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 23:9 mean?

Explanation

Luke 23:9 refers to an interaction between Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, and Jesus Christ during Jesus's trial before his crucifixion.

Pilate had sent Jesus to Herod Antipas since Jesus was from Galilee, which was Herod's jurisdiction.

Herod, having heard about Jesus and his deeds, was curious and hoped to see some miracle performed by Him.

Despite many questioning attempts by Herod, Jesus remained silent, providing no response.

The verse underscores Jesus's demeanor during His trial, an embodiment of patience, humility, and composure, refusing to entertain Herod's curiosity or justify Himself before someone who appeared to treat the interaction as a spectacle rather than a serious judicial proceeding.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

The verse is found in the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament, which documents the life, ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Luke, traditionally believed to be a physician and companion of the apostle Paul, aimed to provide a detailed and orderly account of the events he described.

During the time Jesus was taken before Herod Antipas, it was a period of Roman occupation of Judea.

Herod Antipas was a ruler under the Roman Empire and responsible for regions including Galilee and Perea.

The legal systems then involved complex relations between Roman law and the Jewish faith.

Herod's role in Jesus's trial was more of a political maneuvering by Pilate, as Herod had no direct jurisdiction over Jesus's alleged blasphemies, which was more of a religious charge.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, Jesus's silence in front of Herod can be seen as a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, such as Isaiah 53:7, which speaks of the suffering servant who "was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth." The silence of Jesus could denote His submission to God's will and the acknowledgment that His fate was not in Herod's hands but willed by God.

Different Christian denominations might focus on this event to emphasize aspects like Jesus's nonconformity to temporal power, His calm in the face of unfair treatment, or as a model of peaceful behavior under persecution.

Practical Applications

The behavior of Jesus in Luke 23:9 can inspire individuals to practice patience and steadiness in times of distress or unjust treatment. It teaches the value of silence over argument in circumstances where words may not yield fruit or can degrade one’s own integrity or purpose.

This verse can also encourage believers to maintain dignity and compositional strength when faced with mockery or trivialization of their beliefs.

Cross-References

Isaiah 53:7 - "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth."
Matthew 27:12-14 - "And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing."
John 19:9 - "And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer."

Language Study

In Luke 23:9, the term "questioned" in Greek is "ἐπηρώτα" (epērōta), which means "interrogated" or "inquired of." The phrase "he answered him nothing" is translated from the Greek "οὐδὲν ἀπεκρίθη" (ouden apekrithē), where "ουδὲν" (ouden) means "nothing" or "not at all," and "ἀπεκρίθη" (apekrithē) is from "ἀποκρίνομαι" (apokrinomai), which includes the sense of responding or replying to a question.

The use of these words emphasizes the complete silence of Jesus in the face of persistent interrogation by Herod.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the context of other ancient religious traditions, divine beings or prophets often speak in enigmatic terms or remain silent at significant moments, reflective of their otherworldly wisdom or in order to emphasize their trust in a higher plan.

For instance, in some Buddhist texts, Buddha is occasionally silent in response to certain questions, which is seen as a teaching in itself.

Jesus’s behavior, in this Christian context, may be seen as consistent with the motif of a divine figure whose silence communicates as much as spoken words would.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern psychology and communication studies may analyze silence as a powerful tool in interactions.

Silence can be strategic or it can reflect the individual's emotional or mental state.

In stressful situations, silence can be a coping mechanism or a means of exercising control.

Jesus's silence in front of Herod may thus be explored as a means of non-confrontation or as a reflection of his inner peace and certainty of purpose, despite the external circumstances.

commentaries

Commentaries on Luke 23:9 vary among biblical scholars.

Some suggest that Jesus remained silent because He recognized Herod's insincerity and lack of genuine interest in the truth.

Others propose that the silence demonstrated Jesus’s rejection of Herod's authority over Him.

For instance, the Pulpit Commentary observes that Herod treated Jesus with contempt and mocking rather than with the seriousness of a judicial inquiry.

John Calvin's Commentary highlights that Jesus gave no honor to Herod with a response because Herod was unworthy, having previously shown himself to be a mocker of true religion.

Matthew Henry's Commentary offers that Jesus’s silence might have been a rebuke of Herod's past cruelty, particularly the beheading of John the Baptist.

These varied interpretations point to a rich tapestry of thought regarding the deeper significance of Jesus’s silence before Herod Antipas.

Luke 23

Luke 23

What does Luke 23:9 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 23:9 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?