Luke 23:21

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

But {G1161} they cried {G2019}, saying {G3004}, Crucify {G4717} him, crucify {G4717} him {G846}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But they yelled, “Put him to death on the stake! Put him to death on the stake!”

Berean Standard Bible

but they kept shouting, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

American Standard Version

but they shouted, saying, Crucify, crucify him.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 23:21 captures the chilling, unified demand of the agitated crowd for Jesus' execution, shouting, "Crucify him, crucify him." This pivotal moment in the Passion narrative reveals the intense animosity and mob mentality that ultimately condemned an innocent man, overriding Pilate's attempts at justice and setting the stage for the most significant event in human history: the crucifixion of the Son of God.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows Pontius Pilate's third declaration of Jesus' innocence (Luke 23:20), where he proposes to "chastise him, and let him go." Pilate had already tried to release Jesus by offering a choice between Him and Barabbas, a notorious insurrectionist and murderer, during the Passover custom of releasing a prisoner ([Luke 23:18-19](/luke/23-18-19 "Luke 23:18-19 - The Choice Between Jesus and Barabbas")). The chief priests and scribes, having successfully incited the crowd, had already swayed public opinion against Jesus. Thus, the crowd's cry in [Luke 23:21](/luke/23-21 "Luke 23:21 - The Crowd's Demand to Crucify Jesus") is the culmination of their manipulation, a direct and forceful rejection of Pilate's attempts at clemency and a decisive step towards Jesus' condemnation.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is Jerusalem during the Passover festival, a time when Jewish nationalistic fervor was high, and Roman occupation was keenly felt. Pilate, as the Roman governor, was acutely aware of the volatile political climate and the potential for riots, especially during a major festival. The demand for crucifixion was particularly brutal; it was a Roman method of execution designed for maximum suffering and public humiliation, typically reserved for slaves, rebels, and the lowest criminals. Jewish law prescribed stoning for blasphemy, but the crowd's demand for crucifixion indicates their desire for Jesus to suffer the most ignominious death possible under Roman authority, while also avoiding direct responsibility for the execution themselves ([John 18:31](/john/18-31 "John 18:31 - The Jews' Inability to Execute Jesus")).
* **Key Themes:** The cry in [Luke 23:21](/luke/23-21 "Luke 23:21 - The Crowd's Demand to Crucify Jesus") powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Luke's Gospel and the broader Passion narrative. It highlights the profound **injustice** of Jesus' trial, where an innocent man is condemned by popular clamor rather than legal evidence, echoing the theme of divine righteousness clashing with human corruption. It underscores the **rejection of Christ** by His own people, a tragic fulfillment of prophetic suffering servant passages like [Isaiah 53:3](/isaiah/53-3 "Isaiah 53:3 - Christ Despised and Rejected"). Furthermore, despite the human sin and malice evident in the crowd's demand, this event simultaneously serves as a crucial step in God's **sovereign plan of salvation**, demonstrating that even the most heinous human acts can be woven into God's redemptive purpose ([Acts 2:23](/acts/2-23 "Acts 2:23 - God's Determined Purpose and Foreknowledge")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **But (Greek, _dé'_):** This primary particle serves as an adversative, introducing a stark contrast to Pilate's repeated attempts at releasing Jesus. It highlights the sudden, forceful shift in the crowd's disposition from potential acceptance to vehement rejection, marking a dramatic turning point in the narrative where the will of the people definitively overrides the governor's judgment.
* **Cried (Greek, _epiphōnéō'_):** Derived from 'epi' (upon) and 'phōnéō' (to sound), this verb means "to call at something" or "exclaim." It describes a loud, unified, and forceful shout, indicating not merely a request but an insistent, public demand from the agitated crowd. The imperfect tense in the original Greek suggests a continuous or repeated action, emphasizing the sustained and overwhelming nature of their clamor.
* **Crucify (Greek, _stauróō'_):** From 'stauros' (cross), this verb literally means "to impale on the cross." In this context, it is a chilling demand for the most brutal and humiliating form of Roman execution, reserved for the worst criminals and rebels. The repetition of this command underscores the crowd's singular and unyielding desire for Jesus' death, demonstrating their complete rejection of His messianic claims and their preference for a violent insurrectionist over the Prince of Peace.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But they cried":** This phrase immediately introduces a sharp contrast to Pilate's preceding efforts to release Jesus, highlighting the crowd's sudden and aggressive shift in sentiment. The verb "cried" (epiphōnéō) denotes a loud, collective shout, emphasizing the unified and forceful nature of their demand, indicating a mob mentality at play that overrode any individual sense of justice or reason.
* **"saying":** This participle introduces the direct speech of the crowd, making their specific demand explicit. It sets the stage for the chilling words that follow, revealing the depth of their animosity and their determined will to see Jesus condemned.
* **"Crucify [him], crucify him":** The repetition of this imperative command is profoundly significant. It is not a hesitant request but a vehement, unyielding, and singular demand for Jesus' death by the most brutal means. The double utterance underscores the crowd's intense animosity, their complete rejection of Jesus, and their unwavering insistence that he be executed, overriding any sense of justice or mercy. This insistent cry sealed Jesus' fate at the hands of the Roman authorities, driven by the manipulated will of the people.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 23:21 powerfully employs **Repetition** to emphasize the crowd's fervent and unwavering demand. The doubling of "Crucify him, crucify him" is not merely a stylistic choice but serves to convey the overwhelming, unified, and relentless nature of their clamor, leaving no room for negotiation or reconsideration. This repetition creates a sense of escalating tension and inevitability, highlighting the mob's singular focus on Jesus' destruction. Furthermore, there is profound **Irony** in this scene: the very people who had witnessed Jesus' miracles, heard His teachings, and some of whom had hailed Him as Messiah, now vehemently demand His death. The innocent Son of God is condemned by His own people, while a guilty rebel (Barabbas) is set free, a stark reversal of justice that underscores the spiritual blindness and moral corruption at play.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The crowd's cry in Luke 23:21 stands as a stark testament to humanity's capacity for profound injustice and rejection of divine truth. It reveals the dangerous power of mob mentality, easily swayed by influential leaders, leading to the condemnation of the innocent Son of God. Theologically, this moment underscores the depth of human sin and rebellion against God, demonstrating that even in the presence of perfect righteousness, humanity can choose darkness. Yet, paradoxically, this human act of rejection was part of God's redemptive plan, a necessary step for the atoning sacrifice of Christ to be accomplished, fulfilling ancient prophecies regarding the suffering Messiah.

* [Isaiah 53:7](/isaiah/53-7 "Isaiah 53:7 - The Suffering Servant's Silence")
* [Acts 3:13-15](/acts/3-13-15 "Acts 3:13-15 - Peter's Accusation of Rejecting Christ")
* [1 Peter 2:23](/1_peter/2-23 "1 Peter 2:23 - Christ's Example of Suffering Patiently")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 23:21 serves as a sobering reminder of the spiritual battle between good and evil, and the ease with which human hearts can be swayed towards injustice when truth is suppressed by popular clamor. For believers today, this verse challenges us to cultivate discernment and moral courage, to resist the pressures of groupthink, and to stand for righteousness even when it is unpopular or costly. It calls us to examine our own hearts: are we quick to condemn, or do we seek justice and mercy? Are we willing to align ourselves with Christ, even when the world around us rejects Him? This passage also deepens our appreciation for Jesus' unwavering commitment to God's will, as He silently endured the shouts of hatred, knowing His suffering was for the salvation of those very voices.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I be susceptible to "mob mentality" or popular opinion, even when it contradicts biblical truth?**
* **How does Jesus' silent endurance in the face of such vehement opposition challenge my own responses to criticism or injustice?**
* **What specific actions can I take to cultivate discernment and courage to stand for Christ in a world that often rejects Him?**

### FAQ
**Why did the crowd demand Jesus' crucifixion instead of His release, especially after some had previously welcomed Him?**

Answer: The crowd's sudden shift from hailing Jesus as Messiah to demanding His crucifixion was primarily orchestrated by the chief priests and elders, who held significant influence over the populace. These religious leaders felt threatened by Jesus' teachings, His claims of divinity, and His growing popularity, which challenged their authority and traditions. They feared losing their power and status, and perhaps even Roman reprisal if Jesus' movement escalated into a rebellion. During the Passover, they leveraged the volatile atmosphere and the custom of releasing a prisoner to manipulate the crowd, presenting Barabbas (a known insurrectionist and murderer) as a more appealing choice to those seeking a political messiah, while portraying Jesus as a blasphemer and a threat to their religious and national identity. The crowd, easily swayed by impassioned rhetoric and groupthink, chose to release a revolutionary who aligned with their nationalistic hopes, and condemn the one who called them to spiritual transformation, ultimately crying out for the brutal Roman execution of the [Son of God](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The chilling cry of "Crucify him, crucify him" in [Luke 23:21](/luke/23-21 "Luke 23:21 - The Crowd's Demand to Crucify Jesus") represents the ultimate rejection of God's Son by humanity, yet it paradoxically serves as the very means by which God's redemptive plan was fulfilled. Jesus, the innocent Lamb of God, willingly submitted to this unjust condemnation, not as a victim of circumstance, but as the sovereign Lord fulfilling the ancient prophecies of a suffering servant who would bear the sins of many ([Isaiah 53:4-6](/isaiah/53-4-6 "Isaiah 53:4-6 - The Suffering Servant Bears Our Sins")). His crucifixion, demanded by the very people He came to save, became the ultimate act of divine love, demonstrating God's willingness to sacrifice His only Son to reconcile a rebellious world to Himself ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God's Love for the World")). Through this profound act of self-giving on the cross, Jesus absorbed the full wrath of God against sin, offering Himself as the perfect, once-for-all atoning sacrifice, thereby securing salvation and eternal life for all who believe in Him ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "God's Love Demonstrated") and [Hebrews 9:26-28](/hebrews/9-26-28 "Christ's Single Sacrifice")). Thus, the shouts of condemnation became the prelude to the greatest victory over sin and death, culminating in His glorious resurrection and ascension.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Luke 23:23

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

Matthew 27:22

Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? [They] all say unto him, Let him be crucified.

Matthew 27:25

Then answered all the people, and said, His blood [be] on us, and on our children.

Mark 15:13

And they cried out again, Crucify him.

John 19:15

But they cried out, Away with [him], away with [him], crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.