1 And the entire multitude of them, rising up, led him to Pilate. 2 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.” 3 And Pilate questioned him, saying: “You are the king of the Jews?” But in response, he said: “You are saying it.” 4 Then Pilate said to the leaders of the priests and to the crowds, “I find no case against this man.” 5 But they continued more intensely, saying: “He has stirred up the people, teaching throughout all of Judea, beginning from Galilee, even to this place.” 6 But Pilate, upon hearing Galilee, asked if the man were of Galilee. 7 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. 8 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. 9 Then he questioned him with many words. But he gave him no response at all. 10 And the leaders of the priests, and the scribes, stood firm in persistently accusing him. 11 Then Herod, with his soldiers, scorned him. And he ridiculed him, clothing him in a white garment. And he sent him back to Pilate. 12 And Herod and Pilate became friends on that day. For previously they were enemies to one another. 13 And Pilate, calling together the leaders of the priests, and the magistrates, and the people, 14 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. 15 And neither did Herod. For I sent you all to him, and behold, nothing deserving of death was recorded about him. 16 Therefore, I will chastise him and release him.” 17 Now he was required to release one person for them on the feast day. 18 But the entire crowd exclaimed together, saying: “Take this one, and release to us Barabbas!” 19 Now he had been cast into prison because of a certain sedition that occurred in the city and for murder. 20 Then Pilate spoke to them again, wanting to release Jesus. 21 But they shouted in response, saying: “Crucify him! Crucify him!” 22 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.” 23 But they persisted, with loud voices, in demanding that he be crucified. And their voices increased in intensity. 24 And so Pilate issued a judgment granting their petition. 25 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. 26 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. 27 Then a great crowd of people followed him, with women who were mourning and lamenting him. 28 But Jesus, turning to them, said: “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep over me. Instead, weep over yourselves and over your children. 29 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.’ 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall over us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For if they do these things with green wood, what will be done with the dry?” 32 Now they also led out two other criminals with him, in order to execute them. 33 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. 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them. For they know not what they do.” And truly, dividing his garments, they cast lots. 35 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.” 36 And the soldiers also ridiculed him, approaching him and offering him vinegar, 37 and saying, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” 38 Now there was also an inscription written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew: This is the king of the Jews. 39 And one of those robbers who were hanging blasphemed him, saying, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us.” 40 But the other responded by rebuking him, saying: “Do you have no fear of God, since you are under the same condemnation? 41 And indeed, it is just for us. For we are receiving what our deeds deserve. But truly, this one has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And Jesus said to him, “Amen I say to you, this day you shall be with me in Paradise.” 44 Now it was nearly the sixth hour, and a darkness occurred over the entire earth, until the ninth hour. 45 And the sun was obscured. And the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. 46 And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said: “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” And upon saying this, he expired. 47 Now, the centurion, seeing what had happened, glorified God, saying, “Truly, this man was the Just One.” 48 And the entire crowd of those who came together to see this spectacle also saw what had happened, and they returned, striking their breasts. 49 Now all those who knew him, and the women who had followed him from Galilee, were standing at a distance, watching these things. 50 And behold, there was a man named Joseph, who was a councilman, a good and just man, 51 (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. 52 This man approached Pilate and petitioned for the body of Jesus. 53 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. 54 And it was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was drawing near. 55 Now the women who had come with him from Galilee, by following, saw the tomb and the manner in which his body was placed. 56 And upon returning, they prepared aromatic spices and ointments. But on the Sabbath, indeed, they rested, according to the commandment.
Luke · Catholic Public Domain Version
Luke 23 Catholic Public Domain Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (3)
- Esther and Daniel are the Vulgate books (Esther 1–16 with the Greek additions as chapters 10:4–16; Daniel 1–14 with the Song of the Three, Susanna and Bel). Baruch 6 is the Letter of Jeremiah.
- The translator's footnotes, cross-references, chapter summaries and book introductions in the CrossWire module are not shown.
- No imprimatur; single translator.
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)