← All Chapters The Book of Luke · Chapter 23

Luke 23: The Crucifixion of the King

Jesus is tried before Pilate and Herod, condemned though innocent, and crucified, where he forgives his enemies and welcomes a dying thief into paradise.

Coming soon

Luke 23 (WEB)

1 The whole company of them rose up and brought him before Pilate.

2 They 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.”

3 Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He answered him, “So you say.”

4 Pilate said to the chief priests and the multitudes, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”

5 But they insisted, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee even to this place.”

6 But when Pilate heard Galilee mentioned, he asked if the man was a Galilean.

7 When he found out that he was in Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those days.

8 Now 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.

9 He questioned him with many words, but he gave no answers.

10 The chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him.

11 Herod with his soldiers humiliated him and mocked him. Dressing him in luxurious clothing, they sent him back to Pilate.

12 Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before that they were enemies with each other.

13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people,

14 and 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.

15 Neither has Herod, for I sent you to him, and see, nothing worthy of death has been done by him.

16 I will therefore chastise him and release him.”

17 Now he had to release one prisoner to them at the feast.

18 But they all cried out together, saying, “Away with this man! Release to us Barabbas!”—

19 one who was thrown into prison for a certain revolt in the city, and for murder.

20 Then Pilate spoke to them again, wanting to release Jesus,

21 but they shouted, saying, “Crucify! Crucify him!”

22 He 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.”

23 But they were urgent with loud voices, asking that he might be crucified. Their voices and the voices of the chief priests prevailed.

24 Pilate decreed that what they asked for should be done.

25 He released him who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus up to their will.

26 When 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.

27 A great multitude of the people followed him, including women who also mourned and lamented him.

28 But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.

29 For 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.’

30 Then they will begin to tell the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and tell the hills, ‘Cover us.’

31 For if they do these things in the green tree, what will be done in the dry?”

32 There were also others, two criminals, led with him to be put to death.

33 When 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.

34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots.

35 The 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!”

36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming to him and offering him vinegar,

37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”

38 An inscription was also written over him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

39 One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!”

40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Don’t you even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?

41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.”

42 He said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

43 Jesus said to him, “Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

44 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.

45 The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two.

46 Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” Having said this, he breathed his last.

47 When the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous man.”

48 All the multitudes that came together to see this, when they saw the things that were done, returned home beating their breasts.

49 All his acquaintances, and the women who followed with him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

50 Behold, 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:

52 this man went to Pilate, and asked for Jesus’ body.

53 He 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.

54 It was the day of the Preparation, and the Sabbath was drawing near.

55 The women, who had come with him out of Galilee, followed after, and saw the tomb, and how his body was laid.

56 They returned, and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

Summary

The council leads Jesus to Pilate, accusing him of stirring up the people and claiming to be a king. Pilate finds no guilt in him and sends him to Herod, who mocks him and sends him back. Though Pilate repeatedly declares Jesus innocent, the crowd demands his crucifixion and the release of Barabbas, and Pilate gives in. As Jesus is led away, Simon of Cyrene carries his cross, and Jesus speaks tenderly to the weeping women of Jerusalem. Crucified between two criminals, Jesus prays, Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing. One criminal mocks him, but the other asks to be remembered, and Jesus promises him paradise that very day. Darkness covers the land, the temple veil tears in two, and Jesus commits his spirit to the Father and dies. A centurion glorifies God and declares him righteous. Joseph of Arimathea, a good and righteous man, lays Jesus' body in a new tomb as the Sabbath begins.

Main Characters

  • Jesus — Condemned though innocent, he forgives his enemies, saves a dying thief, and gives up his spirit
  • Pilate — Finds no fault in Jesus yet yields to the crowd and delivers him to be crucified
  • The repentant criminal — Crucified beside Jesus, he asks to be remembered and is promised paradise
  • Joseph of Arimathea — A good and righteous council member who lays Jesus' body in a new tomb

Key Verse

Luke 23:34 (WEB)

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots.

Lessons Learned

  • Jesus suffered and died as the innocent one, bearing condemnation he did not deserve.
  • At the cross Jesus prays forgiveness for his enemies, showing the depth of God's mercy.
  • Salvation comes by simple faith, as the dying thief found welcome into paradise.
  • Jesus entrusted his spirit to the Father, completing the work he came to do.
  • Jesus is condemned though he is innocent. Pilate declares, 'I find no basis for a charge against this man,' yet hands him over to be crucified (Luke 23:4, 24, WEB).
  • Jesus forgives even those who crucify him. From the cross he prays, 'Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing' (Luke 23:34, WEB).
  • Salvation is received by humble faith. To the criminal who asked to be remembered, Jesus said, 'today you will be with me in Paradise' (Luke 23:43, WEB).
  • Jesus dies trusting the Father. With a loud voice he cried, 'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!' and breathed his last (Luke 23:46, WEB).
  • The cross moves witnesses to recognize his righteousness. The centurion glorified God, saying, 'Certainly this was a righteous man' (Luke 23:47, WEB).
  1. How do Pilate and Herod respond to Jesus, and what do their verdicts reveal about his innocence?
  2. What is striking about Jesus' first words from the cross?
  3. What does the exchange between Jesus and the two criminals teach us about salvation?
  4. How do the signs at Jesus' death, and the words he speaks, point to the meaning of the cross?
  5. Where in your own life do you need to hear Jesus' words of forgiveness and welcome from the cross?
  1. Pilate three times declares he finds no guilt in Jesus, and Herod likewise sends him back without condemning him (Luke 23:4, 14-15). Their verdicts underscore that Jesus is the innocent one, condemned in the place of the guilty, as Barabbas is released.
  2. Even while being nailed to the cross, Jesus prays for those crucifying him, 'Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing' (Luke 23:34). His mercy reaches his enemies and reveals the heart of God.
  3. One criminal mocks Jesus, but the other confesses his own guilt and asks Jesus to remember him (Luke 23:40-42). Jesus promises him paradise that very day, showing salvation comes by faith in Christ alone, even at the last hour (23:43).
  4. Darkness covers the land and the temple veil is torn in two as Jesus dies (Luke 23:44-45), signaling that the way to God is opened. His final words entrust his spirit to the Father (23:46), and the centurion declares him righteous (23:47).
  5. This is a personal application question. Invite members to receive personally the forgiveness and welcome Jesus offers from the cross. As leader, encourage gentle, honest sharing and rest in the wonder of his grace, and do not press anyone to share more than they wish.

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (WEB), the King James Version (KJV), and the American Standard Version (ASV), all of which are in the public domain.