Luke 23
World English Bible
WEB1The whole company of them rose up and brought him before Pilate. 2They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man perverting the nation, forbidding paying taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” 3Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He answered him, “So you say.” 4Pilate said to the chief priests and the multitudes, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.” 5But they insisted, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee even to this place.” 6But when Pilate heard Galilee mentioned, he asked if the man was a Galilean. 7When he found out that he was in Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those days. 8Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad, for he had wanted to see him for a long time, because he had heard many things about him. He hoped to see some miracle done by him. 9He questioned him with many words, but he gave no answers. 10The chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him. 11Herod with his soldiers humiliated him and mocked him. Dressing him in luxurious clothing, they sent him back to Pilate. 12Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before that they were enemies with each other. 13Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, 14and said to them, “You brought this man to me as one that perverts the people, and behold, having examined him before you, I found no basis for a charge against this man concerning those things of which you accuse him. 15Neither has Herod, for I sent you to him, and see, nothing worthy of death has been done by him. 16I will therefore chastise him and release him.” 17Now he had to release one prisoner to them at the feast. 18But they all cried out together, saying, “Away with this man! Release to us Barabbas!”— 19one who was thrown into prison for a certain revolt in the city, and for murder. 20Then Pilate spoke to them again, wanting to release Jesus, 21but they shouted, saying, “Crucify! Crucify him!” 22He said to them the third time, “Why? What evil has this man done? I have found no capital crime in him. I will therefore chastise him and release him.” 23But they were urgent with loud voices, asking that he might be crucified. Their voices and the voices of the chief priests prevailed. 24Pilate decreed that what they asked for should be done. 25He released him who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus up to their will. 26When they led him away, they grabbed one Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, and laid the cross on him to carry it after Jesus. 27A great multitude of the people followed him, including women who also mourned and lamented him. 28But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29For behold, the days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ 30Then they will begin to tell the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and tell the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31For if they do these things in the green tree, what will be done in the dry?” 32There were also others, two criminals, led with him to be put to death. 33When they came to the place that is called “The Skull”, they crucified him there with the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. 34Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots. 35The people stood watching. The rulers with them also scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others. Let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, his chosen one!” 36The soldiers also mocked him, coming to him and offering him vinegar, 37and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38An inscription was also written over him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 39One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!” 40But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Don’t you even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42He said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” 43Jesus said to him, “Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” 44It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. 45The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. 46Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” Having said this, he breathed his last. 47When the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous man.” 48All the multitudes that came together to see this, when they saw the things that were done, returned home beating their chests. 49All his acquaintances and the women who followed with him from Galilee stood at a distance, watching these things. 50Behold, there was a man named Joseph, who was a member of the council, a good and righteous man 51(he had not consented to their counsel and deed), from Arimathaea, a city of the Jews, who was also waiting for God’s Kingdom. 52This man went to Pilate, and asked for Jesus’ body. 53He took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb that was cut in stone, where no one had ever been laid. 54It was the day of the Preparation, and the Sabbath was drawing near. 55The women who had come with him out of Galilee followed after, and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56They returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org
Overview
Luke Chapter 23 presents the climactic events leading to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The chapter begins with Jesus being brought before #Pilate, the Roman governor, where he is accused of misleading the nation and claiming to be the King of the Jews. Pilate, after questioning Jesus, finds no basis for a charge against him and sends him to #Herod, who is curious to see Jesus but ultimately returns him to Pilate without any verdict. This interaction highlights the political maneuvering and the innocence of Jesus amidst the false accusations against him. Pilate attempts to release Jesus, offering to free a prisoner during the Passover, but the crowd, stirred by the religious leaders, demands the release of #Barabbas, a notorious criminal, instead of Jesus. This moment underscores the tragic rejection of the Messiah by his own people, fulfilling the prophecies of suffering and betrayal found in the Scriptures.
The chapter continues with the journey to Golgotha, where Jesus is led to be crucified. Along the way, he encounters the women of #Jerusalem, whom he encourages not to weep for him but for themselves and their children, indicating the coming judgment upon the city. As Jesus is crucified, he is mocked by the rulers and soldiers, yet he responds with grace, asking the Father to forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. This profound act of forgiveness exemplifies the heart of Jesus' mission. The chapter concludes with Jesus' final moments on the cross, where he assures one of the criminals being crucified alongside him of his place in paradise, demonstrating that salvation is available even in the final hour. The chapter ends with Jesus' death, the tearing of the temple veil, and the centurion's declaration of Jesus' righteousness, affirming his identity as the Son of God.
Referenced by
- Genesis 40:14v42In Genesis 40:14, Joseph asks the cupbearer to remember him when he is restored, paralleling the thief on the cross in Luke 23:42, who asks Jesus to remember him in His kingdom.
- Psalms 31:5v46Psalm 31:5 expresses trust in God by committing one's spirit into His hands, a verse Jesus quotes on the cross in Luke 23:46, demonstrating His trust in the Father even in death.
- Hosea 10:8v30Hosea 10:8 speaks of people calling to the mountains to cover them, a theme echoed in Luke 23:30, where Jesus refers to a future time of judgment when people will seek refuge from divine wrath.
Topics in this chapter
- Crucifixion
- Forgiveness
- Salvation
- Grace
- Sacrifice
- Atonement
- Jesus
- Redemption
- Eternal Life
- Mercy
- Barabbas
- Burial
- Centurion
- Darkness
- Discipleship
- Faith
- Faith in Action
- Herod
- Innocence
- Integrity
- Jerusalem
- Judgment
- Kingdom of God
- Messiah
- New Covenant
- Prophecy Fulfillment
- Recognition in the Bible
- Reconciliation
- Repentance
- Roman Governor
- Substitution
- Tetrarch
- Witness
- Access to God
- Authority
- Christ
- Christian Art
- Christian Literature
- Christian Music
- Communion
- Compassion
- Confession
- Courage
- Criminals
- Crossbearer
- Death of Jesus
- Divinity
- Endurance
- Faithfulness
- Fulfilled Prophecy
- Gentile Recognition
- Golgotha
- Good Friday
- Herod Antipas
- Identity in Christ
- Impact of the Gospel
- Intercession
- Jesus' Trial
- Joseph of Arimathea
- Justice
- Kingship
- Ministry
- Mission
- Mockery
- Paradise
- Passion
- Passover
- Peacebuilding
- Pilate
- Political Tension in the Bible
- Pontius Pilate
- Prayer
- Prisoner
- Proclamation
- Promise
- Prophecy Fulfilled
- Reflection in the Bible
- Resurrection
- Revelation
- Savior
- Scripture Fulfillment
- Simon of Cyrene
- Sinlessness
- Suffering Servant
- Surrender
- Temple Curtain
- Testimony
- The Cross
- The Roman Empire
- Trial
- Trial of Jesus
- Trust
- Trusting God
Related chapters
- Mark 15CrossbearerSimon of CyreneTemple Curtain
- Matthew 27Jesus' TrialBarabbasDeath of Jesus
- John 19Death of JesusGolgothaJoseph of Arimathea
- Isaiah 53Good FridaySubstitutionBurial
- John 18PilateTrial of JesusBarabbas
- Psalms 22MockeryGood FridayPassion
- Psalms 31Good FridaySurrender
- Luke 9HerodTetrarchThe Cross
- Mark 14Trial of JesusPassionSurrender
- Luke 3TetrarchHerod AntipasPontius Pilate
- Matthew 26Pontius PilateRoman GovernorPassion
- Luke 22Pontius PilateRoman GovernorPassion
Your study
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