Luke 23

And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.

And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.

And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.

Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.

And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.

When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.

And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.

And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.

Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.

And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.

And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.

And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.

And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,

Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:

No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.

I will therefore chastise him, and release him.

(For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)

And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:

(Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)

Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.

But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.

And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.

And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.

And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.

And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.

And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.

But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.

For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.

Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.

For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.

And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.

And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,

And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.

And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.

And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counseller; and he was a good man, and a just:

(The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.

This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.

And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.

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

And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.

And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

What does Luke 23:8 mean?

Explanation

Luke 23:8 describes the reaction of Herod Antipas when he finally meets Jesus Christ.

Herod had been wanting to see Jesus for a long time because he had heard much about Him and his miracles.

This curiosity was not rooted in faith or a desire to learn from Jesus but rather from a wish to see Jesus perform some miraculous sign.

Herod's gladness upon seeing Jesus may have been due to his expectation of entertainment rather than any reverence or belief in Jesus's divine mission.

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Historical Context

Herod Antipas was the ruler of Galilee and Perea and a son of Herod the Great.

At the time of Jesus's trial, he was in Jerusalem, possibly for the Passover.

Jesus was sent to Herod by Pontius Pilate after He was arrested and accused by the chief priests and teachers of the law.

Pilate, upon learning that Jesus was a Galilean and thus under Herod's jurisdiction, saw this as an opportunity to shift the responsibility.

This incident occurred during the final events leading up to Jesus's crucifixion.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse reflects the human fascination with the miraculous and the tendency to seek signs rather than understanding or faith.

It raises questions about the motivations for seeking Jesus, differentiating between seeking Him for spectacle versus seeking Him for salvation.

It also illustrates the prophetic role of Jesus: despite being a source of fascination, He was not accepted as the Messiah by the leaders, fulfilling the prophecy that He would be "despised and rejected" (Isaiah 53:3).

Practical Applications

The practical applications of this verse are to examine our motivations for seeking Jesus.

Are we looking for miracles and signs, or are we genuinely seeking a deeper relationship with God? Additionally, it encourages believers to show reverence to Jesus and God’s work rather than seeking mere entertainment.

It also serves as a caution against indifference to or the trivialization of the sacred.

Cross-References

Matthew 14:1-2: Herod wanting to see Jesus because he thought that Jesus was John the Baptist, whom he beheaded.
Luke 9:7-9: Herod is perplexed by the reports of Jesus and wishes to see Him.
John 4:48: Jesus rebukes the desire for signs and wonders instead of faith.

Language Study

In the original Greek text, "desirous" is translated from the word "θελων" (thelōn) which indicates a strong desire or will to do something.

The phrase "exceeding glad" is translated from "χαρην μεγαλην" (charēn megalēn), which means great joy or pleasure, which emphasizes Herod's excitement which is likely based on curiosity rather than faith.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Herod Antipas's desire to see Jesus perform a miracle can be compared to the cultural expectations of rulers who often demanded signs and wonders to be entertained or to validate claims to power.

This can be compared with Pharaoh's demand for miracles from Moses in the book of Exodus, or with the demand for signs from the gods in various ancient mythologies.

Scientific Perspectives

The intersection of this verse with modern scientific understandings may focus on the natural human interest in the unexplained and the miraculous.

This curiosity drives much of scientific discovery, but in the pursuit of understanding, the supernatural events reported in the Bible are often scrutinized and tested against the principles of the natural world.

Commentaries

Commentaries on this verse often emphasize Herod's misconceptions and misunderstandings about Jesus.

Scholars like Matthew Henry interpreted Herod's gladness as being more about entertainment than any spiritual enlightenment.

John Calvin suggested that the verse shows human weakness in longing for visible demonstrations rather than seeking the righteousness of God.

More recent commentaries continue to highlight the contrast between Herod's worldly curiosity and the divine purpose of Jesus's mission.

Luke 23

Luke 23

What does Luke 23:8 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 23:8 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?