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Luke 23:54

Luke 23:54 in Multiple Translations

It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was beginning.

And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.

And it was the day of the Preparation, and the sabbath drew on.

Now it was the day of making ready and the Sabbath was coming on.

It was preparation day and the Sabbath would soon begin.

And that day was the preparation, and the Sabbath drewe on.

And the day was a preparation, and sabbath was approaching,

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

And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.

And it was the day of the Parasceve, and the sabbath drew on.

They had to do it quickly because that was Friday, the day when people prepared things for the Jewish day of rest. ◄The Sabbath/The day of rest► was about to start at sunset, so they had to finish burying Jesus’ body before sunset.

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Berean Amplified Bible — Luke 23:54

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Luke 23:54 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB
GRK και ημερα ην παρασκευη σαββατον επεφωσκεν
και kai G2532 and Conj
ημερα hēmera G2250 day Noun-NSF
ην eimi G1510 to be Verb-IAI-3S
παρασκευη paraskeuē G3904 Preparation Noun-NSF
σαββατον sabbaton G4521 Sabbath Noun-NSN
επεφωσκεν epiphōskō G2020 to dawn Verb-IAI-3S
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Greek Word Reference — Luke 23:54

και kai G2532 "and" Conj
And or also, a connecting word used to join ideas or words, like in Matthew 2:18 and Hebrews 1:1.
Definition: καί, conj., and __I. Copulative. __1. Connecting single words; __(a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. __(b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; __(with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. __2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. __(a) where, after the simplicity of the popular language, sentences are paratactically joined (WM, §60, 3; M, Pr., 12; Deiss., LAE, 128ff.): Mat.1:21, 7:25, Mrk.9:5, Jhn.10:3, al.; __(b) joining affirmative to negative sentences: Luk.3:14, Jhn.4:11, IIIJhn.10; __(with) consecutive, and so: Mat.5:1, 23:32, Heb.3:19, al.; after imperatives, Mat.4:19, Luk.7:7, al.; __(d) = καίτοι, and yet: Mat.3:14, 6:26, Mrk.12:12, Luk.18:7 (Field, Notes, 72), 1Co.5:2, al.; __(e) beginning an apodosis (= Heb. וְ; so sometimes δέ in cl.), then: Luk.2:21, 7:12, Act.1:10; beginning a question (WM, §53, 3a): Mrk.10:26, Luk.10:29, Jhn.9:36. __3. Epexegetic, and, and indeed, namely (WM, §53, 3c): Luk.3:18, Jhn.1:16, Act.23:6, Rom.1:5, 1Co.3:5, al. __4. In transition: Mat.4:23, Mrk.5:1, 21, Jhn.1:19, al.; so, Hebraistically, καὶ ἐγένετο (וַי:הִי; also ἐγένετο δέ), Mrk.1:9 (cf. Luk.5:1; V. Burton, §§357-60; M, Pr., 14, 16). __5. καὶ . . . καί, both . . . and (for τε . . . καί, see: τε); __(a) connecting single words: Mat.10:28, Mrk.4:41, Rom.11:33, al.; __(b) clauses and sentences: Mrk.9:13, Jhn.7:28, 1Co.1:22, al. __II. Adjunctive, also, even, still: Mat.5:39, 40; Mrk.2:28, al. mult.; esp. with pron., adv., etc., Mat.20:4, Jhn.7:47, al; ὡς κ., Act.11:17; καθὼς κ., Rom.15:7; οὑτω κ., Rom.6:11; διὸ κ., Luk.1:35; ὁ κ. (Deiss., BS, 313ff.), Act.13:9; pleonastically, μετὰ κ.. (Bl., §77, 7; Deiss., BS, 265f,), Php.4:3; τί κ., 1 Co 15:29; ἀλλὰ κ., Luk.14:22, Jhn.5:18, al.; καίγε (M, Pr., 230; Burton, §437), Act.17:27; καίπερ, Heb.5:8; κ. ἐάν, see: ἐάν. ἐάν, contr. fr. εἰ ἄν, conditional particle, representing something as "under certain circumstances actual or liable to happen," but not so definitely expected as in the case of εἰ with ind. (Bl., §65, 4; cf. Jhn.13:17, 1Co.7:36), if haply, if; __1. with subjc. (cl.); __(a) pres.: Mat.6:22, Luk.10:6, Jhn.7:17, Rom.2:25, 26 al.; { __(b) aor. (= Lat. fut. pf.): Mat.4:9 16:26 (cf. ptcp. in Luk.9:25; M, Pr., 230), Mrk.3:24, Luk.14:34, Jhn.5:43, Rom.7:2, al.; = cl. εἰ, with opt., Jhn.9:22 11:57, Act.9:2; as Heb. אִם = ὅταν, Jhn.12:32 14:3, I Jhn.2:28 3:2, Heb.3:7" (LXX) . __2. C. indic, (as in late writers, fr. Arist. on; see WH, App., 171; VD, MGr. 2, App., §77; Deiss., BS, 201f., LAE, 155, 254; M, Pr., 168, 187; Bl., §65, 4); __(a) fut.: Mat.18:19 T, Luk.19:40, Act.7:7; __(b) pres.: 1Th.3:8 (see Milligan, in l.). __3. With other particles: ἐ. καί (Bl., §65, 6), Gal.6:1; ἐ. μή (M, Pr., 185, 187; Bl., l.with), with subjc. pres., Mat.10:13, 1Co.8:8, Jas.2:17, 1Jn.3:21; aor., Mat.6:15, Mrk.3:27, Jhn.3:3, Rom.10:15, Gal.1:8 2:16 (see Lft., Ellic., in ll.); ἐ. τε . . . ἐ. τε, [in LXX for אִם . . . אִם, Est.19:13, al.,] Rom.14:8. __4. = cl. ἄν (which see) after relat. pronouns and adverbs (Tdf., Pr., 96; WH, App., 173; M, Pr., 42f.; Bl., §26, 4; Mayser, 152f.; Deiss., BS, 202ff.): ὃς ἐ., Mat.5:19, Mrk.6:22, 23 Luk.17:32, 1Co.6:18, al.; ὅπου ἐ., Mat.8:19; ὁσάκις ἐ., Rev.11:6; οὗ ἐ., 1Co.16:6; καθὸ ἐ., 2Co.8:12; ὅστις ἐ., Gal.5:10. (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 5212 NT verses. KJV: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet See also: 1 Corinthians 1:1; 1 Corinthians 10:4; 1 Corinthians 16:1.
ημερα hēmera G2250 "day" Noun-NSF
The Greek word for day refers to a 24-hour period, used in Revelation 21:25 and Acts 9:24. It can also mean a period of time, like in Luke 21:37.
Definition: ἡμέρα, -ας, ἡ, [in LXX chiefly (very freq.) for יוֹם ;] day; __1. as distinct from night: genitive ἡμέρας, by day (WM, §30, 11), Rev.21:25; ἡ. κ. νυκτός (ν. κ. ̔ἡ.), Act.9:24, 1Th.2:9, 2Th.3:8, Rev.4:8 (BL, §36, 13); ἡμέρας μέσης, at mid-day, Act.26:13; accusative durat., τ. ἡμέρας, Luk.21:37; ὅλην τὴν ἡ., Rom.8:36; ἐν ἡμέρα, Jhn.11:9, Rom.13:13; ἡμέρας ὁδός, a day's journey, Luk.2:44; ἡ. γίνεται, Lk 4:42 22:66; κλίνει, Luk.9:12, al.; metaphorically, Jhn.9:4, Rom.13:12, 1Th.5:4, 5 8, 2Pe.1:19. __2. Of a civil day of 24 hours, incl. night: Mat.6:34, Mrk.6:21, Luk.13:14, al.; τρίτῃ ἡ., Mat.16:21; ἡμέρᾳ κ. ἡ. (cf. יוֹם בְּיוֹם, Est.3:4), 2Co.4:16; ὅλην τ. ἡ., Rom.8:36 10:21; pl., Jhn.2:12, Act.9:19, al.; ἡ. τῶν ἀζύμων, Act.12:3; τ. σαββάτου, Luk.13:14, 16; ἡ κυριάκη ἡ., Rev.1:10. __3. In Messianic sense, of the last day: ἡ ἡ. (ἐκείνη, τ. κυρίου, etc.), Mat.7:22, Luk.6:23, Rom.13:12, 1Co.1:8, 1Th.5:2, 2Th.2:2, 2Pe.3:10, al; by meton., as compared with the divine judgment on that day, ἡ. ἀνθρωπίνη, of a human tribunal, 1Co.4:3 (EV, man's judgment). __4. As in Heb. (also in Gk. writers; Bl, §46, 9; M, Pr., 81), of time in general: Jhn.8:56 14:20, 2Co.6:2, Eph.6:13, 2Pe.3:18; pl. Act.15:7, Eph.5:16, Heb.10:32; πᾶσας τὰς ἡ. (cf. כָּל הַיָּמִים, Deu.4:40, al.; MM, Exp., xv), Mat.28:20; ἐλεύσονται ἡ. ὅταν (ὅτε), Mat.9:15, Mrk.2:20, Luk.5:35 17:22; αἱ ἡ., with genitive of person(s) (Gen.26:1, al.), Mat.2:1, Luk.1:5, Act.7:45, 1Pe.3:20; ἀρχ̀ ἡμερῶν, Heb.7:3. (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 366 NT verses. KJV: age, + alway, (mid-)day (by day, (-ly)), + for ever, judgment, (day) time, while, years See also: 1 Corinthians 1:8; Acts 21:5; 1 Peter 2:12.
ην eimi G1510 "to be" Verb-IAI-3S
To be or exist, a basic verb used to describe something or someone, like God saying 'I am' in John 8:58.
Definition: εἰμί, with various uses and significations, like the English verb to be. __I. As substantive verb. __1. Of persons and things, to be, exist: Act.17:28, Jhn.1:1, 8:58, 17:5, al; ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν (for past ptcp.), Rev.1:4, 8, 4:8, 11:17, 16:5 (see Swete, Ap., 5; M, Pr., 228); τὰ (μὴ) ὄντα, Rom.4:17, 1Co.1:28. __2. Of times, events, etc., to be, happen, take place: Mat.24:3, Mrk.14:2, 15:42, Luk.21:23, Jhn.4:6, 23, 5:10, al. __3. to be present, be in a place, have come: Mat.2:13, 15, Mrk.1:45, 5:21, 15:40, Luk.1:80, 5:29, Jhn.7:30, al.; before εἰς, Mrk.2:1; before ἐκ, (ἐξ), Mat.1:20, 21:25, Mrk.11:30, Jhn.3:31, al. __4. Impers., ἔστι, ἦν, etc.; __(a) there is (Fr. il y a), was, etc.: Mat.16:28, Luk.16:19, Jhn.3:1, 5:2, Rom.3:10, al.; with dative (of the possessor; Bl., §37, 3), Mat.16:22, Luk.1:7, Jhn.18.10, Rom.9:2, al.; ἔστιν ὅς, ὅστις (chiefly in pl), Mat.16:28, 19:2, Mrk.9:1, al.; __(b) with inf., = ἔξεστιν (which see), it is possible: Heb.9:5, 1Co.11:20, RV (but see ICC, in l.). __II. As copula uniting subject and predicate. __1. Expressing simply identity or equivalence: Mat.5:13, 14:15, Luk.1:18, 19, Jhn.1:1, 4:19, Rev.3:9, al. mult. __2. Explicative, as in parable, figure, type, etc.: Mat.13:19, 1Co.9:2, 10:4, 11:25, Gal.4:24, Rev.17:15, al.; ταῦτ᾽ ἔστιν, Mat.27:46, Mrk.7:2, Rom.7:18 al.; ὅ ἐστιν, Mrk.3:17, Col.1:24, Heb.7:2, al.; akin to this is the sacramental usage: Mat.26:26-28, Mrk.14:22, 24, Luk.22:19, 1Co.11:24 (see ICC on Mk, I Co, ll. with; DB, iii, 148 f.). __3. C. genitive: qual., etc., Mrk.5:42, Luk.3:23, 1Co.14:33, Heb.12:11, al.; part., 1Ti.1:20, 2Ti.1:15; poss., Mat.5:3, 10, Mrk.12:7, Luk.4:7; of service or partisanship, Rom.8:9, 1Co.1:12, 2Co.10:7, 2Ti.2:19. __4. C. dative (BL, §37, 3): Act.1:8, 9:15, Rom.4:12, 1Co.1:18, 2:14, Rev.21:7, al. __5. C. ptcp., as a periphrasis for the simple verb (Bl., §62, 1, 2; M, Pr., 225 ff.); __(a) with ptcp. pf. (cl.): Mat.10:30, Luk.9:32, Jhn.3:24, Act.21:35, 1Co.15:19, al; __(b) with ptcp. pr. (esp. in impf., as in Heb. and Aram.; Dalman, Words, 35 f.), Mat.7:29, Mrk.1:22, Luk.4:31, 14:1, Act.1:10, al. mult., id. for imper. (M, Pr., 180f., 182f.), with ellipsis of εἰμί, Rom.12:9, 10, Heb.13:5, al.; __(with) with ptcp. aor. (cl), Luk.23:9. __6. Seq. εἰς (cf. Heb. הָיָה לְ), a vernac. usage (M, Pr., 71): Mat.19:5, Mrk.10:8, Heb.8:10, al. __7. C. adv.: Mat.19:20, Mrk.4:26, Luk.18:11, al. __8. Ellipses; __(a) of the copula (Bl., §30, 3): Mat.8:29, 24:32, Jhn.21:22, 23, Heb.6:4, al.; __(b) of the predicate: ἐγώ εἰμί, Mat.14:27, Mrk.6:50, al.; absol. (cf. Deu.32:39; אֲנִי הוּא), Mrk.13:6, Jhn.4:26, al. (cf. ἄπ-, ἔν-, πάρ-, συμ-πάρ-, σύν-ειμι). (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 2123 NT verses. KJV: am, have been, X it is I, was See also: 1 Corinthians 1:2; 1 Corinthians 13:2; 1 Peter 1:6.
παρασκευη paraskeuē G3904 "Preparation" Noun-NSF
Preparation is what this word is all about. In Matthew 27:62, it refers to the day before the Sabbath, a time to get ready for the day of rest. It can also mean equipment or readiness.
Definition: παρα-σκευή, -ῆς, ἡ [in LXX: Exo.35:24 39:42 (עֲבֹדָה, with seel., ἀποσκ-, κατασκ-), Jdth.2:17 4:5, 1Ma.9:35 א, 2Ma.15:21 * ;] __1. preparation. __2. equipment (Jth, ll with). __3. In Jewish usage, the day of preparation for a Sabbath or a feast (= προσάββατον, which see) : Mat.27:62, Mrk.15:42, Luk.23:54, Jhn.19:31; with genitive, τοῦ πάσχα, Jhn.19:14; τ. Ἰoυδαίων, Jhn.19:42 (it is the name for Friday in MGr.).† (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 6 NT verses. KJV: preparation See also: John 19:14; Luke 23:54; Matthew 27:62.
σαββατον sabbaton G4521 "Sabbath" Noun-NSN
The Sabbath refers to the seventh day of the week, a day of rest and worship. It is mentioned in Matthew 12:8 and Mark 2:27, highlighting its importance in Jewish tradition. The concept of Sabbath rest is still observed today.
Definition: σάββατον, -ου, τό (Aram. שַׁבָּתָא, transliterated σάββατα, and this being mistaken for a pl., the sing. σάββατον was formed from it), and σάββατα, -ων, τά [in LXX for שַׁבָּת, שַׁבָּתוֹן ;] __1. the seventh day of the week, the sabbath __(a) the sing. form -ον, τὸ σ.: Mat.12:8, Mrk.2:27, Luk.6:5, al.; ἡ ἡμέρα τοῦ σ. (in LXX, Exo.20:8, al., usually τῶν σ., see infr.), Luk.13:16 14:5; ὁδὸς σαββάτου, Act.1:12 (cf. Mat.24:29); dative, of time (τῷ) σ., Luk.6:9 14:1; ἐν (τῷ) σ., Mat.12:2, Luk.6:7, Jhn.5:16, al.; accusative, of duration, τὸ σ., Luk.23:56; κατὰ πᾶν σ., Act.13:27 15:21 18:4; pl., σ. τρία, Act.17:2 R, txt. (but see infr.); __(b) as most frequently in LXX (see Swete, Mk., 17; Thackeray, Gr., 35) the pl. form, τὰ σ. (see supr. on the Aram. form. There is also an analogy in the names of other festivals, τ. ἐγκαίνια, ἄζυμα, etc.): Mat.28:1, Col.2:16; ἡ ἡμέρα τῶν σ. (Exo.20:8, al.), Luk.4:16, Act.13:14 16:13; dative pl. (in LXX -τοις, but 1Ma.2:38 as in NT) by metaplasmus (El., § 9, 3), σάββασι, Mat.12:1, 5 12:10-12 Mrk.1:21 2:23 3:2, 4, Luk.4:31 6:2. __2. seven days, a week; __(a) the sing. form: πρώτη σαββάτσυ, Mrk.16:9; δὶς τοῦ σ. (Bl., § 35, 4; 36, 13), Luk.18:12; κατὰ μίαν σαββάτου, 1Co.16:2; pl., σ. τρία, Act.17:2 R, mg. (but see supr.); __(b) the pl. form: ἡ μία τῶν σ. (where the genitive = μετὰ τά; Soph., Lex., 43a), Mat.28:1, Mrk.16:2, Luk.24:1, Jhn.20:1, 19, Act.20:7 (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 62 NT verses. KJV: sabbath (day), week See also: 1 Corinthians 16:2; Luke 13:10; Matthew 28:1.
επεφωσκεν epiphōskō G2020 "to dawn" Verb-IAI-3S
To dawn means for light to begin, as in Luke 23:54 and Matthew 28:1, where it describes the beginning of a new day.
Definition: ἐπι-φώσκω [in LXX for הָלַל hi., Job.41:18 A (Βא, ἐπιφαύσκ-) * ;] __1. to let shine. __2. to dawn (cf. MM, Exp., xiv): Luk.23:54; before εἰς, Mat_28:1.† (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 2 NT verses. KJV: begin to dawn, X draw on See also: Luke 23:54; Matthew 28:1.

Study Notes — Luke 23:54

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Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1 Matthew 27:62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and Pharisees assembled before Pilate.
2 John 19:31 It was the day of Preparation, and the next day was a High Sabbath. In order that the bodies would not remain on the cross during the Sabbath, the Jews asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies removed.
3 Mark 15:42 Now it was already evening. Since it was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath),
4 John 19:14 It was the day of Preparation for the Passover, about the sixth hour. And Pilate said to the Jews, “Here is your King!”
5 John 19:42 And because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and the tomb was nearby, they placed Jesus there.

Luke 23:54 Summary

Luke 23:54 tells us that it was 'Preparation Day', the day before the Sabbath, and the Sabbath was just beginning. This means that the Jews were finishing up any last-minute tasks before the Sabbath day, when no work could be done, as seen in Exodus 20:8-11. The Sabbath was a special day of rest and worship, and the fact that it was beginning highlights the importance of observing this day, even in difficult times. Just as the Jews prepared for the Sabbath, we can prepare our hearts and minds for rest and worship by setting aside time to focus on God, as seen in Psalm 92:1-2 and Isaiah 58:13-14.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is meant by 'Preparation Day' in Luke 23:54?

Preparation Day refers to the day before the Sabbath, when the Jews would prepare for the Sabbath by completing any necessary tasks, as seen in Exodus 20:8-11 and Deuteronomy 5:12-15. This day was also known as the 'Day of Preparation' for the Sabbath.

Why is it significant that the Sabbath was beginning in Luke 23:54?

The Sabbath was a day of rest and worship, commanded by God in Exodus 20:8-11 and Deuteronomy 5:12-15. The fact that the Sabbath was beginning highlights the importance of observing this day, even in the midst of grief and tragedy, as seen in the actions of the women in Luke 23:55-56.

How does this verse relate to the events leading up to Jesus' crucifixion?

This verse marks the end of the events of Jesus' crucifixion and burial, as described in Luke 23:44-53. It serves as a transition to the Sabbath day, when no work could be done, and sets the stage for the events of Jesus' resurrection on the following day, as seen in Luke 24:1-12.

What can we learn from the timing of Jesus' burial in relation to the Sabbath?

The fact that Jesus was buried just before the Sabbath began highlights the urgency and importance of completing the burial before the Sabbath day, in accordance with Jewish customs and traditions, as seen in John 19:31 and John 19:42.

Reflection Questions

  1. How can I, like the women in Luke 23:55-56, find ways to honor and observe the Sabbath day, even in the midst of difficult circumstances?
  2. What are some ways that I can prepare my heart and mind for rest and worship on the Sabbath, just as the Jews prepared for the Sabbath on 'Preparation Day'?
  3. How can I balance the need for rest and worship on the Sabbath with the demands and responsibilities of everyday life, as seen in Exodus 20:8-11 and Deuteronomy 5:12-15?
  4. What are some ways that I can use the Sabbath day to recharge and refocus my attention on God, just as the women in Luke 23:55-56 used the Sabbath to prepare for the events of the following day?

Gill's Exposition on Luke 23:54

And that day was the preparation,.... Both for the sabbath, and for the "Chagigah", or grand festival, which they kept on the fifteenth day of the month, in a very pompous manner; so that the day

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Luke 23:54

And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. For the exposition, see the notes at Matthew 27:51-66; and at John 19:31-42.

Matthew Poole's Commentary on Luke 23:54

Greek, subbaton epefwske, the sabbath shined. What preparation was here intended, whether to the weekly sabbath of the Jews, (that it was most certainly), or to the passover also, which some will have to have been this year put off to that day, because of the concurrence of the weekly and the annual feast, I shall not determine, though the most judicious interpreters skilled in the Hebrew writings, think the passover this year was kept in its season, the night before. And the sabbath, that is, the seventh day, drew on. The Greek word signifies shined, the propriety of which term hath cost critics some pains to make out, for it rather began to be dark than lightsome, their sabbath beginning after the setting of the sun. Some think the word referred to the evening star, which began to shine. Others, that it referred to a lamp or candle, which they were wont to set up, they call it luminare discriminationis, the light of discrimination, which being set up in their several families, the sabbath was accounted to be begun. Others think it referred to the following day. But there need not much labour in the case, for by the same reason that it is said, the evening and the morning made the sabbath day, the sabbath might be said epifwskein (that is, to begin) when it began to be dark, not taking the word in a proper, but in a metaphorical sense.

Trapp's Commentary on Luke 23:54

54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. Ver. 54. See Matthew 27:61.

Ellicott's Commentary on Luke 23:54

(54) That day was the preparation.—See Note on Matthew 27:52. The sabbath drew on.—Literally, the Sabbath was dawning. It is a question whether the word is used here of the actual beginning of the Sabbath—which was, of course, at sunset after the Crucifixion—or, as St. Matthew appears to use it (28:1), for the actual dawn. The later Rabbis appear to have spoken of the day “dawning” in the sense of its beginning at sunset, and so far support the former interpretation. It was possible, however, under the emergencies of the case, that the entombment began before the sunset, and may have been finished during the night, or that, in common speech and usage, the Sabbath, though theoretically beginning on Friday evening at sunset, was not practically recognised till Saturday at sunrise.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on Luke 23:54

Verse 54. And the Sabbath drew on.] Or, The Sabbath was lighting up, επεφωσκε, i.e. with the candles which the Jews light just before six in the evening, when the Sabbath commences. The same word is used for the dawning of the day, Matthew 28:1. Wakefield. The Jews always lighted up candles on the Sabbath; and it was a solemn precept that, "if a man had not bread to eat, he must beg from door to door to get a little oil to set up his Sabbath light." The night of the Sabbath drew on, which the Jews were accustomed to call the light. See Lightfoot.

Cambridge Bible on Luke 23:54

54. the preparation] This word paraskeue became the ordinary Greek word for Friday, because on Friday the Jews diligently prepared for the Sabbath, which began at sunset. The afternoon is called prosabbaton in Mark 15:42. Jos. Antt. xvi. 6. We are told that Shammai, the almost contemporary founder of the most rigid school of legalists, used to spend the whole week in meditating how he could best observe the Sabbath.drew on] Literally, “began to dawn.” This expression is used, although the Sabbath began at sunset (Mark 15:42), because the whole period of darkness was regarded as anticipatory of the dawn. Hence the Jews sometimes called the evening of Friday ‘the daybreak.’ When St John (John 19:31) calls the coming Sabbath “a high day,” the expression seems clearly to imply that it was both the Sabbath and the day of the Passover.

Whedon's Commentary on Luke 23:54

§ 142.—JESUS’S DEATH, , AND , Luke 23:46-56.See notes on John 19:31-42; Matthew 27:51-61; Mark 15:38-47.

Sermons on Luke 23:54

SermonDescription
Hal Lindsey Circumstantial Evidences of the Resurrection by Hal Lindsey In this sermon, the speaker discusses how Dr. Simon Greenleaf, the founder of Harvard Law School, applied his laws of legal evidence to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Dr. Greenl
David Guzik As Secure as You Know How by David Guzik In this sermon, the speaker discusses the measures taken to secure Jesus' tomb after his crucifixion. The tomb was secured with a stone, which was rolled across the entrance. Addit
Carter Conlon Sealing the Stone and Setting the Guard by Carter Conlon This sermon from Matthew 27 and 28 titled 'Sealing the Stone and Setting the Guard' emphasizes the futile attempts of men to suppress the power of God, paralleling the guards seali
St. John Chrysostom Homily 89 on Matthew by St. John Chrysostom John Chrysostom preaches on the events following Jesus' crucifixion, focusing on the chief priests and Pharisees' attempt to prevent His resurrection by sealing the tomb. Despite t
Chuck Smith Matthew 27:62 by Chuck Smith Chuck Smith discusses the futile attempts of the religious leaders to seal Jesus in the tomb, driven by their fear of losing authority and exposure of their hypocrisy. Despite thei
Richard E. Bieber Blood Water and Light by Richard E. Bieber Richard E. Bieber preaches about the importance of having a clear conscience, using the story of Nicodemus coming to Jesus by night as an example of inner unrest despite outward ap
R.A. Torrey The Burial of Jesus John 19:31-42; Matthew 27:61-66 by R.A. Torrey R.A. Torrey explores the burial of Jesus, emphasizing the certainty of His death and the significance of the events surrounding it. He discusses the meticulous precautions taken by

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