Luke 23 Bible in Basic English
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 And they all went and took him before Pilate.
1 The whole company of them rose up and brought him before Pilate.
2 And they made statements against him, saying, This man has to our knowledge been teaching our nation to do wrong, and not to make payment of taxes to Caesar, even saying that he himself is Christ, a king.
2 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.”
3 And Pilate said to him, Are you the King of the Jews? And he said in answer, You say so.
3 Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He answered him, “So you say.”
4 And Pilate said to the chief priests and the people, In my opinion this man has done no wrong.
4 Pilate said to the chief priests and the multitudes, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”
5 But they became more violent than before, saying, He has made trouble among the people, teaching through all Judaea from Galilee to this place.
5 But they insisted, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee even to this place.”
6 But at these words Pilate said, Is the man a Galilaean?
6 But when Pilate heard Galilee mentioned, he asked if the man was a Galilean.
7 And when he saw that he was under the authority of Herod, he sent him to Herod, who was in Jerusalem himself at that time.
7 When he found out that he was in Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those days.
8 Now when Herod saw Jesus he was very glad, having for a long time had a desire to see him, for he had had accounts of him, and was hoping to see some wonders done by him.
8 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.
9 And he put a great number of questions to him, but he said nothing.
9 He questioned him with many words, but he gave no answers.
10 And the chief priests and the scribes were there, making statements against him violently.
10 The chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him.
11 And Herod, with the men of his army, put shame on him and made sport of him, and dressing him in shining robes, he sent him back to Pilate.
11 Herod with his soldiers humiliated him and mocked him. Dressing him in luxurious clothing, they sent him back to Pilate.
12 And that day Herod and Pilate became friends with one another, for before they had been against one another.
12 Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before that they were enemies with each other.
13 And Pilate sent for the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them,
13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people,
14 You say that this man has been teaching the people evil things: now I, after going into the question before you, see nothing wrong in this man in connection with the things which you have said against him:
14 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.
15 And Herod is of the same opinion, for he has sent him back to us; for, you see, he has done nothing for which I might put him to death.
15 Neither has Herod, for I sent you to him, and see, nothing worthy of death has been done by him.
16 And so I will give him punishment and let him go.
16 I will therefore chastise him and release him.”
17 []
17 Now he had to release one prisoner to them at the feast.
18 But with loud voices they said all together, Put this man to death, and make Barabbas free.
18 But they all cried out together, saying, “Away with this man! Release to us Barabbas!”—
19 Now this man was in prison because of an attack against the government in the town, in which there had been loss of life.
19 one who was thrown into prison for a certain revolt in the city, and for murder.
20 And Pilate again said to them that it was his desire to let Jesus go free.
20 Then Pilate spoke to them again, wanting to release Jesus,
21 But crying out they said, To the cross with him!
21 but they shouted, saying, “Crucify! Crucify him!”
22 And he said to them a third time, Why, what evil has he done? I see no reason for putting him to death: I will give him punishment and let him go.
22 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.”
23 But they went on crying out loudly, Let him be put to death on the cross. And they had their way.
23 But they were urgent with loud voices, asking that he might be crucified. Their voices and the voices of the chief priests prevailed.
24 And Pilate gave his decision for their desire to be put into effect.
24 Pilate decreed that what they asked for should be done.
25 And in answer to their request, he let that man go free who had been in prison for acting against the government and causing death, and Jesus he gave up to their pleasure.
25 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.
26 And while they were taking him away, they put their hands on Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and made him take the cross after Jesus.
26 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.
27 And a great band of people went after him, and of women making signs of grief and weeping for him.
27 A great multitude of the people followed him, including women who also mourned and lamented him.
28 But Jesus, turning to them, said, Daughters of Jerusalem, let not your weeping be for me, but for yourselves and for your children.
28 But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.
29 For the days are coming in which they will say, Happy are those who have had no children, whose bodies have never given birth, whose breasts have never given milk.
29 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.’
30 And they will say to the mountains, Come down on us, and to the hills, Be a cover over us.
30 Then they will begin to tell the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and tell the hills, ‘Cover us.’
31 For if they do these things when the tree is green, what will they do when it is dry?
31 For if they do these things in the green tree, what will be done in the dry?”
32 And two others, evil-doers, were taken with him to be put to death.
32 There were also others, two criminals, led with him to be put to death.
33 And when they came to the place which is named Golgotha, they put him on the cross, and the evil-doers, one on the right side, and the other on the left.
33 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.
34 And Jesus said, Father, let them have forgiveness, for they have no knowledge of what they are doing. And they made division of his clothing among them by the decision of chance.
34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots.
35 And the people were looking on. And the rulers made sport of him, saying, He was a saviour of others; let him do something for himself, if he is the Christ, the man of God's selection.
35 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!”
36 And the men of the army made sport of him, coming to him and giving him bitter wine,
36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming to him and offering him vinegar,
37 And saying, If you are the King of the Jews, get yourself free.
37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”
38 And these words were put in writing over him, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
38 An inscription was also written over him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
39 And one of the evil-doers on the cross, with bitter feeling, said to him, Are you not the Christ? Get yourself and us out of this.
39 One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!”
40 But the other, protesting, said, Have you no fear of God? for you have a part in the same punishment,
40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Don’t you even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?
41 And with reason; for we have the right reward of our acts, but this man has done nothing wrong.
41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 And he said, Jesus, keep me in mind when you come in your kingdom.
42 He said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”
43 And he said to him, Truly I say to you, Today you will be with me in Paradise.
43 Jesus said to him, “Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
44 And it was now about the sixth hour; and all the land was dark till the ninth hour;
44 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.
45 The light of the sun went out, and the curtain in the Temple was parted in two.
45 The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two.
46 And Jesus gave a loud cry and said, Father, into your hands I give my spirit: and when he had said this, he gave up his spirit.
46 Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” Having said this, he breathed his last.
47 And when the captain saw what was done, he gave praise to God, saying, Without doubt this was an upright man.
47 When the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous man.”
48 And all the people who had come together to see it, when they saw the things which were done, went back again making signs of grief.
48 All the multitudes that came together to see this, when they saw the things that were done, returned home beating their chests.
49 And all his friends and the women who came with him from Galilee, were waiting at a distance, watching these things.
49 All his acquaintances and the women who followed with him from Galilee stood at a distance, watching these things.
50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a man of authority and a good and upright man
50 Behold, there was a man named Joseph, who was a member of the council, a good and righteous man
51 (He had not given his approval to their decision or their acts), of Arimathaea, a town of the Jews, who was waiting for the kingdom of God:
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.
52 This man went to Pilate and made a request for the body of Jesus.
52 This man went to Pilate, and asked for Jesus’ body.
53 And he took it down, and folding it in a linen cloth, he put it in a place cut in the rock for a dead body; and no one had ever been put in it.
53 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.
54 Now it was the day of making ready and the Sabbath was coming on.
54 It was the day of the Preparation, and the Sabbath was drawing near.
55 And the women who had come with him from Galilee went after him and saw the place and how his body had been put to rest;
55 The women who had come with him out of Galilee followed after, and saw the tomb and how his body was laid.
56 And they went back and got ready spices and perfumes; and on the Sabbath they took their rest, in agreement with the law.
56 They returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Simon of Cyrene
A man from Cyrene coming in from the country whom the soldiers forced to carry the cross of Jesus; Mark calls him the father of Alexander and Rufus.
Cited in the guide: Matthew 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26
Cross references (53)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Matthew 27:1–2; Mark 15:1–5; Matthew 27:11–14; Luke 22:66; John 18:28–38
- 2 Acts 17:6–7; Luke 23:14; John 19:12; Mark 14:61–62; Luke 22:69–70
- 3 John 1:49; 1 Timothy 6:13; Luke 1:32–33; Mark 15:2; Luke 22:70
- 4 John 18:38; 1 Peter 1:19; 1 Peter 2:22; Hebrews 7:26; Mark 15:14
- 5 John 1:43; John 2:11; Mark 1:14; Matthew 4:23; John 19:15
- 6 Acts 5:37; Luke 13:1
- 7 Luke 3:1; Luke 13:31; Matthew 14:1
- 8 Luke 9:7–9; Mark 6:14; Matthew 14:1; 2 Kings 5:11; Acts 8:19
- 9 Matthew 27:14; 1 Peter 2:23; Luke 13:32; Isaiah 53:7; Psalm 39:9
- 10 Luke 23:14–15; Luke 11:53; Luke 23:5; Luke 23:2; Acts 24:5
- 11 Mark 15:16–20; Matthew 27:27–30; Isaiah 53:3; Psalm 69:19–20; John 19:5
- 12 Acts 4:27; Revelation 17:13–14; Matthew 16:1; Psalm 83:4–6
- 13 John 18:38; Matthew 27:21–23; Mark 15:14; John 19:4
- 14 Daniel 6:4; Hebrews 7:26; Luke 23:4–5; Acts 13:28; Matthew 27:19
- 16 Matthew 27:26; Luke 23:22; Mark 15:15; Isaiah 53:5; Acts 5:40–41
- 18 Acts 21:36; Acts 3:14; Acts 22:22; John 18:39–40; Mark 15:6–15
- 19 Acts 3:14; Luke 23:5; Luke 23:2
- 20 Mark 15:15; Matthew 14:8–9; John 19:12; Matthew 27:19
- 21 Matthew 27:22–25; Luke 23:23; Mark 15:13; John 19:15
- 22 Luke 23:14; Luke 23:20; 1 Peter 3:18; Luke 23:16; 1 Peter 1:19
- 23 Zechariah 11:8; Psalm 57:4; Psalm 22:12–13; Luke 23:5
- 24 Matthew 27:26; Proverbs 17:15; Exodus 23:2; Mark 15:15; John 19:1
- 25 Acts 3:14; Mark 15:15; Mark 15:6–7; Matthew 27:26; Luke 23:5
- 26 Matthew 27:32–44; Mark 15:21–32; Luke 9:23; Acts 2:10; Luke 14:27
- 27 Luke 8:52; Luke 8:2; Mark 15:40; Luke 23:55; Matthew 27:55
- 28 Song of Songs 8:4; Song of Songs 2:7; Song of Songs 1:5; Song of Songs 3:10; Song of Songs 5:8
- 29 Matthew 24:19; Luke 21:23–24; Mark 13:17–19; Hosea 9:12–16; Hosea 13:16
- 30 Revelation 6:16; Hosea 10:8; Isaiah 2:19; Revelation 9:6
- 31 1 Peter 4:17–18; Proverbs 11:31; John 15:6; Ezekiel 20:47–48; Ezekiel 15:2–7
- 32 Mark 15:27; Isaiah 53:12; Matthew 27:38; John 19:18; Hebrews 12:2
- 33 Mark 15:22–23; John 19:17–18; Zechariah 12:10; Matthew 27:33–34; Deuteronomy 21:23
- 34 Matthew 5:44; Acts 7:60; 1 Peter 3:9; 1 Peter 2:20–23; Luke 6:27–28
- 35 Psalm 22:17; Isaiah 42:1; 1 Peter 2:4; Mark 15:29–32; Matthew 12:18
- 36 Psalm 69:21; Matthew 27:48; Matthew 27:34; Mark 15:36; Mark 15:19–20
- 38 Matthew 27:37; Mark 15:26; John 19:19–22; Luke 23:3; Mark 15:32
- 39 Matthew 27:44; Mark 15:32; Luke 23:35; Luke 23:37; Luke 17:34–35
- 40 Luke 12:5; Revelation 15:4; Ephesians 5:11; Psalm 36:1; Jeremiah 5:3
- 41 Leviticus 26:40–41; Ezra 9:13; Matthew 27:4; 1 Peter 1:19; Matthew 27:24
- 42 Romans 10:9–14; Acts 16:31; 1 John 5:11–13; 1 Corinthians 6:10–11; Luke 12:8
- 43 Revelation 2:7; Psalm 50:15; 1 Timothy 1:15–16; Luke 19:10; Psalm 32:5
- 44 Matthew 27:45; Mark 15:33–34; Amos 8:9; Acts 2:20; John 19:14
- 45 Hebrews 10:19–22; Matthew 27:51; Hebrews 9:3–8; Mark 15:38; Ephesians 2:14–18
- 46 Psalm 31:5; Acts 7:59; John 19:30; 1 Peter 2:23; Mark 15:34–41
- 47 Matthew 27:54; Mark 15:39; Luke 23:41; Matthew 9:8
- 48 Luke 18:13; Acts 2:37; Jeremiah 31:19
- 49 Luke 8:2; Psalm 38:11; Luke 23:55; Matthew 27:55–56; Mark 15:40–41
- 50 John 19:38–42; Acts 11:24; Acts 10:22; Acts 10:2; Mark 15:42–47
- 51 Luke 2:25; Luke 2:38; Isaiah 8:12; Genesis 37:21–22; Genesis 42:21–22
- 52 John 19:38–42
- 53 Matthew 27:59–60; Mark 15:46; Isaiah 53:9
- 54 Matthew 27:62; John 19:31; Mark 15:42; John 19:14; John 19:42
- 55 Luke 23:49; Luke 8:2; Matthew 27:61; Mark 15:47
- 56 Luke 24:1; Mark 16:1; Deuteronomy 5:14; Exodus 20:8–10; Jeremiah 17:24–25
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
And from this fact, that He exclaimed upon the cross, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do," the long-suffering, patience, compassion, and goodness of Christ are exhibited, since He both suffered, and did Himself exculpate those who had maltreated Him.
… be mindful of mercy." What is this but that He puts Himself for the Jews, of whose nation He was, who were troubled with great anger and crucified Christ, when He, mindful of mercy, said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do? "God shall come from Teman, and the Holy One from the shady and close mountain." …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
… judge others, when one is chargeable with the same things." And why marvel at His establishing this law, when even the very thief knew it upon the cross, saying to the other thief, "Dost not thou fear God, seeing we are in the same condemnation;" expressing the same sentiments with Christ?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
There is yet another witness of the sinlessness of Jesus,--the robber, the first man admitted into Paradise; who rebuked his fellow, and said, "We receive the due reward of our deeds; but this man hath done nothing amiss; for we were present, both thou and I, at His judgment."
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
And on this account our Lord also on the cross says, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do:" for, not yet having become partakers of the grace of the Holy Spirit, they had not yet entered the fellowship of the holy brotherhood.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)