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.

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Jesus Before Pilate

¶ And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.

And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, 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 it.

Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.

And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.

Jesus Interrogated by Herod

When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.

And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.

And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.

Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.

And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.

And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.

And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.

Pilate Condemns Jesus

¶ And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,

Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:

No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.

I will therefore chastise him, and release him.

(For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)

And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:

(Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)

Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.

But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.

And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.

And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.

And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.

And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

The Road to the Cross

¶ And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.

And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also 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 the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which 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 a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

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

The Crucifixion

And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.

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

And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.

And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou 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 unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Death of Jesus

¶ And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

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

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

And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.

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

The Burial

¶ And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:

(The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.

This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.

And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.

And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.

And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.

And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day 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).

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Luke23

Jesus Before Pilate

Jesus Interrogated by Herod

Pilate Condemns Jesus

The Road to the Cross

The Crucifixion

Death of Jesus

The Burial

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