The Gospels · Chapter 23 of 24

Luke 23

Jesus is brought before Pilate and Herod, who find no fault, yet the crowd demands Barabbas released and Jesus crucified. Led to Calvary, he prays forgiveness for his executioners and promises paradise to a repentant thief. Darkness falls, the temple veil tears, and Jesus commits his spirit to the Father. A centurion confesses his righteousness, and Joseph of Arimathaea lays his body in a tomb.

What happens in Luke 23

The council leads Jesus to Pilate, accusing him of subverting the nation and claiming kingship. Pilate finds no fault and sends him to Herod, who mocks and returns him. Pilate declares him innocent three times, offering to chastise and release him, but the crowd insists on crucifixion and the freeing of Barabbas, a murderer. Pilate yields. Simon of Cyrene is forced to carry the cross, and weeping women follow. At Calvary Jesus is crucified between two criminals, praying, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.

Rulers and soldiers mock him. One thief rails; the other confesses and asks to be remembered, and Jesus promises him paradise that very day. From noon a darkness covers the land, the temple veil is torn, and Jesus cries out, commending his spirit, and dies. A centurion glorifies God, and Joseph of Arimathaea takes the body and lays it in a new tomb as the sabbath draws near.

Luke 23 in context

Luke presents the trial and death with striking attention to Jesus' innocence, stated repeatedly by Pilate, Herod, one thief, and the centurion. Roman and Jewish authorities alike fail to convict him of any crime, yet he is condemned.

Even at the cross, Luke highlights Jesus' mercy toward enemies and the outcast, themes that have marked the whole Gospel, now brought to their costliest expression.

Main themes of Luke 23

Luke 23 (KJV)

1And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate. 2And 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. 3And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it. 4Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man. 5And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place. 6When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean. 7And 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. 8And 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. 9Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. 10And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. 11And 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. 12And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves. 13And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14Said 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: 15No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. 16I will therefore chastise him, and release him. 17(For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.) 18And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas: 19(Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.) 20Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. 21But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. 22And 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. 23And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. 24And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. 25And 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. 26And 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. 27And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. 28But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. 29For, 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. 30Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. 31For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry? 32And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. 33And 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. 34Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. 35And 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. 36And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, 37And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. 38And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 39And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. 44And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. 46And 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. 47Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. 48And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned. 49And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things. 50And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just: 51(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. 52This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. 53And 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. 54And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. 55And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. 56And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

Verses to carry from Luke 23

“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”Luke 23:34

“And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”Luke 23:43

“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.”Luke 23:46

Reflection

Barabbas walked free because Jesus took his place, and that is the whole gospel in one guilty man. The thief brought nothing but a last request and received paradise. Whatever weighs on your record, notice how low the door of mercy is set here. You do not have to climb to Jesus; you only have to ask to be remembered.

A prayer from Luke 23