23:1 Pilate The governor of the Roman province of Judaea from ad 26–36. He was responsible for maintaining order in the region, including resolving civil and criminal cases. See note on Matt 27:2.

23:2 forbidding us to pay taxes An outright lie. Earlier in Luke, Jesus advises people to give Caesar the things that belong to Caesar—including taxes (Luke 20:20–26).

23:3 You say so See 22:70 and note.

23:4 So Pilate said The dialogue that Luke includes here probably summarizes a much longer interrogation of Jesus.

Political Leaders in the New Testament Table

23:7 the jurisdiction of Herod Refers to Herod Antipas, who ruled Galilee and Perea from 4 bc to ad 39. See note on 3:1.

he sent him over to Herod Pilate had determined that the charges against Jesus were baseless (v. 4), but the Jewish leaders were persistent with their accusations (v. 5). Since Galilee was Herod’s territory, Pilate handed off the case to him.

in Jerusalem in those days Rulers from outlying regions often came to the holy city during major festivals.

23:8 when Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad Compare 9:7–9.

23:9 he answered nothing to him Likely an allusion to the prophecy about the Suffering Servant in Isaiah (see Isa 53:7 and note). Jesus’ silence frustrates Herod’s hope of seeing a miracle (Luke 23:8).

23:10 scribes See note on 5:21.

23:11 glistening The Greek word used here, lampros, refers to something shiny or bright. In Jas 2:2, the same word refers to clothing worn by wealthy men. In Acts 10:30, it describes the clothing of a heavenly figure in a vision.

23:13 and the people The people now join the religious leaders in the dispute with Pilate over Jesus’ fate.

23:16 and release him Following Luke 23:16, some ancient manuscripts include a statement (numbered v. 17) explaining the custom of releasing one prisoner during the Passover. Some of the oldest manuscripts of Luke do not include the extra verse; it appears to have been added to reflect similar explanations in Matt 27:15 and Mark 15:6. Outside the Bible, there is no record pertaining to the custom of releasing a prisoner.

23:18 release for us Barabbas After Pilate announces his intention to punish Jesus and then set Him free, the religious leaders and the people demand that Barabbas be released instead. An insurrectionist and murderer (Luke 23:19), Barabbas was truly guilty of inciting people against Rome—the very thing that Jesus was falsely accused of doing (vv. 2, 5).

23:21 Crucify him Crucifixion was the main form of execution used by the Romans and an extremely painful way to die. See Matt 10:38 and note.

23:23 their cries prevailed Luke goes out of his way to emphasize that Pilate would have released Jesus had it not been for the uproar among the Jews. Four times, Pilate states that he finds no valid reason to execute Jesus (Luke 23:4, 14, 15, 22); twice, Pilate resolves to set Him free (vv. 16, 22). Ultimately, Pilate’s own will succumbs to the will of the mob (vv. 24–25).

23:26 Simon, a certain man of Cyrene Likely a Jewish pilgrim visiting Jerusalem for Passover. Jews had lived in the city of Cyrene (located in modern-day Libya) since the third century bc.

placed the cross on him Normally, the person facing crucifixion carried the cross. Although Luke does not report that Jesus was flogged or beaten, the other Synoptic Gospels do (compare Matt 27:26, 30; Mark 15:15, 19). The need for someone else to carry the cross suggests that He was too weak to do so.

23:28 yourselves and for your children Compare Luke 19:44 and note.

23:29 the wombs that did not give birth The opposite of the blessing pronounced earlier on Jesus’ mother (11:27).

23:30 Fall on us A quotation from Hos 10:8, in which Israel cries for relief from God’s wrath. Jesus is telling the women that they will utter a similar cry when Jerusalem is punished for rejecting Him (compare Luke 21:22 and note).

23:31 when the wood is green Jesus’ statement in this verse probably contrasts His own fate with the coming judgment against Jerusalem (19:41–44). The women are weeping now, at the death of an innocent man, but their sorrow will be much greater when great anguish will come upon Judaea and its inhabitants.

23:32 two other criminals Luke does not specify their crimes. Matthew and Mark describe them as robbers or rebels. See note on Mark 15:27.

23:33 the place that is called “The Skull” Luke does not mention the site’s Aramaic name, “Golgotha” (see Matt 27:33 and note).

23:34 Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing Several ancient manuscripts of Luke do not include this quote from Jesus, suggesting that it may have been added later based on early church oral tradition.

they cast lots to divide his clothes A reference to Psa 22:18. Psalm 22 is a lament psalm closely associated with the suffering and death of Jesus (see note on Psa 22:title–31).

23:35 let him save himself This taunt from the rulers is full of irony. Had Jesus saved Himself, He would not have fulfilled His mission to save humanity.

23:38 This is the king of the Jews In addition to stating the charges against Jesus (Luke 23:2–3), this inscription is meant to mock Him. Ironically, it correctly identifies Jesus as Israel’s Messiah.

23:43 paradise The Greek word used here, paradeisos, appears in the Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation of the ot) to describe the garden of Eden (Gen 2:9; 13:10).

23:44 the sixth hour The day was counted from 6 a.m. (first hour) to 6 p.m. (twelfth hour). In the Greek text, Luke indicates that the sky became dark from about the sixth hour to the ninth hour, so roughly noon to 3 p.m. (see note on Matt 27:45).

23:45 the curtain of the temple was torn See Matt 27:51 and note.

23:46 into your hands I entrust my spirit Jesus’ final cry of dedication to God the Father in Luke’s Gospel is a quotation from Psa 31:5 (compare Luke 22:42).

23:47 Certainly this man was righteous Matthew and Mark record the centurion affirming Jesus’ identity as the Son of God (see Matt 27:54; Mark 15:39 and note). By Luke recording the centurion commenting on Jesus’ righteousness, he maintains a connection with the prophecy of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah (Isa 53:11).

23:48 beating their breasts A traditional sign of mourning.

23:50 a member of the council Refers to the Sanhedrin (see Luke 22:66 and note).

23:51 not consenting to their plan and deed Luke shows that the religious leaders’ opposition to Jesus was not unanimous.

23:52 asked for the body of Jesus Joseph apparently sought to give Jesus a proper burial before the Sabbath. Roman law permitted the burial of condemned criminals. If no one claimed the body, it would be buried in a common pit.

23:53 wrapped it in a linen cloth A burial shroud, part of the funerary customs of Jews in the first century. After the body of a person had decomposed, the bones would be collected and placed in an ossuary.

23:54 day of preparation According to the Jewish law, work had to be completed in advance of the Sabbath, which began at sundown.

23:56 according to the commandment See Exod 20:8–11; compare note on John 5:10.