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Jesus taken to Pontius Pilate
1 Then the whole crowd of them rose up and led Him to Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this fellow perverting the nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar,* This was a plain lie. declaring himself to be Christ, a king.” 3 So Pilate questioned Him, saying, “Are you the king of the Jews?” In reply He said to him, “You said it!” 4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.”† It is necessary to read the parallel passages to get a fuller picture of what happened. It becomes clear that Pilate did not want to crucify Jesus. For a fuller discussion, please see the Appendix: “Poor Pilate—wrong place, wrong time”. 5 But they insisted, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee even to here.”
Jesus taken to Herod
6 When Pilate heard ‘Galilee’,‡ Perhaps 0.5% of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality, omit “Galilee” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.). he asked if the man was a Galilean. 7 Upon learning that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those days. 8 Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was really pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see Him, having heard so many things about Him; and he was hoping to see some miracle performed by Him. 9 He questioned Him with many words, but He gave him no answer.§ Herod was irrelevant; it was Pilate who had the authority to crucify. 10 On their part, the high priests and scribes stood by, vehemently accusing Him. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers, after ridiculing and mocking Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate. 12 (That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other—previously having been at odds with each other.)* An interesting ‘fringe benefit’.
Pilate sentences Jesus
13 Then Pilate, having called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14 said to them: “You have brought this man to me as one who misleads the people, and yet, having examined him in your presence, I have found no guilt in this man as to those things of which you accuse him. 15 Further, neither did Herod (for I sent you on to him);† Instead of “for I sent you on to him”, some 12% of the manuscripts have ‘for he sent him back to us’ (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.). indeed, nothing deserving of death has been done by him. 16 I will therefore flog and release him.” 17 (It was necessary for him to release one to them at the feast.)‡ About 2% of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality, omit verse 17 entirely (as in NIV, NASB, LB, [TEV], etc.).
18 But they all cried out together, saying: “Away with this one! Release to us Barabbas!”— 19 who had been thrown into prison for a certain insurrection in the city, and for murder. 20 Then Pilate, wanting to release Jesus,§ Comparing the accounts it is very clear that Pilate wanted no part of killing Jesus, but when they said “you are not Caesar's friend” he was beaten. addressed them again. 21 But they just kept shouting: “Crucify! Crucify him!” 22 For the third time he said to them: “But what evil has this man done? I have found no reason for death in him. I will therefore flog and release him.” 23 But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified! And their voices, especially of the chief priests,* A mere handful (0.5%) of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality, omit “especially of the chief priests” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.). prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25 He released the one who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for; but he delivered Jesus to their will.
Jesus is crucified
26 Now as they led Him away, they conscripted a certain Simon of Cyrene (coming in from a field), and put the cross on him to carry it behind Jesus.† Whether or not Simon was already a disciple at this moment (he may have been prepared), he evidently became one. It appears that Jesus was having trouble carrying His cross. 27 A considerable crowd of people followed Him, including women who were also mourning and lamenting Him. 28 So Jesus turned to them and said: “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; rather weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 Because indeed, the days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, even the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’‡ For Jews to say this, things would have to get really bad. 30 Then they will begin ‘to say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” ’§ See Hosea 10:8. 31 For if they do these things in the ‘green tree’, what will happen in the ‘dry’?”
32 There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. 33 When they arrived at the place called ‘The Skull’, they crucified Him there; also the criminals, one on His right, the other on His left.
34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing”;* The eclectic text currently in vogue (following less than 1% of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality) places within double brackets the first half of verse 34: “Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing’ ”. In this way they deny that Luke wrote it, surely a perverse proceeding. while they were dividing up His clothes by casting a lot. 35 Meanwhile the people stood looking on. And especially the rulers among them were sneering, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if such is the Christ, the chosen of God!” 36 Yes, even the soldiers mocked Him, approaching and offering Him sour wine, 37 and saying, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!”
38 In fact, above Him there was a written notice, in Greek, Latin and Hebrew letters:† A mere handful (0.5%) of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality, omit “written in Greek, Latin and Hebrew letters” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.).
THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.‡ The soldiers were just going along with the ‘game’; after all, His stated crime was that He was ‘the king of the Jews’.
39 Then one of the hanged criminals started berating Him, saying, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!”§ According to Matthew 27:44 and Mark 15:32, both of them started out by reviling Him, but later one of them repented—they were on the cross for about three hours before the supernatural darkness, so there was time to observe Jesus, which caused one of them to change his mind. 40 But the other reacted and rebuked him, saying: “Don't you even fear God, since you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward for our deeds; but this man did nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said to Jesus, “Please remember me, Lord,* Instead of “to Jesus, ‘Please remember me, Lord’ ”, perhaps 3% of the manuscripts have ‘Jesus, remember me’ (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.), which seriously weakens the man's statement. when you come in your kingdom.”† I find this statement to be impressive: the man is declaring that Jesus is the Messiah and will indeed inaugurate His Kingdom. Evidently the man knew the Bible; and his request was honored! 43 Jesus said to him, “I tell you assuredly, today you will be with me in Paradise.”‡ For Jesus to say ‘today’, He knew the man would die before sundown, so He knew the man's legs would be broken—otherwise he would most likely have lasted well into the night, which would have been ‘tomorrow’. ‘Paradise’ here refers to that half of Hades (Sheol in the OT) reserved for the righteous dead. Hades is the ‘halfway house’ where departed spirits await the final judgment. In Luke 16:22 it is called “Abraham's bosom”.
Jesus dismisses His spirit
44 Now it was about the sixth hour,§ Luke uses Jewish time, so it was about noon. and darkness came upon the whole land until the ninth hour. 45 Yes, the sun was darkened; also, the veil of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then, after giving a loud shout, Jesus said, “Father, it is into your hands that I will commit my spirit.” And having said this, He breathed out His spirit.* Both Matthew and John state overtly that Jesus dismissed His spirit. In John 10:17-18 He had declared that no one could kill Him, He would lay down His own life. The cross did not kill Jesus, as the centurion recognized (see the next note).
Various reactions
47 Well upon seeing what had happened, the centurion glorified God, saying, “Certainly this man was righteous!”† Any centurion would be a hardened soldier, who had seen no end of crucifixions. He knew that a cross killed by asphyxiation. Hanging from the hands, with the arms stretched out, pushes the diaphragm against the lungs so you cannot breathe. Nailing the feet was a sadistic procedure to prolong the agony—even though painful, the victim would push up so he could get a breath, until finally too worn out to do so. Breaking the legs would put an end to that expedient, and the person died within a few minutes, asphyxiated. Someone who is dying asphyxiated does not shout. Since Jesus gave a loud shout, but then immediately died, the centurion knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that the cross had not killed Jesus (later, when Joseph asks for the body, Pilate is surprised that Jesus could already be dead). But who can just tell his spirit to leave? Putting two and two together, the centurion concluded that Jesus was a supernatural being. Just so! 48 And the whole crowd that had gathered for the spectacle, when they saw what actually happened, went away beating their breasts.‡ This was a cultural expression of sorrow and distress. 49 But all His acquaintances, including the women who had followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
Jesus' body is buried
50 Now then, there was a man named Joseph, a good and righteous man, a Council member 51 (but he had not agreed with their counsel and action), from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who himself was waiting for the Kingdom of God: 52 this man went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock, where no one had ever been laid.§ Obviously the tomb had been prepared beforehand, and was a fulfillment of Isaiah 53:9, “He made His grave…with the rich at His deaths [plural]”. Nicodemus had already placed a hundred pounds of spices in the tomb, before helping Joseph remove and carry the body (John 19:39). 54 It was a Preparation day; the Sabbath was drawing near. 55 The women who had come with Him from Galilee followed along, and they saw the tomb and how His body was placed there.* That is, they saw where the body was taken, but did not see inside, and obviously did not know about the 100 pounds of spices. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.

*23:2 This was a plain lie.

†23:4 It is necessary to read the parallel passages to get a fuller picture of what happened. It becomes clear that Pilate did not want to crucify Jesus. For a fuller discussion, please see the Appendix: “Poor Pilate—wrong place, wrong time”.

‡23:6 Perhaps 0.5% of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality, omit “Galilee” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.).

§23:9 Herod was irrelevant; it was Pilate who had the authority to crucify.

*23:12 An interesting ‘fringe benefit’.

†23:15 Instead of “for I sent you on to him”, some 12% of the manuscripts have ‘for he sent him back to us’ (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.).

‡23:17 About 2% of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality, omit verse 17 entirely (as in NIV, NASB, LB, [TEV], etc.).

§23:20 Comparing the accounts it is very clear that Pilate wanted no part of killing Jesus, but when they said “you are not Caesar's friend” he was beaten.

*23:23 A mere handful (0.5%) of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality, omit “especially of the chief priests” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.).

†23:26 Whether or not Simon was already a disciple at this moment (he may have been prepared), he evidently became one. It appears that Jesus was having trouble carrying His cross.

‡23:29 For Jews to say this, things would have to get really bad.

§23:30 See Hosea 10:8.

*23:34 The eclectic text currently in vogue (following less than 1% of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality) places within double brackets the first half of verse 34: “Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing’ ”. In this way they deny that Luke wrote it, surely a perverse proceeding.

†23:38 A mere handful (0.5%) of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality, omit “written in Greek, Latin and Hebrew letters” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.).

‡23:38 The soldiers were just going along with the ‘game’; after all, His stated crime was that He was ‘the king of the Jews’.

§23:39 According to Matthew 27:44 and Mark 15:32, both of them started out by reviling Him, but later one of them repented—they were on the cross for about three hours before the supernatural darkness, so there was time to observe Jesus, which caused one of them to change his mind.

*23:42 Instead of “to Jesus, ‘Please remember me, Lord’ ”, perhaps 3% of the manuscripts have ‘Jesus, remember me’ (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.), which seriously weakens the man's statement.

†23:42 I find this statement to be impressive: the man is declaring that Jesus is the Messiah and will indeed inaugurate His Kingdom. Evidently the man knew the Bible; and his request was honored!

‡23:43 For Jesus to say ‘today’, He knew the man would die before sundown, so He knew the man's legs would be broken—otherwise he would most likely have lasted well into the night, which would have been ‘tomorrow’. ‘Paradise’ here refers to that half of Hades (Sheol in the OT) reserved for the righteous dead. Hades is the ‘halfway house’ where departed spirits await the final judgment. In Luke 16:22 it is called “Abraham's bosom”.

§23:44 Luke uses Jewish time, so it was about noon.

*23:46 Both Matthew and John state overtly that Jesus dismissed His spirit. In John 10:17-18 He had declared that no one could kill Him, He would lay down His own life. The cross did not kill Jesus, as the centurion recognized (see the next note).

†23:47 Any centurion would be a hardened soldier, who had seen no end of crucifixions. He knew that a cross killed by asphyxiation. Hanging from the hands, with the arms stretched out, pushes the diaphragm against the lungs so you cannot breathe. Nailing the feet was a sadistic procedure to prolong the agony—even though painful, the victim would push up so he could get a breath, until finally too worn out to do so. Breaking the legs would put an end to that expedient, and the person died within a few minutes, asphyxiated. Someone who is dying asphyxiated does not shout. Since Jesus gave a loud shout, but then immediately died, the centurion knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that the cross had not killed Jesus (later, when Joseph asks for the body, Pilate is surprised that Jesus could already be dead). But who can just tell his spirit to leave? Putting two and two together, the centurion concluded that Jesus was a supernatural being. Just so!

‡23:48 This was a cultural expression of sorrow and distress.

§23:53 Obviously the tomb had been prepared beforehand, and was a fulfillment of Isaiah 53:9, “He made His grave…with the rich at His deaths [plural]”. Nicodemus had already placed a hundred pounds of spices in the tomb, before helping Joseph remove and carry the body (John 19:39).

*23:55 That is, they saw where the body was taken, but did not see inside, and obviously did not know about the 100 pounds of spices.

© 2016 Wilbur N. Pickering, ThM, PhD