Luke 23 · WEB
The Crucifixion of Jesus
Listen — WEB narration 0:00 / 0:00 Narration: World English Bible (David Williams), public domain — AudioTreasure.
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The 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 on him the cross, 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 breasts.
49All his acquaintances and the women who followed with him from Galilee stood at a distance, watching these things.
50Behold, 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.
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Summary
Jesus is brought before Pilate and Herod, who both find no guilt in him, yet Pilate yields to the crowd's demand to release Barabbas and crucify Jesus. At Golgotha, "The Skull," Jesus is crucified between two criminals, prays for his executioners' forgiveness, and promises Paradise to the repentant thief. Darkness covers the land, the temple veil tears, and Jesus commits his spirit to the Father; Joseph of Arimathea then lays his body in a new tomb just before the Sabbath.
Themes
- The innocent suffering Substitute
- Forgiveness from the cross
- Salvation by faith alone (the repentant criminal)
- The torn veil — access to God
- Apparent defeat masking redemption
Key verses
- Luke 23:34 — “Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing.”
- Luke 23:43 — “Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
- Luke 23:46 — “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!”
- Luke 23:47 — “Certainly this was a righteous man.”
Context & background
The trial and crucifixion took place in Jerusalem (modern Israel) during Passover, around AD 30-33. Pontius Pilate was the Roman governor of Judea (AD 26-36), based in Caesarea but in Jerusalem for the feast. Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee and Perea (modern northern Israel and Jordan), was the same Herod who had beheaded John the Baptist. Golgotha ("The Skull") was a low hill just outside Jerusalem's walls, traditionally located beneath the modern Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Crucifixion was Rome's most shameful execution, reserved for slaves and political rebels. The torn temple veil, 60 feet tall and four inches thick by tradition, separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.
Cross-references
- Hebrews 10:19-22 — The torn veil opens new and living access to God
- Isaiah 53:7-12 — The Suffering Servant silent before his accusers, numbered with transgressors
- Psalm 22:1-18 — Mocked, garments divided, hands and feet pierced
- Psalm 31:5 — "Into your hands I commit my spirit," quoted by Jesus
- Romans 5:6-8 — "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us"