Luke 23:1
THE WHOLE COMPANY (απαν το πληθος). All but Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea who were probably not invited to this meeting.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WHOLE COMPANY (απαν το πληθος). All but Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea who were probably not invited to this meeting.... [ Continue Reading ]
BEGAN TO ACCUSE (ηρξαντο κατηγορειν). They went at it and kept it up. Luke mentions three, but neither of them includes their real reason nor do they mention their own condemnation of Jesus. They had indulged their hatred in doing it, but they no longer have the power of life and death. Hence the... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SAYEST (συ λεγεις). A real affirmative as in Luke 22:70. The Gospels all give Pilate's question about Jesus asking of the Jews in precisely the same words (Mark 15:2; Matthew 27:11; Luke 23:3; John 18:33).... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MULTITUDE (τους οχλους). The first mention of them. It is now after daybreak. The procession of the Sanhedrin would draw a crowd (Plummer) and some may have come to ask for the release of a prisoner (Mark 15:8). There was need of haste if the condemnation went through before friends of Jesus... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THEY WERE THE MORE URGENT (ο δε επισχυον). Imperfect active of επισχυω, to give added (επ) strength (ισχυω). And they kept insisting. Evidently Pilate had taken the thing too lightly.HE STIRRED UP THE PEOPLE (ανασειε τον λαον). This compound is rare, though old (Thucydides), to shake up (ba... [ Continue Reading ]
A GALILEAN (Γαλιλαιος). If so, here was a way out for Herod without going back on his own decision.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE KNEW (επιγνους). Second aorist active participle from επιγινωσκω, having gained full (επ, added knowledge).OF HEROD'S JURISDICTION (εκ της εξουσιας Hηρωιδου). Herod was naturally jealous of any encroachment by Pilate, the Roman Procurator of Judea. So here was a chance to respect the pr... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS EXCEEDING GLAD (εχαρη λιαν). Second aorist passive indicative of χαιρω, ingressive aorist, became glad.OF A LONG TIME (εξ ικανων χρονων). For this idiom see Luke 8:27; Luke 20:9; Acts 8:11).HE HOPED (ηλπιζεν). Imperfect active. He was still hoping. He had long ago gotten over his fright t... [ Continue Reading ]
HE QUESTIONED (επηρωτα). Imperfect active, kept on questioning.IN MANY WORDS (εν λογοις ικανοις). Same use of ικανος as in verse Luke 23:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
STOOD (ιστηκεισαν). Second perfect active intransitive of ιστημ with sense of imperfect. They stood by while Herod quizzed Jesus and when he refused to answer, they broke loose with their accusations like a pack of hounds with full voice (ευτονως, adverb from adjective ευτονος, from ευ, well, and... [ Continue Reading ]
SET HIM AT NOUGHT (εξουθενησας). First aorist active participle from εξουθενεω, to count as nothing, to treat with utter contempt, as zero.ARRAYING HIM IN GORGEOUS APPAREL (περιβαλων εσθητα λαμπραν). Second aorist active participle of περιβαλλω, to fling around one. Λαμπραν is brilliant, shinin... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR BEFORE THEY WERE AT ENMITY BETWEEN THEMSELVES (προυπηρχον γαρ εν εχθρα οντες προς εαυτους). A periphrastic imperfect of the double compound προυπερχω, an old verb, to exist (υπαρχω) previously (προ-), here alone in the N.T., with οντες (participle of ειμ) added.... [ Continue Reading ]
CALLED TOGETHER (συνκαλεσαμενος). First aorist middle participle (to himself). Pilate included "the people" in the hope that Jesus might have some friends among them.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS ONE THAT PERVERTETH THE PEOPLE (ως αποστρεφοντα τον λαον). Pilate here condenses the three charges in verse Luke 23:2 into one (Plummer). He uses a more common compound of στρεφω here, αποστρεφω, to turn away from, to seduce, to mislead, whereas διαστρεφω in verse Luke 23:2 has more the notion... [ Continue Reading ]
NO NOR YET (αλλ' ουδε). But not even.HATH BEEN DONE BY HIM (εστιν πεπραγμενον αυτω). Periphrastic perfect passive indicative of πρασσω, common verb, to do. The case of αυτω can be regarded as either the dative or the instrumental (Robertson, _Grammar_, pp. 534,542).... [ Continue Reading ]
CHASTISE (παιδευσας). First aorist active participle of παιδευω, to train a child (παις), and then, as a part of the training, punishment. Our English word chasten is from the Latin _castus_, pure, chaste, and means to purify (cf. Hebrews 12:6). Perhaps Pilate may have split a hair over the word... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL TOGETHER (πανπληθε). An adverb from the adjective πανπληθης, all together. Used by Dio Cassius. Only here in the N.T.AWAY (αιρε). Present active imperative, Take him on away and keep him away as in Acts 21:36; Acts 22:22, of Paul. ButRELEASE (απολυσον) is first aorist active imperative, d... [ Continue Reading ]
INSURRECTION (στασιν). An old word for sedition, standing off, the very charge made against Jesus (and untrue). If Jesus had raised insurrection against Caesar, these accusers would have rallied to his standard.AND FOR MURDER (κα φονον). They cared nought for this. In fact, the murderer was cou... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THEY SHOUTED (ο δε επεφωνουν). Imperfect active of επιφωνεω, to call to. Old verb and a verb pertinent here. They kept on yelling.CRUCIFY, CRUCIFY (σταυρου, σταυρου). Present active imperative. Go on with the crucifixion. Mark 15:13 has σταυρωσον (first aorist active imperative), do it now... [ Continue Reading ]
WHY, WHAT EVIL? (Τ γαρ κακον;). Note this use of γαρ (explanatory and argumentative combined).... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THEY WERE INSTANT (ο δε επεκειντο). Imperfect middle of επικειμα, an old verb for the rush and swirl of a tempest.WITH LOUD VOICES (φωναις μεγαλαις). Instrumental case. Poor Pilate was overwhelmed by this tornado.PREVAILED (κατισχυον). Imperfect active of κατισχυω (see Matthew 16:18; Luke... [ Continue Reading ]
GAVE SENTENCE (επεκρινεν). Pronounced the final sentence. The usual verb for the final decision. Only here in the N.T.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOM THEY ASKED FOR (ον ηιτουντο). Imperfect middle, for whom they had been asking for themselves. Luke repeats that Barabbas was in prison "for insurrection and murder."TO THEIR WILL (τω θεληματ αυτων). This is mob law by the judge who surrenders his own power and justice to the clamour of the... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY LAID HOLD (επιλαβομενο). Second aorist middle participle of the common verb επιλαμβανω. The soldiers had no scruples about taking hold of any one of themselves (middle voice). Mark 15:21; Luke 27:32 use the technical word for this process αγγαρευω, which see for discussion and also about Cyr... [ Continue Reading ]
FOLLOWED (ηκολουθε). Imperfect active, was following. Verses Luke 23:27-32 are peculiar to Luke.BEWAILED (εκοπτοντο). Imperfect middle of κοπτω, to cut, smite, old and common verb. Direct middle, they were smiting themselves on the breast. "In the Gospels there is no instance of a woman being ho... [ Continue Reading ]
TURNING (στραφεις). Luke is fond of this second aorist passive participle of στρεφω (Luke 7:9; Luke 7:44; Luke 7:55; Luke 10:23). If he had been still carrying the Cross, he could not have made this dramatic gesture.WEEP NOT (μη κλαιετε). Present active imperative with μη, Stop weeping.... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED (μακαρια). A beatitude to the barren, the opposite of the hopes of Jewish mothers. Childless women are commiserated (Luke 1:25; Luke 1:36).TO THE HILLS (τοις βουνοις). A Cyrenaic word. In the N.T. only here and Luke 3:5. Quotation from Hosea 10:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE GREEN TREE (εν υγρω ξυλω). Green wood is hard to burn and so is used for the innocent.IN THE DRY (εν τω ξηρω). Dry wood kindles easily and is a symbol for the guilty. This common proverb has various applications. Here the point is that if they can put Jesus to death, being who he is, wha... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE LED (gonto). Imperfect passive of αγÂω, were being led.MALEFACTORS (κακουργο). Evil (κακον), doers (work, εργον). Old word, but in the N.T. only in this passage (Luke 23:32; Luke 23:33; Luke 23:39) and 2 Timothy 2:9. Luke does not call them "robbers" like Mark 15:27; Matthew 27:38; Matthe... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SKULL (το κρανιον). Probably because it looked like a skull. See on Matthew 27:33; Mark 15:22.THERE THEY CRUCIFIED HIM (εκε εσταυρωσαν). There between the two robbers and on the very cross on which Barabbas, the leader of the robber band, was to have been crucified.ONE (ον μεν),THE OTHER... [ Continue Reading ]
FATHER FORGIVE THEM (Πατερ, αφες αυτοις). Second aorist active imperative of αφιημ, with dative case. Some of the oldest and best documents do not contain this verse, and yet, while it is not certain that it is a part of Luke's Gospel, it is certain that Jesus spoke these words, for they are utte... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PEOPLE STOOD BEHOLDING (ιστηκε). Past perfect active of ιστημ, intransitive and like imperfect. A graphic picture of the dazed multitude, some of whom may have been in the Triumphal Entry on Sunday morning.SCOFFED (εξεμυκτηριζον). Imperfect active, perhaps inchoative, began to turn up (out,... [ Continue Reading ]
MOCKED (ενεπαιξαν). Even the soldiers yielded to the spell and acted like boys in their jeers. Aorist tense here and different verb also from that used of the rulers. They were not so bitter and persistent.... [ Continue Reading ]
IF (ε). Condition of the first class as is text in verse Luke 23:35 used by the rulers. The soldiers pick out "the king of the Jews" as the point of their sneer, the point on which Jesus was condemned. But both soldiers and rulers fail to understand that Jesus could not save himself if he was to... [ Continue Reading ]
A SUPERSCRIPTION (επιγραφη). Mark 15:26 has "the superscription of his accusation" Matthew 27:37, "his accusation," John 19:19 "a title." But they all refer to the charge written at the top on the cross giving, as was the custom, the accusation on which the criminal was condemned, with his name a... [ Continue Reading ]
RAILED (εβλασφημε). Imperfect active, implying that he kept it up. His question formally calls for an affirmative answer (ουχ), but the ridicule is in his own answer: "Save thyself and us." It was on a level with an effort to break prison. Luke alone gives this incident (Luke 23:39-43), though Ma... [ Continue Reading ]
REBUKING (επιτιμων). From what Mark and Matthew say both robbers sneered at Jesus at first, but this one came to himself and turned on his fellow robber in a rage.DOST THOU NOT EVEN FEAR GOD? (Ουδε φοβη τον θεον;). Ουδε here goes with the verb. Φοβη (second person singular present indicative mi... [ Continue Reading ]
NOTHING AMISS (ουδεν ατοπον). Nothing out of place (α privative, τοπος, place). Old word, three times in the N.T. (Luke 23:44; Acts 28:6; 2 Thessalonians 3:2). This can only mean that this robber accepts the claims of Jesus to be true. He is dying for claiming to be Messiah, as he is.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THY KINGDOM (εις την βασιλειαν σου, text of Westcott and Hort or εν τε βασιλεια σου, margin). Probably no difference in sense is to be found, for εις and εν are essentially the same preposition. He refers to the Messianic rule of Jesus and begs that Jesus will remember him. It is not clear whe... [ Continue Reading ]
TODAY SHALT THOU BE WITH ME IN PARADISE (Σημερον μετ' εμου εση εν τω παραδεισω). However crude may have been the robber's Messianic ideas Jesus clears the path for him. He promises him immediate and conscious fellowship after death with Christ in Paradise which is a Persian word and is used here n... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SUN'S LIGHT FAILING (του ηλιου εκλειποντος). Genitive absolute of the present active participle of εκλειπω, an old verb, to leave out, omit, pass by, to fail, to die. The word was used also of the eclipse of the sun or moon. But this was impossible at this time because the moon was full at th... [ Continue Reading ]
FATHER (Πατερ). Jesus dies with the words of Psalms 31:5 on his lips.GAVE UP THE GHOST (εξεπνευσεν). First aorist active indicative of εκπνεω, to breathe out, to expire, old word, but in the N.T. only here and Mark 15:37; Mark 15:39. There is no special reason for retaining "ghost" in the Engli... [ Continue Reading ]
GLORIFIED (εδοξαζεν). Imperfect active. Began to glorify (inchoative) or kept on glorifying.... [ Continue Reading ]
CERTAINLY (οντως). Really, old adverb from the participle ον from ειμ, to be. Used also in Luke 24:34 of the resurrection of Jesus.A RIGHTEOUS MAN (δικαιος). Mark 15:39 (Matthew 27:54) which see, represents the centurion as saying θεου υιος (God's Son) which may mean to him little more than "ri... [ Continue Reading ]
STOOD AFAR OFF (ιστηκεισαν απο μακροθεν). Same verb as in verse Luke 23:35. Melancholy picture of the inner circle of the acquaintances of Jesus and the faithful band of women from Galilee.SEEING THESE THINGS (ορωσα ταυτα). And helpless either to prevent them or to understand them. They could o... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HAD NOT CONSENTED TO THEIR COUNSEL AND DEED (ουτος ουκ ην συνκατατεθειμενος τη βουλη κα τη πραξε αυτων). This parenthesis is given by Luke alone and explains that, though a councillor (βουλευτης, Mark 5:43) he had not agreed to the vote of the Sanhedrin. It is fairly certain that both Joseph a... [ Continue Reading ]
ASKED FOR (ηιτησατο). First aorist middle (indirect) indicative as in Mark 15:43; Matthew 27:58. The middle voice shows that Joseph of Arimathea asked the body of Jesus as a personal favour.... [ Continue Reading ]
TOOK IT DOWN (καθελων). Second aorist active participle of καθαιρεω as in Mark 15:46.WRAPPED (ενετυλιξεν), as in Matthew 27:59 where Mark 15:46 has ενειλησεν (wound), which see. John 19:40 has "bound" (εδησαν). See Matt. and Mark also for the linen cloth (σινδον).HEWN IN STONE (λαξευτω). From... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DAY OF THE PREPARATION (ημερα παρασκευης). The technical Jewish phrase for the day before the sabbath for which see discussion on Matthew 27:62.DREW ON (επεφωσκεν). Imperfect active, began to dawn or give light. However, it was sundown, not sunrise when the Jewish sabbath (twenty-four-hour... [ Continue Reading ]
HAD COME WITH HIM (ησαν συνεληλυθυια). Periphrastic past perfect active of συνερχομα.FOLLOWED AFTER (κατακολουθησασα). Aorist active participle of κατακολουθεω, an old verb, but in the N.T. only here and Acts 16:17. It is possible that they followed after Joseph and Nicodemus so that they "behe... [ Continue Reading ]
ON THE SABBATH THEY RESTED (το σαββατον ησυχασαν). They returned and prepared spices before the sabbath began. Then they rested all during the sabbath (accusative of extent of time, το σαββατον).... [ Continue Reading ]