Luke 23

1 Then the whole [entire, complete] council [company, multitude] rose [stood up, arose] and led [brought, took] Jesus [he, the Messiah] away [to a different place, before] to [unto, before] Pilate [the Roman governor]. word study 2 And they began [to initiate, started] to accuse Him, saying, “We found [discovered, met] this man [Jesus, the Messiah] subverting [perverting, twisting] our nation [the Jewish people, Gentiles], forbidding [preventing, hindering] payment of taxes [tribute, customs] to Caesar [the Roman emperor], and proclaiming [declaring, saying] Himself to be Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah], a King [a sovereign ruler, monarch].” word study 3 So Pilate [the Roman governor] asked Him, “Are You [as You claim to be] the King [ruler, sovereign] of the Jews [the people of Judah, Israelites]?” “You [Yourself, personally] have said [asserted, declared] so,” Jesus replied [answered, responded]. word study 4 Then [at that moment, next] Pilate [the Roman governor] said to the chief priests [high-priest, Jewish leaders] and the crowds [multitudes, large groups of people], “I find [discover, come to know] no basis [fault, cause] for a charge [blameworthy, guilty] against this man [human being, Jesus].” word study 5 But they kept insisting [with growing urgency, more fiercely], “He stirs up [incites, provokes] the people [a crowd, a multitude] all over Judea [the region, the land] with His teaching [instruction, doctrine]. He began [started, commenced] in Galilee [the district, the area] and has come [traveled, journeyed] all the way here [to this place, unto this point].” word study 6 When Pilate [the Roman governor] heard this, he asked if the man [a human being] was a Galilean [from Galilee] [being a resident of that area]. word study 7 And learning [coming to know, gaining insight] that Jesus was under [subject to, within the jurisdiction of] Herod’s [the ruler, king] jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod [the tetrarch, ruler of Galilee], who himself [personally, in his own presence] was in [present, residing] Jerusalem [the holy city] at that time [in those days, during that period]. word study 8 When Herod [the tetrarch, a ruler] saw Jesus [the Messiah, God’s salvation], he was greatly [exceedingly, very] pleased [rejoiced, glad]. He had wanted [desired, been eager] to see Him for a long time [a long season, for a while], because he had heard [learned, been informed] about Him [concerning Jesus, many things] and was hoping [expecting, wishing] to see Him perform [do, work] a miracle [a sign, a wonder]. word study 9 Herod [the Roman-appointed king] questioned [asked many things, sought information] Jesus [the Messiah, the Christ] at great length [in many words, for a long time], but He gave [responded with, answered] no [none, nothing] answer [response, reply]. word study 10 Meanwhile [at that time, then], the chief priests [high-priest, top Jewish leaders] and scribes [scholars, teachers of the law] stood [in an upright position, physically or figuratively] there, vehemently [intensely, with strong emotion] accusing [charging with wrongdoing, blaming] Him [Jesus, the Messiah]. word study 11 And even Herod [the Roman-appointed king] and his soldiers [men of war, troops] ridiculed [set at nought, treated with contempt] and mocked [jeered at, made fun of] Him. Dressing [clothing, investing] Him in a fine [gorgeous, shining] robe [garment, apparel], they sent [returned, sent back] Him back to Pilate [the Roman governor]. word study 12 That day [the same day, from that time on] Herod [the king, a ruler] and Pilate [the Roman governor, a judge] became [were made, came to be] friends [friendly, allies, no longer enemies]; before [previously, until that time] this time [day, period] they had been [existed, were] enemies [at enmity, hostile, in opposition] [toward one another, with each other]. word study 13 Then [at that time, next] Pilate [the Roman governor] called [summoned, gathered] together [assembled, convened] the chief priests [high-priest], the rulers [leaders, magistrates], and [also, additionally] the people [a crowd, a nation], word study 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man [as a troublemaker, perverting the people] as one who was inciting [turning away, leading astray] the people to rebellion [sedition, uprising]. I have examined [investigated, questioned] Him here in your presence [before your eyes, in your sight] and found [discovered, determined] Him not guilty [innocent, without fault] of your charges [accusations, allegations] against Him [toward this man, in relation to Him]. word study 15 Neither [nor] has Herod [the king], for he sent Him [Jesus, the Messiah] back to us [to this place, to your jurisdiction]. As you can see [behold, it is evident], He has done [performed, committed] nothing [no act, none] deserving [worthy, deserving of punishment] of death [physical or spiritual separation from God]. word study 16 Therefore [then, as a consequence] I will punish [chastise, discipline, instruct] Him [Jesus, the Messiah] and release [set free, let go, forgive] Him [from Roman custody].” word study 18 But they all [together, as one] cried out [yelled, screamed] in unison: “Away [remove, take away] with this man [Jesus, the Messiah]! Release [set free, liberate] Barabbas [a known prisoner] to us [to ourselves, for our benefit]!” word study 19 (Barabbas had been imprisoned [put in prison, cast into jail] for an insurrection [uprising, rebellion] in the city [a town with walls, a community], and for murder [the act of intentionally killing, a serious crime].) word study 20 Wanting [desiring, having a strong intention] to release [set free, let go] Jesus [Joshua, God is salvation], Pilate [the Roman governor] addressed [spoke to, called to] them again [once more, a second time], word study 21 but they kept [crying out, shouting loudly] shouting [to exclaim, to demand], “Crucify [to impale on a cross, to execute] Him [the Messiah, Jesus]! Crucify [to nail to a cross] Him [the Savior]!” word study 22 A third [final, last] time he said to them, “What [which, what kind of] evil [harm, wickedness] has this man done? I have found [discovered, seen] in Him no offense [cause, reason] worthy [deserving, fitting] of death [physical or spiritual]. So after I punish [chastise, discipline] Him, I will release [set free, let go] Him.” word study 23 But they were insistent [urgent, persistent], demanding [asking, requiring] with loud [great, intense] voices [sounds, noises] for Jesus [the Messiah, the Savior] to be crucified [put to death on a cross, impaled]. And their clamor [shouting, loud voices] prevailed [overpowered, triumphed]. word study 24 So Pilate [the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate] sentenced [gave judgment, decreed] that their demand [request, what they asked for] be met [fulfilled, carried out, done]. word study 25 As they had requested [with strong desire, asked for], he released [set free, liberated] the one imprisoned [thrown into prison, confined] for insurrection [rebellion, uprising] and murder [intentional killing, homicide], and handed Jesus [the Messiah, God’s salvation] over to their will [desire, intention, pleasure]. word study 26 As the soldiers led Him away [to a different place, often against their will], they seized Simon [a certain Cyrenian, from Cyrene] of Cyrene on his way in from the country [field, countryside, or a farm], and put the cross [a stauros, an instrument of capital punishment] on him to carry [to bear, to support] behind Jesus [Joshua, God is salvation]. word study 27 A great [large, multitude] number of people followed Him, including [accompanied by, with] women [females, wives] who kept [continued, persisted in] mourning [lamenting, bewailing] and wailing [crying out, lamenting] for Him [on His behalf, because of Him]. word study 28 But Jesus [having turned] turned to them and said, “Daughters [female children] of Jerusalem [the city of God’s peace], do not weep [cry out loud] for Me [the Messiah], but weep [mourn deeply] for yourselves [your own souls] and for your children [your offspring]. word study 29 Look, the days [of great sorrow, of judgment] are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed [happy, fortunate] are the barren [childless, unable to bear] women, the wombs [the belly, the place of birth] that never bore [did not give birth], and breasts [the source of nourishment] that never nursed [did not give milk]!’ word study 30 At that time [when the end comes, in the last days] ‘they will say [begin to cry out, start to plead] to the mountains [high elevations], “Fall [collapse, come down] on us [upon ourselves, to hide]!” and to the hills [smaller elevations, hillocks], “Cover [hide, conceal] us [from the judgment]!”’ word study 31 For if men [people, humans] do these things [such actions, deeds] while the tree [wood] is green [moist], what will happen [occur, come to pass] when it is dry [withered]?” word study 32 Two [also, additionally] others [different, distinct individuals], who were [known as, considered] criminals [malefactors, evil-doers, wrongdoers], were also [likewise, in the same manner] led [brought, guided] away [to a place of execution] to be executed [put to death, killed, slain] with [together with, in company with] Jesus [the Messiah, the Savior]. word study 33 When they came to the place called [called Calvary, Golgotha, or The Skull] The Skull, they crucified Him [nailed to a cross, impaled] there, along with the [evil-doers, wrongdoers, malefactors] criminals, one on His right [side, hand] and the other on His left [side, hand]. word study 34 Then Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] said, “Father [a male parent, referring to God as the heavenly Father], forgive [to release or leave, sending away guilt] them, for [explaining the reason] they do not know [lacking spiritual awareness or insight] what they are doing [making or causing something to happen].” And they divided up [distributing or sharing] His garments [outer clothes or attire] by casting [throwing with force] lots [a portion or share determined by chance]. word study 35 The people [a crowd, a multitude] stood watching [beholding, observing], and the rulers [leaders, magistrates] sneered [ridiculed, scoffed] at Him, saying, “He saved [delivered, rescued] others [many, numerous people]; let Him save [rescue, redeem] Himself [His own life] if He is [if this is] the Christ [Messiah, Anointed One] of God [the Almighty, Creator], the Chosen One [select, favored].” word study 36 The soldiers [men of the army, common warriors] also mocked [ridiculed, jeered at] Him and came up [approached, drew near] to offer [bring to, present] Him sour wine [vinegar, a type of sour wine]. word study 37 “If [on the condition that] You [as a direct address] are [exist as] the [specific] King [a sovereign ruler] of the [specific] Jews [people of Judah],” they said, “save [deliver from harm] Yourself [your own person]!” word study 38 Above Him [over His head, on the cross] was posted an inscription [a written message, a superscription]: THIS IS [a declaration of identity, a statement of fact] THE KING [a sovereign ruler, the Messiah] OF THE JEWS [the people of Judah, the Jewish nation]. word study 39 One [a single, specific] of the criminals [wrongdoers, evil-doers] who hung [were crucified, suspended] there heaped [poured out, uttered] abuse [insults, blasphemy] on Him [Jesus, the Christ]. “Are You [if you are] not the Christ [Messiah, Anointed One]?” he said [spoke, uttered]. “Save [rescue, deliver] Yourself [from the cross, from death] and us [from our sins, from punishment]!” word study 40 But the other one [different from the first, another] rebuked [warned, corrected] him, saying, “Do you not [nor, neither] even fear [reverence, have awe of] God [the one true deity], since you are under [in the midst of, among] the same [identical, equal] judgment [condemnation, verdict]? word study 41 We are punished justly [receiving what is deserved], for we are receiving what our actions [deeds, things done] deserve [are worthy of]. But this man has done [nothing wrong, no evil] nothing wrong [nothing amiss, out of place].” word study 42 Then he said, “Jesus [Joshua, God is salvation], remember [to recall to mind, keep in memory] me when You come [to arrive, to enter] into Your kingdom [the realm of God’s royal power, divine dominion] [as Lord, with authority]!” word study 43 And Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] said to him, “Truly [verily, with certainty] I tell you, today [this day, at this moment] you will be with [in the company of, accompanied by] Me in [the realm of, within] Paradise [a garden, a place of future bliss].” word study 44 It was now [approximately] about the sixth [mid-day, noon] hour, and [a deep, spiritual] darkness [the absence of light] came over [upon, across] all [the whole, entire] the land [earth, ground, region] until [to the point of, up to] the ninth [three o’clock, late afternoon] hour. word study 45 The sun [the light of the world, solar orb] was darkened [its light failing, shut out], and the veil [curtain, partition] of the temple [sacred place of worship, inner sanctuary] was torn [rent, split] down the middle [midst, central position]. word study 46 Then Jesus [the Savior, God’s salvation] called out in a loud [great, intense] voice, “Father [the male parent, divine caregiver], into Your hands [the instruments of power, care] I commit [entrust, set before] My Spirit [the vital principle, divine breath].” And when He had said this, He breathed [expired, gave up the ghost] His last [final, ending breath]. word study 47 When the centurion [Roman military officer] saw [perceived, witnessed] what had happened, he gave glory [praise, honor] to God [the one true deity], saying, “Surely [certainly, without a doubt] this was a righteous [just, innocent] man [human being]. ” word study 48 And when all [every single one] the people who had gathered [assembled, come together] for this spectacle [sight, public event] saw [beheld, experienced] what had happened [taken place, come to pass], they returned [turned back, went back] home beating [striking, smiting] their breasts [chests, a sign of grief or sorrow]. word study 49 But all [every single one, including] those who knew [were acquainted with, familiar with] Jesus, including [also, as well as] the women [females, wives] who had followed [accompanied, walked with] Him from [away from, out of] Galilee [the region of Galilee], stood [were standing, remained] at a distance [from afar, far off] watching [observing, seeing] these things [events, circumstances]. word study 50 Now there was a Council [governing body, Sanhedrin] member named Joseph [a righteous Israelite], a [morally upright, just] good and [just, fair] righteous man, word study 51 who had not [given his approval to] consented to their [counsel and plan] decision or [deed and action] action. He was from the Judean [city of the Jews] town of Arimathea, and was [expectantly, with confidence] waiting for the [royal power and dominion of] kingdom of [the one true] God. word study 52 He [this man, Joseph] went to Pilate [the Roman governor] to ask [beg, request] for the body [physical person, corpse] of Jesus [Joshua, God’s salvation]. word study 53 Then he took it down [from the cross], wrapped it in a linen cloth [fine linen], and placed it [laid him] in a tomb [sepulcher, memorial] cut into the rock [hewn in stone, engraved], where [in which place] no one [none, nobody] had yet been laid [appointed, placed]. word study 54 It was Preparation Day [of the Preparation, Friday], and the Sabbath [a day of rest, the seventh day] was beginning [to dawn, approaching at sunset]. word study 55 The women [who had accompanied Jesus] who had come with Jesus from [the region of] Galilee followed [closely, as devoted followers], and they saw [beheld, gazed at] the tomb [sepulcher, grave] and how His body [physical person, flesh] was placed [laid, set down]. word study 56 Then [at that time, afterwards] they returned [to their homes] to prepare [make ready, get ready] spices [fragrant substances, aromas] and [also, in addition] perfumes [oils, ointments]. And they rested [ceased from work, were still] on the Sabbath [the seventh day, a day of rest], according to [in line with, following] the commandment [divine instruction, God’s order]. word study