ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Luke 23

Luke 23:1–5 Only Rome could sentence someone to death (John 18:31), so the Sanhedrin brought Jesus to Pilate. The charges are now changed from religious (“blasphemy”) to political ones (Luke 23:2).

Luke 23:1 the whole company of them. The “assembly” (Sanhedrin) of 22:66. before Pilate. See 3:1. Normally the seat of the Roman government in Judea was Caesarea, not Jerusalem. Pilate was in Jerusalem at Passover to prevent rebellious activities. The Gospels suggest that Pilate was willing to execute Jesus because of his desire to maintain public calm. Jewish sources considered Pilate’s reign to have been quite harsh, charging him with greed and cruelty (see 13:1). Josephus mentions Pilate bringing pagan Roman troops into Jerusalem and taking temple funds to build an aqueduct.

Luke 23:2 began to accuse him. That is, bring formal charges against him. The religious reasons for Jesus’ condemnation would be of little interest to Rome, so the Sanhedrin changes them to political charges. The first charge, misleading our nation, involves seducing the nation away from loyalty to Rome. The second, forbidding . . . tribute to Caesar, is clearly false (see 20:20–26). The third is that he himself is Christ, a king (compare John 18:33, 36, 37). Jesus’ claims to kingship would be a direct challenge to Caesar.

Luke 23:3 Ignoring the first two charges, Pilate focuses on the third and asks, Are you the King of the Jews? Jesus’ answer, You have said so, repeats his earlier reply (see note on 22:70).

Luke 23:4–5 These verses are unique to Luke and emphasize Jesus’ innocence. Pilate’s verdict I find no guilt is repeated in vv. 14–16 and 22. they. The chief priests and crowds.

Luke 23:6–16 This account is found only in Luke (compare Acts 4:27–28). Both Pilate and Herod Antipas found Jesus innocent (Luke 23:15).

Luke 23:7 On Herod Antipas, see notes on 3:1; Matt. 14:1.

Luke 23:9 Jesus made no answer. Jesus’ silence fulfills Isa. 53:7. It places the responsibility for his death squarely on his accusers.

Luke 23:11 Herod and his soldiers dressed Jesus in splendid clothing (compare Mark 15:17–20) to mock his claim to kingship.

Luke 23:14 did not find this man guilty. For the second time, Pilate acknowledges Jesus’ innocence.

Luke 23:18 they. The chief priests, the rulers, and the people who have been stirred up by them. Away with this man, and release . . . Barabbas assumes knowledge of the custom of releasing a prisoner at the Passover (see Matt. 27:15; Mark 15:6; and the esv footnote on Luke 23:16). “Away with him” essentially means “crucify him” (compare John 19:15; see also Luke 23:21). Barabbas was a notorious criminal who had committed robbery, treason, and murder.

Luke 23:22 For the third time Pilate affirms Jesus’ innocence (compare vv. 4, 14–15).

Luke 23:25 Luke emphasizes that choosing Barabbas involved releasing one guilty of insurrection and murder and condemning Jesus. he delivered Jesus over to their will. See 9:44; 18:32; 24:7. Pilate gave in to the wishes of the crowd. He condemned Jesus to crucifixion, the Roman means of executing criminals convicted of high treason.

Luke 23:26 they (the Roman soldiers) . . . seized one Simon of Cyrene. Cyrene was a region in North Africa with a large Jewish population. Simon was likely a Jew who had traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover. See notes on Mark 15:21; Acts 13:1. Since he already had been scourged (see notes on Matt. 27:26; Mark 15:15; John 19:1), Jesus’ physical condition may have prevented him from carrying the cross.

Luke 23:27–31 Jesus quotes from Zech. 12:10–14. the days are coming. See Luke 19:43; 21:6; 22–24. “Blessed are the barren.” See note on 21:23. In those days, the “reproach” of childlessness (see 1:25) will be a blessing. “Fall on us.” Compare Hos. 10:8; Rev. 6:16. green . . . dry. If God did not spare his innocent son (“green” wood), how much worse will it be when he allows the Romans to unleash his wrath on a sinful nation (“dry” wood)?

Luke 23:32 Two others . . . criminals fulfills the prophecy of Isa. 53:12.

Luke 23:33 The Skull. In Matthew it is also called Golgotha, a transliteration of the Aramaic word for “skull.” See notes on Matt. 27:33; John 19:17. In Matt. 27:38 and Mark 15:27 the criminals are called “robbers”; see note on Matt. 27:38.

Luke 23:34 They cast lots to divide his garments is a clear reference to Ps. 22:18. Casting lots was sometimes used in the OT to discover God’s will, but here it is a form of gambling by the Roman guards. Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. Jesus follows his own teaching about loving one’s enemies (see Luke 6:35). His death was the basis upon which those who crucified him could be forgiven (Isa. 53:12). “They know not what they do” does not take away the responsibility of the religious or political leaders for Jesus’ death, but it shows that they did not fully understand the horrible evil that they were doing in crucifying the “Holy and Righteous One” (Acts 3:14).

Luke 23:35 Luke contrasts the behavior of the Jewish crowds (the people stood by; compare v. 48) and the Sanhedrin (but the rulers scoffed). The highest levels of Israel’s establishment seek one more opportunity to insult Jesus. He saved others; let him save himself. Compare Ps. 22:7–8. This is the first of three similar taunts (see Luke 23:37, 39). Christ of God. Christ means “Messiah” or “Anointed One.”

Luke 23:36 The soldiers also mocked him . . . offering him sour wine. This “wine vinegar” was the ordinary wine soldiers drank. Giving him a drink would keep him alive and continue his suffering.

Luke 23:38 It was customary for the charge against an executed person to be displayed prominently (inscription; see notes on Matt. 27:37; Mark 15:26; John 19:20). Over him suggests the cross was shaped like a lowercase “t.” Jesus was crucified on political grounds for claiming to be the Messiah, the King of the Jews.

Luke 23:39–43 This material occurs only in Luke. Hanged is a synonym for “crucified” (see Acts 5:30; also Deut. 21:22–23). Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom is both a plea and a confession of faith. Paradise is another name for heaven, the dwelling place of God and eternal home of the righteous (see 2 Cor. 12:3).

Luke 23:44–45 about the sixth hour . . . until the ninth hour. Noon until 3:00 p.m. (compare Matt. 27:45; Mark 15:33). Darkness represents lament (Amos 8:9–10) and divine judgment (Ex. 10:21–23). Here it is both literal (the sun’s light failed) and figurative, probably signifying that Jesus was bearing God’s wrath for his people (compare Joel 2:2; Amos 5:18, 20; Zeph. 1:15). It also expresses God’s judgment upon humanity for crucifying his Son. The darkness was not caused by a solar eclipse (see note on Matt. 27:45). The curtain leading from the Holy Place into the Most Holy Place was torn in two (see note on Matt. 27:51); see Herod’s Temple in the Time of Jesus.

Luke 23:46 I commit my spirit! Jesus’ own human spirit returned to the presence of God the Father (see note on John 19:30; also see Ps. 31:5; Eccles. 12:7; Acts 7:59). having said this he breathed his last. See note on John 10:17.

Luke 23:47 A centurion is a Roman officer in charge of a hundred men. Certainly this man was innocent. A final expression of Jesus’ innocence (compare v. 41; Matt. 27:54; Mark 15:39).

Luke 23:48 beating their breasts. A sign of grief and repentance (compare 18:13).

Luke 23:49 all his acquaintances. Jesus’ relatives, friends, and disciples. The women (see 8:1–3) are singled out because of their role in the resurrection account (23:55–56; 24:1–12; see John 19:25–27 and note on John 19:25).

Luke 23:50–51 a man named Joseph. See note on Matt. 27:57–60. He is unknown except for this incident, recorded in all four Gospels. The location of Arimathea is not certain, though some identify it as Ramah (or Ramathaim-Zophim; see 1 Sam. 1:19). From the Jewish town implies that Luke’s readers were Gentiles (see Luke 1:26). a member of the council. The Sanhedrin. A good and righteous man (compare 1:6; 2:25) and looking for the kingdom of God imply that Joseph was a believer (Matt. 27:57 calls him “a disciple of Jesus”).

Luke 23:52 went to Pilate and asked. As a member of the Sanhedrin, Joseph had greater access to the governor. His request would raise less suspicion and hostility than if Jesus’ family or the disciples had asked.

Luke 23:53 Then he took it down. Joseph supervised the removal of Jesus’ body from the cross. a tomb cut in stone. Joseph’s own tomb (Matt. 27:60; see note on Mark 15:46). Thus Jesus is buried in a rich man’s tomb (fulfilling Isa. 53:9). where no one had . . . been laid. Compare John 19:41.

Luke 23:54 The day of Preparation was the day before the Sabbath, Friday (see notes on John 19:14; 19:31; 19:42).

Luke 23:55 The women . . . followed and saw the tomb, so that they could return to it later (see 24:1).

Luke 23:56 Because they thought the body was not properly prepared, the women (whom Mark 16:1 identifies as “Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome”) prepared spices and ointments.