The Gospel According to St. Luke

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- Chapter 23 -

(Matthew 27:11–14; John 18:28–40)

And the entire multitude of them, rising up, led him to Pilate.

Then they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this one subverting our nation, and prohibiting giving tribute to Caesar, and saying that he is Christ the king.”

And Pilate questioned him, saying: “You are the king of the Jews?” But in response, he said: “You are saying it.”

Then Pilate said to the leaders of the priests and to the crowds, “I find no case against this man.”

But they continued more intensely, saying: “He has stirred up the people, teaching throughout all of Judea, beginning from Galilee, even to this place.”

Jesus before Herod

But Pilate, upon hearing Galilee, asked if the man were of Galilee.

And when he realized that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him away to Herod, who was himself also at Jerusalem in those days.

Then Herod, upon seeing Jesus, was very glad. For he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard so many things about him, and he was hoping to see some kind of sign wrought by him.

Then he questioned him with many words. But he gave him no response at all.

And the leaders of the priests, and the scribes, stood firm in persistently accusing him.(a)

Then Herod, with his soldiers, scorned him. And he ridiculed him, clothing him in a white garment. And he sent him back to Pilate.

And Herod and Pilate became friends on that day. For previously they were enemies to one another.

The Crowd Chooses Barabbas

(Matthew 27:15–23; Mark 15:6–11)

And Pilate, calling together the leaders of the priests, and the magistrates, and the people,

said to them: “You have brought before me this man, as one who disturbs the people. And behold, having questioned him before you, I find no case against this man, in those things about which you accuse him.

And neither did Herod. For I sent you all to him, and behold, nothing deserving of death was recorded about him.(b)

Therefore, I will chastise him and release him.”

Now he was required to release one person for them on the feast day.

But the entire crowd exclaimed together, saying: “Take this one, and release to us Barabbas!”

Now he had been cast into prison because of a certain sedition that occurred in the city and for murder.

Then Pilate spoke to them again, wanting to release Jesus.

But they shouted in response, saying: “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

Then he said to them a third time: “Why? What evil has he done? I find no case against him for death. Therefore, I will chastise him and release him.”

But they persisted, with loud voices, in demanding that he be crucified. And their voices increased in intensity.

And so Pilate issued a judgment granting their petition.

Then he released for them the one who had been cast into prison for murder and sedition, whom they were requesting. Yet truly, Jesus he handed over to their will.

The Crucifixion

(Psalm 22:1–31; Matthew 27:32–44; Mark 15:21–32; John 19:16–27)

And as they were leading him away, they apprehended a certain one, Simon of Cyrene, as he was returning from the countryside. And they imposed the cross on him to carry after Jesus.

Then a great crowd of people followed him, with women who were mourning and lamenting him.

But Jesus, turning to them, said: “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep over me. Instead, weep over yourselves and over your children.

For behold, the days will arrive in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that have not borne, and the breasts that have not nursed.’

Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall over us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’

For if they do these things with green wood, what will be done with the dry?”

Now they also led out two other criminals with him, in order to execute them.

And when they arrived at the place that is called Calvary, they crucified him there, with the robbers, one to the right and the other to the left.

Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them. For they know not what they do.” And truly, dividing his garments, they cast lots.

And people were standing near, watching. And the leaders among them derided him, saying: “He saved others. Let him save himself, if this one is the Christ, the elect of God.”

And the soldiers also ridiculed him, approaching him and offering him vinegar,

and saying, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

Now there was also an inscription written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew: This is the king of the Jews.

And one of those robbers who were hanging blasphemed him, saying, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us.”

But the other responded by rebuking him, saying: “Do you have no fear of God, since you are under the same condemnation?

And indeed, it is just for us. For we are receiving what our deeds deserve. But truly, this one has done nothing wrong.”

And he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

And Jesus said to him, “Amen I say to you, this day you shall be with me in Paradise.”(c)

The Death of Jesus

(Psalm 31:1–24; Matthew 27:45–56; Mark 15:33–41; John 19:28–30)

Now it was nearly the sixth hour, and a darkness occurred over the entire earth, until the ninth hour.

And the sun was obscured. And the veil of the temple was torn down the middle.

And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said: “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” And upon saying this, he expired.

Now, the centurion, seeing what had happened, glorified God, saying, “Truly, this man was the Just One.”(d)

And the entire crowd of those who came together to see this spectacle also saw what had happened, and they returned, striking their breasts.

Now all those who knew him, and the women who had followed him from Galilee, were standing at a distance, watching these things.

The Burial of Jesus

(Isaiah 53:9–12; Matthew 27:57–61; Mark 15:42–47; John 19:38–42)

And behold, there was a man named Joseph, who was a councilman, a good and just man,

(for he had not consented to their decision or their actions). He was from Arimathea, a city of Judea. And he was himself also anticipating the kingdom of God.

This man approached Pilate and petitioned for the body of Jesus.

And taking him down, he wrapped him in a fine linen cloth, and he placed him in a tomb hewn from rock, in which no one had ever been placed.

And it was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was drawing near.(e)

Now the women who had come with him from Galilee, by following, saw the tomb and the manner in which his body was placed.

And upon returning, they prepared aromatic spices and ointments. But on the Sabbath, indeed, they rested, according to the commandment.

Footnotes

(a)23:10 The leaders were of the priests; the scribes had no leaders among them.(Conte)

(b)23:15 The word ‘actum,’ in this context, refers to official records. Herod did not record any guilty verdict or judicial decision against him.(Conte)

(c)23:43 In paradise:That is, in the happy state of rest, joy, and peace everlasting. Christ was pleased, by a special privilege, to reward the faith and confession of the penitent thief, with a full discharge of all his sins, both as to the guilt and punishment; and to introduce him immediately after death into the happy society of the saints, whose limbo, that is, the place of their confinement, was now made a paradise by our Lord’s going thither.(Challoner)

(d)23:47 We know from the Gospel of Mark that the centurion was not merely saying that Jesus was a good man or a just man, but the Son of God. Some might argue that the centurion lacked true faith, and was merely remarking on Jesus’ innocence, that he was just, but not the Son of God. But the Romans believed in gods and sons of gods, so the centurion had a basic understanding that God can have a Son. And a Roman soldier stationed in Judea would certainly be aware of the controversies among the inhabitants. So he knew that many believed in Jesus as the Son of God, and he also knew that this was the controversy over which he was killed. Then, knowing all this, upon seeing the very act of Christ dying for our salvation, which effects the salvation of all, his comment was not merely that Jesus was innocent. For Christ was only innocent of the charges, if He is the Son of God and the Just One. If Jesus were merely a just man, or a son of God as all men are sons of God, then He would not be innocent. Therefore, the Soldier was saying that this man Jesus was truly the Son of God, the Just One.(Conte)

(e)23:54 Parasceve:That is, the eve, or day of preparation for the sabbath.(Challoner)

(Matthew 27:11–14; John 18:28–40)

The whole company of them rose up and brought him before Pilate.

They 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.”

Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He answered him, “So you say.”

Pilate said to the chief priests and the multitudes, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”

But they insisted, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee even to this place.”

Jesus before Herod

But when Pilate heard Galilee mentioned, he asked if the man was a Galilean.

When he found out that he was in Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those days.

Now 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.

He questioned him with many words, but he gave no answers.

The chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him.

Herod with his soldiers humiliated him and mocked him. Dressing him in luxurious clothing, they sent him back to Pilate.

Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before that they were enemies with each other.

The Crowd Chooses Barabbas

(Matthew 27:15–23; Mark 15:6–11)

Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people,

and 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.

Neither has Herod, for I sent you to him, and see, nothing worthy of death has been done by him.

I will therefore chastise him and release him.”

Now he had to release one prisoner to them at the feast.(a)

But they all cried out together, saying, “Away with this man! Release to us Barabbas!”—

one who was thrown into prison for a certain revolt in the city, and for murder.

Then Pilate spoke to them again, wanting to release Jesus,

but they shouted, saying, “Crucify! Crucify him!”

He 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.”

But they were urgent with loud voices, asking that he might be crucified. Their voices and the voices of the chief priests prevailed.

Pilate decreed that what they asked for should be done.

He released him who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus up to their will.

The Crucifixion

(Psalm 22:1–31; Matthew 27:32–44; Mark 15:21–32; John 19:16–27)

When 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.

A great multitude of the people followed him, including women who also mourned and lamented him.

But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.

For 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.’

Then they will begin to tell the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and tell the hills, ‘Cover us.’ (b)

For if they do these things in the green tree, what will be done in the dry?”

There were also others, two criminals, led with him to be put to death.

When 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.

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots.

The 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!”

The soldiers also mocked him, coming to him and offering him vinegar,

and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”

An inscription was also written over him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!”

But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Don’t you even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?

And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.”

He said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

Jesus said to him, “Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

The Death of Jesus

(Psalm 31:1–24; Matthew 27:45–56; Mark 15:33–41; John 19:28–30)

It was now about the sixth hour,(c) and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.(d)

The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two.

Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” Having said this, he breathed his last.

When the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous man.”

All the multitudes that came together to see this, when they saw the things that were done, returned home beating their breasts.

All his acquaintances and the women who followed with him from Galilee stood at a distance, watching these things.

The Burial of Jesus

(Isaiah 53:9–12; Matthew 27:57–61; Mark 15:42–47; John 19:38–42)

Behold, there was a man named Joseph, who was a member of the council, a good and righteous man

(he had not consented to their counsel and deed), from Arimathaea, a city of the Jews, who was also waiting for God’s Kingdom.

This man went to Pilate, and asked for Jesus’ body.

He 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.

It was the day of the Preparation, and the Sabbath was drawing near.

The women who had come with him out of Galilee followed after, and saw the tomb and how his body was laid.

They returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

Footnotes

(a)23:17 NU omits verse 17.

(b)23:30 ℘ Hosea 10:8

(d)23:44 p.m.