The Gospel According to St. Luke

⭑ Catholic Public Domain Version 2009 ⭑

- Chapter 23 -

(Matthew 27:11–14; John 18:28–40)

And the entire multitude of them, rising up, led him to Pilate.

Then they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this one subverting our nation, and prohibiting giving tribute to Caesar, and saying that he is Christ the king.”

And Pilate questioned him, saying: “You are the king of the Jews?” But in response, he said: “You are saying it.”

Then Pilate said to the leaders of the priests and to the crowds, “I find no case against this man.”

But they continued more intensely, saying: “He has stirred up the people, teaching throughout all of Judea, beginning from Galilee, even to this place.”

Jesus before Herod

But Pilate, upon hearing Galilee, asked if the man were of Galilee.

And when he realized that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him away to Herod, who was himself also at Jerusalem in those days.

Then Herod, upon seeing Jesus, was very glad. For he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard so many things about him, and he was hoping to see some kind of sign wrought by him.

Then he questioned him with many words. But he gave him no response at all.

And the leaders of the priests, and the scribes, stood firm in persistently accusing him.(a)

Then Herod, with his soldiers, scorned him. And he ridiculed him, clothing him in a white garment. And he sent him back to Pilate.

And Herod and Pilate became friends on that day. For previously they were enemies to one another.

The Crowd Chooses Barabbas

(Matthew 27:15–23; Mark 15:6–11)

And Pilate, calling together the leaders of the priests, and the magistrates, and the people,

said to them: “You have brought before me this man, as one who disturbs the people. And behold, having questioned him before you, I find no case against this man, in those things about which you accuse him.

And neither did Herod. For I sent you all to him, and behold, nothing deserving of death was recorded about him.(b)

Therefore, I will chastise him and release him.”

Now he was required to release one person for them on the feast day.

But the entire crowd exclaimed together, saying: “Take this one, and release to us Barabbas!”

Now he had been cast into prison because of a certain sedition that occurred in the city and for murder.

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

But they shouted in response, saying: “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

Then he said to them a third time: “Why? What evil has he done? I find no case against him for death. Therefore, I will chastise him and release him.”

But they persisted, with loud voices, in demanding that he be crucified. And their voices increased in intensity.

And so Pilate issued a judgment granting their petition.

Then he released for them the one who had been cast into prison for murder and sedition, whom they were requesting. Yet truly, Jesus he handed over to their will.

The Crucifixion

(Psalm 22:1–31; Matthew 27:32–44; Mark 15:21–32; John 19:16–27)

And as they were leading him away, they apprehended a certain one, Simon of Cyrene, as he was returning from the countryside. And they imposed the cross on him to carry after Jesus.

Then a great crowd of people followed him, with women who were mourning and lamenting him.

But Jesus, turning to them, said: “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep over me. Instead, weep over yourselves and over your children.

For behold, the days will arrive in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that have not borne, and the breasts that have not nursed.’

Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall over us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’

For if they do these things with green wood, what will be done with the dry?”

Now they also led out two other criminals with him, in order to execute them.

And when they arrived at the place that is called Calvary, they crucified him there, with the robbers, one to the right and the other to the left.

Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them. For they know not what they do.” And truly, dividing his garments, they cast lots.

And people were standing near, watching. And the leaders among them derided him, saying: “He saved others. Let him save himself, if this one is the Christ, the elect of God.”

And the soldiers also ridiculed him, approaching him and offering him vinegar,

and saying, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

Now there was also an inscription written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew: This is the king of the Jews.

And one of those robbers who were hanging blasphemed him, saying, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us.”

But the other responded by rebuking him, saying: “Do you have no fear of God, since you are under the same condemnation?

And indeed, it is just for us. For we are receiving what our deeds deserve. But truly, this one has done nothing wrong.”

And he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

And Jesus said to him, “Amen I say to you, this day you shall be with me in Paradise.”(c)

The Death of Jesus

(Psalm 31:1–24; Matthew 27:45–56; Mark 15:33–41; John 19:28–30)

Now it was nearly the sixth hour, and a darkness occurred over the entire earth, until the ninth hour.

And the sun was obscured. And the veil of the temple was torn down the middle.

And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said: “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” And upon saying this, he expired.

Now, the centurion, seeing what had happened, glorified God, saying, “Truly, this man was the Just One.”(d)

And the entire crowd of those who came together to see this spectacle also saw what had happened, and they returned, striking their breasts.

Now all those who knew him, and the women who had followed him from Galilee, were standing at a distance, watching these things.

The Burial of Jesus

(Isaiah 53:9–12; Matthew 27:57–61; Mark 15:42–47; John 19:38–42)

And behold, there was a man named Joseph, who was a councilman, a good and just man,

(for he had not consented to their decision or their actions). He was from Arimathea, a city of Judea. And he was himself also anticipating the kingdom of God.

This man approached Pilate and petitioned for the body of Jesus.

And taking him down, he wrapped him in a fine linen cloth, and he placed him in a tomb hewn from rock, in which no one had ever been placed.

And it was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was drawing near.(e)

Now the women who had come with him from Galilee, by following, saw the tomb and the manner in which his body was placed.

And upon returning, they prepared aromatic spices and ointments. But on the Sabbath, indeed, they rested, according to the commandment.

Footnotes

(a)23:10 The leaders were of the priests; the scribes had no leaders among them.(Conte)

(b)23:15 The word ‘actum,’ in this context, refers to official records. Herod did not record any guilty verdict or judicial decision against him.(Conte)

(c)23:43 In paradise:That is, in the happy state of rest, joy, and peace everlasting. Christ was pleased, by a special privilege, to reward the faith and confession of the penitent thief, with a full discharge of all his sins, both as to the guilt and punishment; and to introduce him immediately after death into the happy society of the saints, whose limbo, that is, the place of their confinement, was now made a paradise by our Lord’s going thither.(Challoner)

(d)23:47 We know from the Gospel of Mark that the centurion was not merely saying that Jesus was a good man or a just man, but the Son of God. Some might argue that the centurion lacked true faith, and was merely remarking on Jesus’ innocence, that he was just, but not the Son of God. But the Romans believed in gods and sons of gods, so the centurion had a basic understanding that God can have a Son. And a Roman soldier stationed in Judea would certainly be aware of the controversies among the inhabitants. So he knew that many believed in Jesus as the Son of God, and he also knew that this was the controversy over which he was killed. Then, knowing all this, upon seeing the very act of Christ dying for our salvation, which effects the salvation of all, his comment was not merely that Jesus was innocent. For Christ was only innocent of the charges, if He is the Son of God and the Just One. If Jesus were merely a just man, or a son of God as all men are sons of God, then He would not be innocent. Therefore, the Soldier was saying that this man Jesus was truly the Son of God, the Just One.(Conte)

(e)23:54 Parasceve:That is, the eve, or day of preparation for the sabbath.(Challoner)