Luke 23: Trial, Crucifixion, and Burial

Short answer: Luke 23 narrates Jesus' trials before Pilate and Herod, the crowd's choice of Barabbas over him, and his crucifixion between two criminals. It closes with his death, the centurion's declaration, and his burial by Joseph of Arimathaea.

What Luke 23 says

The chapter opens with the whole company rising and bringing Jesus before Pilate. They accuse him of perverting the nation, forbidding tribute to Caesar, and claiming to be Christ a king. Pilate questions him directly about being the King of the Jews, and Jesus answers in a way that Pilate takes as no real defense. Pilate then declares to the chief priests and crowds that he finds no basis for a charge. But they insist he stirs up the people from Galilee to Jerusalem. Hearing Galilee mentioned, Pilate sends him to Herod, who happens to be in Jerusalem. Herod is glad, hoping for a miracle, but Jesus gives no answers. The chief priests and scribes vehemently accuse him. Herod and his soldiers humiliate and mock him, dress him in luxurious clothing, and send him back to Pilate. That day Herod and Pilate become friends, though they had been enemies before.

Pilate calls together the chief priests, rulers, and people. He repeats that he found no basis for their charges, and neither did Herod, since he sent him back. He proposes to chastise and release Jesus. But the crowd cries out together to take him away and release Barabbas, who was in prison for revolt and murder. Pilate speaks again, wanting to release Jesus, but they shout for crucifixion. A third time he asks what evil he has done, finding no capital crime, and repeats his intention to chastise and release. But their loud voices prevail, and Pilate decrees their request. He releases the one imprisoned for insurrection and murder, and delivers Jesus to their will. As they lead him away, they grab Simon of Cyrene to carry the cross behind Jesus. A great multitude follows, including women who mourn and lament. Jesus turns to them, telling them not to weep for him but for themselves and their children, speaking of days coming when barrenness will be called blessed and people will ask mountains to fall on them. He asks if they do these things in the green tree, what will happen in the dry.

Two criminals are led with him to be put to death. At the place called The Skull, they crucify him with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. Jesus says, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. They divide his garments and cast lots. The people stand watching, and the rulers scoff, saying he saved others, let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the chosen one. The soldiers mock him, offering vinegar and saying if he is the King of the Jews, save himself. An inscription over him reads in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. One criminal insults him, challenging him to save himself and them. The other rebukes him, noting they are under the same condemnation and justly so, but this man has done nothing wrong. He asks Jesus to remember him when he comes into his Kingdom. Jesus assures him that today he will be with him in Paradise.

About the sixth hour, darkness covers the land until the ninth hour. The sun is darkened, and the veil of the temple is torn in two. Jesus cries with a loud voice, Father, into your hands I commit my spirit, and breathes his last. The centurion sees what happened and glorifies God, saying certainly this was a righteous man. The multitudes who came to see return home beating their breasts. All his acquaintances and the women who followed from Galilee stand at a distance, watching. Joseph of Arimathaea, a council member who had not consented to their deed and was waiting for God's Kingdom, asks Pilate for Jesus' body. He takes it down, wraps it in linen, and lays it in a tomb cut in stone where no one had ever been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was drawing near. The women from Galilee follow, see the tomb and how his body was laid, then return to prepare spices and ointments, resting on the Sabbath according to the commandment.

Verses that carry the chapter

• “Pilate said to the chief priests and the multitudes, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.” (Luke 23:4)” (Luke 23:4) — Pilate's declaration of no basis for a charge against Jesus is a pivotal legal verdict that contrasts with the crowd's insistence and sets up the injustice of the crucifixion.
• “Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34) Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots.” (Luke 23:34) — Jesus' prayer for forgiveness while being crucified reveals his mercy and fulfills his teaching to love enemies, even in his suffering.
• “Jesus said to him, “Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)” (Luke 23:43) — Jesus' promise to the repentant criminal that he will be with him in Paradise shows immediate hope and assurance beyond death, based on simple faith.
• “Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” (Luke 23:46) Having said this, he breathed his last.” (Luke 23:46) — Jesus' final cry commits his spirit to the Father, showing trust and completing his earthly life with a prayer, while the centurion's response confirms his righteousness.

Gospel connection

Luke 23 stands at the center of the gospel story, where Jesus, though declared innocent by Pilate and Herod, is handed over to be crucified. This fulfills the pattern of the righteous sufferer found in the Psalms and prophets, and it is the means by which salvation comes. The chapter shows Jesus bearing the curse of the cross, yet extending forgiveness and promise to a dying criminal. His death is not a defeat but the payment for sin, and the tearing of the temple veil signals access to God. The centurion's confession and the burial by Joseph point forward to the resurrection, as Jesus is laid in a tomb where no one had been laid, setting the stage for the third day.

Application

This chapter asks the reader to face the stark reality of human sin and the cost of redemption. It invites us to see ourselves in the crowd, the rulers, and the criminals, and to recognize that we too need forgiveness. It calls us to trust in Jesus' promise of Paradise, not based on our own merit but on his grace. It also challenges us to follow him even in suffering, to carry our cross, and to extend forgiveness to others as he did. The women who prepared spices and rested on the Sabbath model faithful, quiet obedience. Ultimately, it asks us to confess with the centurion that this was a righteous man, and to live in light of his kingdom.

Biblical fidelity check

The chapter does not explain why Pilate ultimately gave in to the crowd beyond their loud insistence, nor does it detail Herod's earlier relationship with Jesus. It does not describe the physical agony of the crucifixion or the reactions of the two criminals beyond their recorded words. It does not name the women who followed from Galilee, nor does it specify what spices they prepared. It does not claim that the darkness was a solar eclipse or give its cause. It does not state where the disciples were during the crucifixion, except that acquaintances stood at a distance. It does not describe the resurrection, only the burial and the women's preparation before the Sabbath.

Questions for study

1. Why do you think Pilate declared Jesus innocent three times yet still handed him over to be crucified?
2. What does Jesus' response to the women on the way to the cross reveal about his priorities and concern?
3. How does the exchange between the two criminals challenge our understanding of repentance and faith?
4. What is the significance of the temple veil being torn in two at Jesus' death?
5. How does Joseph of Arimathaea's action encourage us to take risks for the sake of honoring Jesus?

Keep reading

Related studies: Luke 1 Bible Study, Luke 11 Bible Study, Luke 12 Bible Study, Luke 13 Bible Study.

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FAQ

Why did Pilate send Jesus to Herod?

Pilate sent Jesus to Herod because he learned Jesus was a Galilean under Herod's jurisdiction, and Herod was in Jerusalem at that time.

What did Jesus promise the repentant criminal?

Jesus promised him that today he would be with him in Paradise.

What happened at the moment of Jesus' death?

The sun was darkened, the veil of the temple was torn in two, and Jesus cried out, committing his spirit to the Father, then breathed his last.