 22; John 18:38; 19:4, 6; [Matt. 27:24; 1 Pet. 2:22]“I find no guilt in this man.” 5But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, #ch. 4:14; Matt. 4:12, 23; Mark 1:14; John 1:43; 2:11from Galilee even to this place.”
Jesus Before Herod
6When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7And when he learned that he belonged to #See ch. 3:1Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. 8When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, #ch. 9:9 for he had long desired to see him, #Matt. 14:1; Mark 6:14 because he had heard about him, and he was hoping #See Matt. 12:38to see some sign done by him. 9So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. 10The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. 11And Herod with his soldiers #Mark 9:12; Acts 4:11 treated him with contempt and #ch. 18:32 mocked him. Then, #[Matt. 27:28; Mark 15:17]arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. 12And #Acts 4:27; [Ps. 2:2]Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.
13Pilate then called together the chief priests and #See ch. 24:20the rulers and the people, 14and said to them, “You brought me this man #ver. 2 as one who was misleading the people. And #Acts 3:13 after examining him before you, behold, I #ver. 4did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. 15Neither did Herod, for #ver. 11he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. 16#ver. 22; John 19:1; [Acts 5:40]I will therefore punish and release him.”#23:16 Here, or after verse 19, some manuscripts add verse 17: Now he was obliged to release one man to them at the festival
Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified
18 # For ver. 18-25, see Matt. 27:15-26; Mark 15:6-15; John 18:39, 40; 19:16 But they all cried out together, #[Acts 21:36; 22:22]“Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— 19a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and #Acts 3:14for murder. 20Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, 21but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22A third time he said to them, “Why? #[ver. 41; John 8:46] What evil has he done? #ver. 14, 15 I have found in him no guilt deserving death. #ver. 16I will therefore punish and release him.” 23But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. 24So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. 25He released the man who had been thrown into prison #ver. 19 for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, #John 19:16but he delivered Jesus over to their will.
The Crucifixion
26 #
Matt. 27:32; Mark 15:21; [John 19:17] And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. 27And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were #ch. 8:52; Matt. 11:17mourning and lamenting for him. 28But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29For behold, #See ch. 17:22 the days are coming when they will say, #ch. 21:23; Matt. 24:19; Mark 13:17‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30#Hos. 10:8; Rev. 6:16; [Isa. 2:19]Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31For #[Prov. 11:31; 1 Pet. 4:17] if they do these things when #Ezek. 20:47the wood is green, what will happen #Ezek. 20:47when it is dry?”
32 #
Matt. 27:38; Mark 15:27; John 19:18; [Matt. 20:21] Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33#Matt. 27:33; Mark 15:22; John 19:17 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, #[See ver. 32 above]one on his right and one on his left. 34And Jesus said, “Father, #Isa. 53:12; See Matt. 5:44 forgive them, #[Mark 10:38]; See Acts 3:17 for they know not what they do.”#23:34 Some manuscripts omit the sentence And Jesus . . . what they do And they cast lots #Ps. 22:18; Matt. 27:35; Mark 15:24; John 19:23to divide his garments. 35And #Ps. 22:7, 17 the people stood by, watching, #Matt. 27:41, 42; Mark 15:31, 32 but #See ch. 24:20 the rulers #ch. 16:14 scoffed at him, saying, #[ch. 4:23] “He saved others; #[Matt. 26:53, 54; John 10:18] let him save himself, #[ch. 4:3, 9] if he is #See ch. 9:20; Matt. 1:17 the Christ of God, #ch. 9:35; Isa. 42:1; [Matt. 12:18; 1 Pet. 2:4]his Chosen One!” 36The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and #[Ps. 69:21; Matt. 27:48; Mark 15:36; John 19:29]offering him sour wine 37and saying, #ver. 35 “If you are #See ver. 3the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38#Matt. 27:37; Mark 15:26; John 19:19; [John 19:21, 22] There was also an inscription over him,#23:38 Some manuscripts add in letters of Greek and Latin and Hebrew “This is #[See ver. 37 above]the King of the Jews.”
39 # [Matt. 27:44; Mark 15:32] One of the criminals who were hanged #See Matt. 27:39 railed at him,#23:39 Or blasphemed him saying, “Are you not #ver. 35, 37the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42And he said, “Jesus, remember me #[Matt. 16:28]when you come into your kingdom.” 43And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in #2 Cor. 12:3; Rev. 2:7paradise.”
The Death of Jesus
44 #
Matt. 27:45; Mark 15:33; [John 19:14] It was now about the sixth hour,#23:44 That is, noon and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour,#23:44 That is, 3 p.m. 45while the sun’s light failed. And #Ex. 26:31-33; 2 Chr. 3:14the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46Then Jesus, #[Matt. 27:50; Mark 15:37; John 19:30] calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, #Cited from Ps. 31:5; [Acts 7:59] into your hands I #1 Pet. 4:19 commit my spirit!” And having said this #[John 10:18]he breathed his last. 47Now #Matt. 27:54; Mark 15:39 when the centurion saw what had taken place, #See ch. 7:16he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” 48And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home #ch. 18:13beating their breasts. 49And all #Ps. 88:8 his acquaintances and #ver. 55; John 19:25; See ch. 8:2 the women who had followed him from Galilee #Ps. 38:11stood at a distance watching these things.
Jesus Is Buried
50 # For ver. 50-56, see Matt. 27:57-61; Mark 15:42-47; John 19:38-42 Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, 51who had not consented to their decision and action; and he #ch. 2:25, 38was looking for the kingdom of God. 52This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and #[Isa. 53:9] laid him in a tomb cut in stone, #[Mark 11:2]where no one had ever yet been laid. 54It was the day of #See Matt. 27:62Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning.#23:54 Greek was dawning 55#Matt. 28:1 The women #ver. 49who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56Then they returned and #ch. 24:1; Mark 16:1; [John 19:39] prepared spices and ointments.
On the Sabbath they rested #Ex. 20:10; Deut. 5:14according to the commandment.
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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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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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