Luke 23:48

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} all {G3956} the people {G3793} that came together {G4836} to {G1909} that {G5026} sight {G2335}, beholding {G2334} the things which were done {G1096}, smote {G5180} their {G1438} breasts {G4738}, and returned {G5290}.

Complete Jewish Bible

And when all the crowds that had gathered to watch the spectacle saw the things that had occurred, they returned home beating their breasts.

Berean Standard Bible

And when all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had happened, they returned home beating their breasts.

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 23:48 vividly portrays the immediate aftermath of Jesus' crucifixion, capturing the profound and visceral reaction of the gathered crowds. Having witnessed the extraordinary and terrifying phenomena accompanying His death, the onlookers, who had come to observe a public execution, were overcome with a deep sense of grief, remorse, and possibly conviction, expressed through the ancient gesture of beating their breasts before dispersing from the scene.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed immediately following the climactic moment of Jesus' death on the cross, as recorded in [Luke 23:46](/luke/23-46 "Luke 23:46 - Jesus' Final Words and Death"). Preceding this, Luke details the supernatural darkness that fell over the land from noon until three in the afternoon, and the dramatic tearing of the temple veil from top to bottom ([Luke 23:44-45](/luke/23-44-45 "Luke 23:44-45 - Darkness and the Torn Veil")). The Roman centurion's confession, "Truly this was a righteous man," in [Luke 23:47](/luke/23-47 "Luke 23:47 - The Centurion's Confession"), serves as an immediate human testimony to the divine significance of the preceding events. Luke 23:48 then shifts the focus to the broader crowd, demonstrating the widespread impact of Jesus' death beyond just the Roman soldiers, setting the stage for the subsequent narrative of His burial and resurrection.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Crucifixion was a public and brutal form of execution designed to deter rebellion and assert Roman authority. Crowds often gathered for such spectacles, driven by curiosity, morbid fascination, or even hostility towards the condemned. The act of "smoting their breasts" was a well-documented ancient Near Eastern and Greco-Roman gesture of intense mourning, deep sorrow, or profound self-condemnation. It signified a visceral, public display of anguish, often associated with a sense of irreparable loss or a dawning realization of guilt. The crowd's reaction, therefore, was not merely one of casual observation but a culturally understood expression of profound emotional distress, indicating a significant shift from their initial demeanor, which may have included mocking or indifference, as seen earlier in [Luke 23:35](/luke/23-35 "Luke 23:35 - The Rulers Scoff at Jesus").
* **Key Themes:** Luke 23:48 contributes to several major themes within Luke's Gospel and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the **divine vindication of Jesus**, as the extraordinary events surrounding His death compel even hostile or indifferent onlookers to acknowledge the gravity of what has transpired. Secondly, it highlights the theme of **human response to divine revelation**, showing how God's actions can elicit powerful, even if not fully redemptive, reactions from humanity. The crowd's sorrow suggests a dawning **conviction of sin** or at least a recognition of profound injustice, echoing the prophetic lament for the "pierced one" in [Zechariah 12:10](/zechariah/12-10 "Zechariah 12:10 - Mourning for the Pierced One"). Finally, it foreshadows the broader call to **repentance and turning** that will be central to the apostolic preaching in the book of Acts, where many will be "cut to the heart" by the message of Christ's death and resurrection ([Acts 2:37](/acts/2-37 "Acts 2:37 - Conviction at Pentecost")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **people (Greek, _óchlos'_):** This term, often translated as "multitude" or "throng," refers to a large, undifferentiated crowd, often implying common folk or the masses. In Luke's Gospel, the _óchlos_ frequently follows Jesus, sometimes with enthusiasm, sometimes with misunderstanding, and here, with a mixture of curiosity and eventual remorse. Its use here emphasizes the widespread, public nature of the reaction to the crucifixion, indicating that it was not just a few individuals but a significant portion of the gathered populace who were impacted.
* **beholding (Greek, _theōréō'_):** Derived from a root meaning "to be a spectator of," this verb implies a more intense and discerning observation than merely "seeing." It suggests a careful, perhaps even contemplative, gaze, indicating that the crowd was not simply glancing but actively processing and experiencing the events unfolding before them. Their "beholding" led to a profound internal shift, moving them beyond casual observation to a deeper, more visceral understanding of the "things which were done."
* **smote (Greek, _týptō'_):** This verb signifies striking or beating, often with repeated blows. In this context, "smote their breasts" refers to the ancient gesture of beating one's chest as a public display of intense grief, sorrow, or self-reproach. It is a powerful, non-verbal expression of inner turmoil and anguish, indicating a deep emotional impact rather than just a superficial reaction. The force implied by _týptō_ suggests a profound, almost violent, internal pain being externalized.
* **returned (Greek, _hypostréphō'_):** This verb means "to turn back" or "to return," implying a physical departure from the scene. However, in this context, it carries a deeper symbolic weight. It suggests not just a physical turning away from the sight of the crucifixion but perhaps also a spiritual turning or a shift in their internal disposition. While not explicitly stating repentance, it marks a significant departure from their previous state of mind, prompting introspection and a desire to leave the place of such profound horror and conviction.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And all the people that came together to that sight":** This phrase establishes the broad scope of the reaction. It was not a select few, but the entire multitude that had assembled to witness the crucifixion. The term "sight" (Greek, _theōría_) emphasizes the public spectacle of the event, highlighting that the crucifixion was a public, observable reality for all present.
* **"beholding the things which were done":** This clause clarifies the catalyst for the crowd's reaction. It was their active and discerning observation of the extraordinary phenomena surrounding Jesus' death—the darkness, the torn veil, and Jesus' manner of death—that profoundly affected them. The "things which were done" refers to the divine signs that accompanied the crucifixion, validating Jesus' identity and the cosmic significance of His suffering.
* **"smote their breasts":** This is the central action of the verse, a powerful non-verbal expression of profound grief, remorse, or self-condemnation. It signifies a visceral, gut-wrenching emotional response, indicating that the crowd was deeply moved and troubled by what they had witnessed, perhaps realizing the injustice or the divine implications of Jesus' death.
* **"and returned":** This final phrase describes the crowd's departure from Golgotha. It suggests a movement away from the scene, not necessarily in a spirit of indifference, but perhaps with a heavy heart, seeking to process the overwhelming experience they had just undergone. It marks the end of their immediate engagement with the crucifixion, but the impact of the "sight" undoubtedly lingered.

#### Literary Devices
Luke's account in [Luke 23:48](/luke/23-48 "Luke 23:48 - The Crowd's Reaction at the Cross") masterfully employs several literary devices to convey the profound impact of the crucifixion. **Symbolism** is prominent in the act of "smoting their breasts," a universally understood gesture of deep sorrow, repentance, or self-reproach, symbolizing the piercing of their hearts by the reality of Jesus' death. The phrase "beholding the things which were done" utilizes **Understatement** to refer to the cosmic events—the darkness and the torn veil—that accompanied the crucifixion, allowing the reader to infer the immense, supernatural power behind these "things." There is also a strong sense of **Pathos**, as Luke evokes pity and sorrow for the crucified Christ through the crowd's reaction, drawing the reader into the emotional gravity of the scene. Furthermore, the narrative presents a stark **Contrast** between the crowd's initial curiosity or hostility and their subsequent remorseful departure, highlighting the transformative power of divine revelation even on hardened hearts.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 23:48 serves as a poignant theological statement about the immediate and profound impact of the cross on human hearts. The crowd's reaction—their deep sorrow and self-reproach—underscores the inherent human capacity for conviction when confronted with divine truth and the raw reality of sin's consequence. While not explicitly stating repentance or faith, their response is a powerful testament to the unique, unsettling, and ultimately convicting nature of Jesus' death. It suggests that the cross, far from being a mere execution, was a divine act that elicited a deep, visceral response, laying the groundwork for the broader call to repentance and faith that would follow. It highlights how God's redemptive work, even in its most agonizing form, has the power to break through human indifference and hardness of heart.

* [Zechariah 12:10](/zechariah/12-10 "Mourning for the Pierced One")
* [Acts 2:37](/acts/2-37 "Conviction at Pentecost")
* [Psalm 38:18](/psalms/38-18 "David's Confession of Sin")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The scene at Golgotha, as depicted in [Luke 23:48](/luke/23-48 "Luke 23:48 - The Crowd's Reaction at the Cross"), offers a powerful mirror for contemporary believers. Just as the crowd was forced to confront the reality of Jesus' identity and the profound injustice of His death, so too are we called to allow the truth of the cross to penetrate our hearts. This verse challenges us to move beyond mere intellectual assent to the facts of the crucifixion and to allow its spiritual weight to produce a deep, authentic response within us. It reminds us that true encounter with the divine often leads to conviction, sorrow over sin, and a turning away from our former ways. Our "returning" from the "sight" of the cross should not be a return to indifference, but a turning towards a life transformed by its power, marked by humility, repentance, and a renewed commitment to Christ.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "things which were done" in the story of Jesus' crucifixion most profoundly impact your heart?**
* **How does the crowd's visceral reaction of "smoting their breasts" challenge you to move beyond intellectual understanding to a deeper, emotional response to Christ's sacrifice?**
* **In what ways do you need to "return" or turn away from aspects of your life that are inconsistent with the message of the cross?**

### FAQ

**What is the significance of "smoting their breasts" in ancient culture?**

Answer: In ancient Near Eastern and Greco-Roman cultures, "smoting their breasts" was a highly significant and widely recognized non-verbal gesture. It was a public and visceral expression of profound anguish, intense grief, deep sorrow, and often, self-condemnation or penitence. This act indicated a heart-wrenching realization of loss, guilt, or the magnitude of a tragic event. It was not a casual display but a powerful, physical manifestation of inner turmoil, suggesting that the individuals were deeply affected and perhaps even pricked in their conscience by what they had witnessed. This gesture is also seen in other biblical contexts, such as the tax collector in [Luke 18:13](/luke/18-13 "Luke 18:13 - The Tax Collector's Prayer"), who "smote upon his breast" as a sign of his deep contrition before God.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 23:48, while describing a human reaction to the cross, profoundly foreshadows the Christ-centered fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. The sorrow and self-reproach of the crowd, though not explicitly stated as saving faith, represent humanity's initial, visceral response to the ultimate sacrifice of the [Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). Jesus' death was not merely a tragic end but the very means by which God would draw all people to Himself ([John 12:32](/john/12-32 "John 12:32 - Jesus Predicts His Drawing All People")). The "things which were done" on the cross—His suffering, death, and the accompanying cosmic signs—were all part of God's sovereign plan to atone for sin and reconcile humanity to Himself. The crowd's "smoting their breasts" serves as a prototype for the conviction of sin that the Holy Spirit would bring, leading people to repent and believe in the resurrected Christ ([Acts 2:37-38](/acts/2-37-38 "Acts 2:37-38 - Peter's Call to Repentance")). Thus, the scene at Golgotha, culminating in the crowd's profound distress, points forward to the universal call of the gospel, inviting all to turn from their sins and embrace the forgiveness and new life offered through the crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ, the one who bore our sins in His own body on the tree ([1_peter/2-24](/1-peter/2-24 "1 Peter 2:24 - Christ Bore Our Sins")).

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 18:13

And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as [his] eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

Jeremiah 31:19

Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon [my] thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.

Acts 2:37

¶ Now when they heard [this], they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men [and] brethren, what shall we do?