Luke23

Jesus is brought before Pilate, who finds no fault in him and sends him to Herod, who also finds no cause for death. Despite Pilate's attempts to release him, the multitude demands Barabbas and insists on Jesus' crucifixion. Jesus is crucified at Calvary, where he forgives his persecutors and promises paradise to a repentant malefactor. He dies after a period of darkness, and his body is laid in a new tomb by Joseph of Arimathaea.

Listen to this chapter

Jesus Before Pilate

And the whole company of them rose up, and brought him before Pilate.

And 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.

And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest.

And Pilate said unto the chief priests and the multitudes, I find no fault in this man.

But they were the more urgent, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Judæa, and beginning from Galilee even unto this place.

Jesus Interrogated by Herod

But when Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man were a Galilæan.

And when he knew that he was of Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him unto Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem in these days.

Now 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.

And he questioned him in many words; but he answered him nothing.

And the chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him.

And Herod with his soldiers set him at nought, and mocked him, and arraying him in gorgeous apparel sent him back to Pilate.

And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day: for before they were at enmity between themselves.

Pilate Condemns Jesus

And Pilate called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,

and 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:

no, nor yet Herod: for he sent him back unto us; and behold, nothing worthy of death hath been done by him.

I will therefore chastise him, and release him.

Not present in the manuscripts this translation follows.

But they cried out all together, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:—

one who for a certain insurrection made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.

And Pilate spake unto them again, desiring to release Jesus;

but they shouted, saying, Crucify, crucify him.

And 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.

But they were urgent with loud voices, asking that he might be crucified. And their voices prevailed.

And Pilate gave sentence that what they asked for should be done.

And 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.

The Road to the Cross

And 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.

And there followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women who bewailed and lamented him.

But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.

For 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.

Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.

For if they do these things in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

And there were also two others, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.

The Crucifixion

And 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.

And Jesus said, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And parting his garments among them, they cast lots.

And 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.

And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, offering him vinegar,

and saying, If thou art the King of the Jews, save thyself.

And there was also a superscription over him, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

And one of the malefactors that were hanged railed on him, saying, Art not thou the Christ? save thyself and us.

But the other answered, and rebuking him said, Dost thou not even fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

And he said, Jesus, remember me when thou comest in thy kingdom.

And he said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise.

Death of Jesus

And it was now about the sixth hour, and a darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour,

the sun’s light failing: and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

And Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said this, he gave up the ghost.

And when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

And all the multitudes that came together to this sight, when they beheld the things that were done, returned smiting their breasts.

And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed with him from Galilee, stood afar off, seeing these things.

The Burial

And behold, a man named Joseph, who was a councillor, a good and righteous man

(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:

this man went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.

And 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.

And it was the day of the Preparation, and the sabbath drew on.

And the women, who had come with him out of Galilee, followed after, and beheld the tomb, and how his body was laid.

And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. And on the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

Study Notes for Luke 23

Verse 1

After the religious trial by the Sanhedrin (Luke 22:66-71), the Jewish leaders bring Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor, as only the Roman authorities could execute a death sentence.

Verse 2

The charges presented are political (sedition, forbidding taxes) rather than religious, forcing Pilate to treat Jesus as a threat to Roman order.

Verse 3

Jesus’ ambiguous reply, 'Thou sayest it,' affirms his kingship while implicitly reframing it as non-political, thereby neutralizing the charge of sedition.

Verse 4

Luke repeatedly emphasizes Pilate’s conclusion of Jesus’ innocence (v. 4, 14, 22), highlighting that Jesus was condemned not by Roman law but by the pressure of the Jewish leadership and populace.

Verse 7

Herod Antipas was the tetrarch of Galilee. Pilate sends Jesus to him to avoid responsibility and because Herod had jurisdiction over Galileans.

Verse 8

Herod's interest was purely curiosity and a desire for entertainment, illustrating his lack of commitment to justice or truth.

Verse 9

Jesus’ silence before Herod contrasts with his earlier answers to the high priest and Pilate, perhaps fulfilling the suffering servant prophecy (Isa. 53:7).

Verse 12

This political maneuver resulted in reconciliation between Pilate and Herod, showing how dealing with Jesus brought temporary unity among those in power.

Verse 15

Pilate uses Herod’s non-condemnation as further evidence of Jesus’ innocence, establishing a dual Roman acquittal.

Verse 16

Pilate attempts a compromise—scourging (chastisement) followed by release—hoping to satisfy the crowd’s demand for punishment without executing an innocent man.

Verse 17

This parenthetical note explains the custom of releasing a prisoner during Passover, which the crowd exploits to demand Barabbas instead of Jesus.

Verse 19

Barabbas is explicitly identified as a revolutionary (sedition) and murderer, creating a stark contrast: the people choose a political criminal over the innocent Christ.

Verse 25

Pilate officially yields to the popular will, delivering Jesus to be crucified despite declaring him innocent three times (v. 4, 14, 22).

Verse 26

Simon of Cyrene, a man likely traveling to Jerusalem for the Passover, is compelled by the soldiers to carry Jesus’ cross, emphasizing Jesus’ extreme physical exhaustion.

Verse 28

Jesus shifts the focus from his own suffering to the impending judgment and destruction awaiting Jerusalem (fulfilled in 70 AD) due to their rejection of him.

Verse 29

This hyperbolic statement reflects the extremity of the coming suffering, making barrenness a blessing because childless mothers would not witness their children’s destruction.

Verse 31

A proverbial saying: if the innocent (the green tree) suffers such a fate, how much worse will the judgment be for the guilty (the dry tree, representing unrepentant Israel)?

Verse 33

Calvary is the Latin equivalent of the Aramaic 'Golgotha' (Place of the Skull). Jesus is crucified alongside two criminals, fulfilling the prophecy that he would be numbered with the transgressors (Isa. 53:12).

Verse 34

This is the first of Jesus’ seven sayings from the cross, demonstrating radical forgiveness toward his executioners. The plea 'they know not what they do' suggests a degree of culpable ignorance.

Verse 38

The inscription was written in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew so that all passersby could understand the official charge, ironically declaring the truth of Jesus' identity.

Verse 40

The interaction between the two malefactors is unique to Luke, serving as a powerful demonstration of repentance and faith in Jesus’ kingship even in his humiliation.

Verse 43

The second saying from the cross. 'Paradise' (a term for the Garden of Eden or the abode of the righteous dead) promises the repentant thief immediate entry into blessedness with Christ.

Verse 44

The 'sixth hour' (noon) to the 'ninth hour' (3 PM) was marked by supernatural darkness, signifying cosmic judgment and the gravity of the event.

Verse 45

The rending of the temple veil, which separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, symbolizes that access to God is now opened to all through Christ’s sacrifice.

Verse 46

Jesus’ final words in Luke, quoting Psalm 31:5, show his death as a deliberate act of trust and completion, not a defeat.

Verse 47

The centurion’s confession, 'Certainly this was a righteous man,' provides the final Roman testimony to Jesus’ innocence, concluding Luke’s repeated emphasis on his lack of guilt.

Verse 48

The crowd’s reaction (beating their breasts) signals immediate remorse or recognition of the tragic injustice they had demanded.

Verse 50

Joseph of Arimathea is identified as a member of the Sanhedrin ('counsellor') who dissented from the council’s decision, demonstrating that not all Jewish leaders rejected Jesus.

Verse 54

The burial had to be completed quickly because the 'preparation' day was ending, and the Sabbath (beginning at sunset) prohibited manual labor.

Verse 56

The women’s obedience to the Sabbath commandment, despite their grief, sets the stage for their visit to the tomb on the first day of the week (24:1).

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate

Luke23

Jesus Before Pilate

Jesus Interrogated by Herod

Pilate Condemns Jesus

The Road to the Cross

The Crucifixion

Death of Jesus

The Burial

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Options