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Luke 23

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And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.

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And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.

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And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.

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Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.

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And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.

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When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilean.

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And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.

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And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.

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Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.

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And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.

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And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.

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And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.

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And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,

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Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:

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No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.

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I will therefore chastise him, and release him.

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(For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)

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And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:

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(Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)

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Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.

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But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.

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And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.

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And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.

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And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.

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And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

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And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.

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And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.

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But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.

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For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.

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Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.

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

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And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.

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And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

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Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

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And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.

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And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,

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And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.

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And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

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And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

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But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

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And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

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And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

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And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

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And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

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And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

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And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

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Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

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And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.

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And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

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And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:

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(The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.

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This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.

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And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.

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And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.

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And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.

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And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

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Luke 23

Pilate's three declarations of innocence (I find no basis for a charge against this man; neither has Herod; he has done nothing to deserve death), Herod's mockery and return, the crowd's choice of Barabbas over Jesus, and Pilate's capitulation to political pressure form the trial sequence. Simon of Cyrene pressed into cross-bearing is the accidental illustration of what Jesus called his disciples to do. The Jerusalem women who weep are redirected: weep for yourselves and your children — the coming judgment makes barrenness a blessing and drives the people to call the mountains to cover them. The two criminals flanking Jesus fulfill the numbered-with-transgressors prophecy: one mocks, one confesses (this man has done nothing wrong; Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom), and receives today you will be with me in paradise. The three hours of darkness, the torn temple veil, and the Father-into-your-hands final breath are the cosmic and theological frame of the death. The centurion praises God: surely this was a righteous man. Joseph of Arimathea, waiting for the kingdom of God, takes the body and gives it burial. The women who have come from Galilee watch and prepare spices, then rest on the Sabbath.

Luke 23:18

But the whole crowd cried out, away with this man! Release Barabbas to us — away with this man (aire touton, take this one away): the crowd's cry for Jesus' removal. Release Barabbas to us: the choice of the insurrectionist over the innocent.

Luke 23:19

Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city and for murder — the irony of the Barabbas exchange is the narrative's sharpest: the actual murderous insurrectionist is released; the man falsely accused of insurrection is executed.

Luke 23:20

Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again — Pilate appealed again: the second attempt to release Jesus. Pilate's wanting to release Jesus is the politically motivated desire — not moral conviction but self-preservation.

Luke 23:21

But they kept shouting, crucify him! Crucify him — they kept shouting: the intensified, repeated demand. Crucify him (staurou staurou): the Roman execution method demanded by the Jewish crowd who cannot carry out the execution themselves.

Luke 23:1

Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate — the whole assembly (hapan to plēthos autōn): the complete Sanhedrin leading the condemned prisoner to the Roman governor. The transfer to Pilate is required because only Rome can execute; the Sanhedrin can condemn but cannot carry out the death penalty.

Luke 23:2

And they began to accuse him, saying, we have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Messiah, a king — the accusations before Pilate are the translated charges: subverting our nation, opposing taxes to Caesar, claiming to be Messiah-king. The tax accusation is demonstrably false (Jesus said give to Caesar what is Caesar's); the king accusation is the political charge that requires Pilate's attention.

Luke 23:3

So Pilate asked Jesus, are you the king of the Jews? Yes, it is as you say, Jesus replied — are you the king of the Jews: the Roman governor's question translates the Sanhedrin's Messiah into the Roman political category. Yes, it is as you say (sy legeis, you yourself are saying it): the indirect affirmation — the same formula as before the Sanhedrin.

Luke 23:4

Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, I find no basis for a charge against this man — I find no basis for a charge: the first acquittal declaration. Pilate's verdict is innocent. The charge is political; the evidence does not support the charge.

Luke 23:5

But they insisted, he stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here — they insisted (episcyron, were more insistent): the Sanhedrin's pressure in the face of the acquittal. The Galilee reference gives Pilate an exit: Galilee is Herod Antipas's jurisdiction.

Luke 23:6

On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean — the Galilee information is Pilate's political escape: if the prisoner is Galilean, he falls under Herod's jurisdiction. The question establishes the basis for the transfer.

Luke 23:7

When he learned that Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time — under Herod's jurisdiction: the transfer to Herod Antipas who has come to Jerusalem for the Passover. Pilate's sending of Jesus to Herod is the political maneuvering of a governor who doesn't want the case.

Luke 23:8

When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some kind — Herod greatly pleased: the curiosity satisfaction of the one who said I tried to see him earlier (9:9). Hoped to see him perform a sign: the spectacle-seeking that has characterized the rejection of Jesus throughout the Gospel.

Luke 23:9

He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer — many questions, no answer: Jesus' silence before Herod is the same silence as the Servant before his accusers (Isaiah 53:7). The one who performed miracles for the crowd's benefit gives Herod, who wants a performance, complete silence.

Luke 23:10

The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him — the Sanhedrin's vehement accusation before Herod continues the political pressure. The accusation before both Pilate and Herod communicates the Sanhedrin's determination to get the execution through any means.

Luke 23:11

Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate — ridiculed and mocked him: Herod's response to the silent Jesus is mockery. Dressing him in an elegant robe: the mock-coronation by Herod's soldiers. The robe is the ironic acknowledgment of the king-claim. Sent him back to Pilate: the transfer back — Herod is no more willing to execute him than Pilate.

Luke 23:12

That day Herod and Pilate became friends — before this they had been enemies — Herod and Pilate became friends that day: the unexpected political consequence of Jesus' trial. Two enemies united by their shared encounter with the one who is neither guilty nor to be defended.

Luke 23:13

Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people — called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people: the expanded audience for the second acquittal declaration. Pilate is building his case for release against the Sanhedrin's pressure.

Luke 23:14

And said to them, you brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him — I have examined him and found no basis for your charges: the second acquittal, now formally declared before the broader assembly.

Luke 23:15

Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death — neither has Herod: the independent corroboration. He has done nothing to deserve death: the verdict of two independent political processes. The innocence is doubly established.

Luke 23:16

Therefore, I will punish him and then release him — I will punish him and release him: the compromise proposal — flogging as satisfaction without execution. The punishing (paideusas, disciplining) before the release is Pilate's attempt to satisfy the crowd while avoiding the execution he knows is unjust.

Luke 23:22

For the third time he spoke to them: why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him — for the third time: the triple declaration of innocence mirrors Peter's triple denial. What crime has he committed: the unanswerable question. No grounds for the death penalty: the third acquittal.

Luke 23:23

But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed — loud shouts insistently demanding: the escalating pressure. Their shouts prevailed (kateischyon, were winning, overpowering): the crowd's will overcomes the judge's legal conclusion. Justice yields to political pressure.

Luke 23:24

So Pilate decided to grant their demand — Pilate decided to grant their demand: the capitulation. The judge who three times declared the prisoner innocent sentences him to death in response to crowd pressure.

Luke 23:25

He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will — released the insurrectionist-murderer and surrendered Jesus: the final exchange. Surrendered Jesus to their will (tō thelēmati autōn, to their desire): Pilate abandons his own will (to release) to their will (to crucify). The justice system's surrender to mob will.

Luke 23:26

As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus — the seizure of Simon of Cyrene: the compelled cross-bearing. He was coming in from the country (ap' agrou, from the field): the ordinary man on the ordinary errand, suddenly recruited into the passion. Carrying the cross behind Jesus: the accidental cross-bearer becomes the living illustration of the discipleship Jesus called for.

Luke 23:27

A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him — the large crowd following the crucifixion procession: the public execution in the ancient world. Women who mourned and wailed: the public lamentation that Jesus will reinterpret.

Luke 23:28

Jesus turned and said to them, daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children — daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me: the prophetic address to the Jerusalem women. Do not weep for me; weep for yourselves: the redirection of the grief toward the coming judgment on Jerusalem. The one going to his death is concerned for those who grieve for him.

Luke 23:29

For the time will come when you will say, blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed — blessed are the barren: the inversion of the ordinary blessing. In ordinary life, barrenness is the curse (1:7, 1:25); in the coming tribulation, barrenness will be the blessing — no children to lose in the destruction.

Luke 23:30

Then they will say to the mountains, fall on us! and to the hills, cover us — from Hosea 10:8: the call for the mountains to provide the mercy of burial as an escape from the coming judgment. The wish for the earth to cover them communicates the extremity of the tribulation — death preferred to the experience of the coming days.

Luke 23:31

For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry — the green tree/dry tree proverb: if the Romans execute an innocent man (the green tree, the living, fruitful) during the relative calm of a subject state, what will they do to the guilty (the dry tree, the flammable, the ready-to-burn) in full rebellion? The proverb anticipates the 70 CE destruction.

Luke 23:32

Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed — two criminals led out with him: the fulfillment of the numbered-with-transgressors prophecy (Isaiah 53:12). The execution is public, the company criminal, the timing Passover.

Luke 23:33

When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals — one on his right, the other on his left — the place called the Skull (Kranion, Golgotha): the execution site outside Jerusalem. Crucified him there: the act is stated simply — no elaboration. Along with the criminals, one on each side: the transgressors flanking the Servant of the Lord.

Luke 23:34

Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. And they divided up his clothes by casting lots — Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing: the first word from the cross in Luke. The prayer for the forgiveness of the executioners is the application of the love-of-enemies teaching at the moment of its ultimate test. They do not know: the ignorance as the ground for the forgiveness petition.

Luke 23:35

The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, he saved others; let him save himself if he is God's Messiah, the Chosen One — the people stood watching: the passive witnesses. The rulers sneered: the official mockery. He saved others; let him save himself: the logic of self-preservation applied to the one who saves by not saving himself.

Luke 23:36

The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar — the soldiers' mockery: the Gentile addition to the Jewish rulers' mockery. They offered him wine vinegar: the soldiers' crude hospitality — the sour wine of common soldiers offered in mockery.

Luke 23:37

And said, if you are the king of the Jews, save yourself — if you are the king of the Jews, save yourself: the political charge inverted into the mockery. The king who cannot save himself from crucifixion cannot be a king.

Luke 23:38

There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the Jews — the inscription above him: the charge posted in three languages (according to John). This is the king of the Jews: the Roman charge becomes the inadvertent confession. The title that Pilate's soldiers nail above the cross is the title that is true.

Luke 23:39

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us — one of the criminals: the first criminal adds his voice to the mockery. Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us: the self-interested demand — if you are who you claim to be, rescue us from this situation.

Luke 23:40

But the other criminal rebuked him. Don't you fear God, he said, since you are under the same sentence — but the other criminal rebuked him: the unexpected rebuke from a fellow condemned man. Don't you fear God: the first criminal's mockery is addressed as the failure of appropriate fear before God.

Luke 23:41

We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong — we are punished justly: the self-awareness of guilt — the acknowledgment that their suffering is deserved. But this man has done nothing wrong: the third-party confession of Jesus' innocence — from a criminal on a cross, the most credible source of testimony about the unjust crucifixion.

Luke 23:42

Then he said, Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom — Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom: the prayer of the penitent criminal. Remember me communicates the relational plea — not justify me or save me by merit but remember me. When you come into your kingdom: the faith that the crucified Jesus is a king with a kingdom to enter.

Luke 23:43

Jesus answered him, truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise — truly I tell you: the solemn affirmation. Today (sēmeron) you will be with me in paradise: the present-day fulfillment — not after a purgatorial waiting period but today. With me in paradise (en tō paradeisō): the immediate presence with Jesus in the place of divine blessing.

Luke 23:44

It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon — about noon: the crucifixion has been ongoing since nine in the morning (Mark 15:25). Darkness over the whole land from noon to three: the Amos 8:9 sign (I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight) as the cosmic response to the crucifixion.

Luke 23:45

For the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two — the sun stopped shining: the solar darkness as cosmic witness to the event. The curtain of the temple was torn in two: the veil separating the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple — the boundary between the divine and human presence — torn from top to bottom. The death of Jesus opens access to God.

Luke 23:46

Jesus called out with a loud voice, Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. When he had said this, he breathed his last — Father, into your hands I commit my spirit (Psalm 31:5): the third and final word from the cross in Luke — the prayer of complete trust. The loud voice communicates a death that is chosen rather than succumbed to. When he had said this, he breathed his last (exepneusen, breathed out): the voluntary release of the breath.

Luke 23:47

The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, surely this was a righteous man — the centurion's response is Luke's distinctive: praised God (edoxazen ton theon) rather than Mark's surely this was the Son of God. Surely this was a righteous man (dikaios): the Roman soldier's legal verdict — innocent, righteous. The military witness becomes the fourth human being to declare Jesus' innocence in this chapter (Pilate three times, Herod, Barabbas exchange, criminal on cross, centurion).

Luke 23:48

When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away — all the people who gathered beat their breasts: the communal lamentation gesture that communicates grief and guilt. The crowd that demanded crucifixion now beats their breasts in the aftermath.

Luke 23:49

But all those who knew him, including the women who had traveled with him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things — those who knew him stood at a distance watching: the community of disciples as witnesses from afar. Including the women who had traveled with him from Galilee (8:1–3): the named women disciples who will be the resurrection witnesses.

Luke 23:50

Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man — Joseph of Arimathea: member of the Sanhedrin who did not consent to the decision (verse 51). Good and upright (agathos kai dikaios) is the commendation of a man within the establishment who has retained integrity.

Luke 23:51

Who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God — had not consented to their decision and action: the internal dissent within the Sanhedrin. Waiting for the kingdom of God: the same posture as Simeon and Anna — the expectant awaiting of the divine fulfillment.

Luke 23:52

Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus's body — going to Pilate to ask for the body: the political courage of the act — a member of the Sanhedrin publicly associating himself with the executed rebel by claiming his body.

Luke 23:53

Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid — took it down, wrapped it in linen, placed it in a rock-cut tomb: the burial with care and dignity. One in which no one had yet been laid: the new tomb communicates both the honor of the burial and the narrative significance — the one who was placed there will be the first and only occupant.

Luke 23:54

It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin — Preparation Day (paraskeuē, the day before the Sabbath): the legal and theological urgency. The Sabbath was about to begin: the sunset was approaching, after which no burial work could be done.

Luke 23:55

The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it — the women followed and saw the tomb: the women's witness of the burial is the narrative bridge between the crucifixion and the resurrection. They saw where and how — the knowledge that will make the empty tomb's significance clear.

Luke 23:56

Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment — they prepared spices and perfumes: the intention to complete the burial care after the Sabbath. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment: the Torah observance of the women who will be the resurrection's first witnesses. The commandment is kept even in grief.

Luke 23:17

Now he was obliged to release one man to them at the Feast — the Passover prisoner release custom is mentioned here in some manuscripts: the Roman governor's customary gesture of releasing a prisoner at Passover as goodwill toward the subject population. Some manuscripts omit this verse as an explanatory gloss.