Luke 23

 

 1 Then (1) the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto (*) Pilate.

 

(1) Christ, who is now ready to suffer for the sedition, which we raised in this world, is first of all pronounced guiltless, that it might appear that he suffered not for his own sins (which were none) but for ours.

(*) Who was the chief governor, and had the examination of matters of life and death.

 

 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We have found this man (a) perverting the nation, (*) and forbidding to pay tribute to Caesar, saying, That he is Christ a King.

 

(a) Corrupting the people, and leading them into errors.  

(*) Matthew 22:21; Mark 12:17 .

 

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

 

(*) Matthew 27:11; Mark 15:2; John 18:33 .

 

 4 Then said Pilate to the high Priests, and to the people, I find no fault in this man.

 

 5 But they were the more fierce, saying, He moveth the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning at Galilee, even to this place.

 

 6  (2) Now when Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilean.

 

(2) Christ is a laughingstock to princes, but to their great smart.

 

 7 And when he knew that he was of (b) Herod’s jurisdiction, he (*) sent him to Herod, which was also at Jerusalem (♣) in those days.

 

(b) This was Herod Antipas the Tetrarch, in the time of whose governance, which was almost the space of twenty two years, John the Baptist preached and was put to death, and Jesus Christ also died and rose again, and the Apostles began to preach, and divers things were done at Jerusalem almost seven years after Christ's death. This Herod was sent into banishment to Lyons, about the second year of Gaius Caesar.

(*) To rid his hands, and to gratify Herod.

(♣) Or, at that time.

 

 8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he was (*) desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him, and trusted to have seen some (♣) sign done by him.

 

(*) Of a certain curiosity.

(♣) Or, miracle.

 

 9 Then questioned he with him of many things, but he answered him (*) nothing.

 

(*) For Christ came not to defend himself, neither yet would please the vain curiosity of this tyrant.

 

 10 The high Priests also and Scribes stood forth and accused him vehemently. 

 

 11 And Herod with his (c) (*) men of war, despised him, and mocked him, and arrayed him in (♣) (♠) white, and sent him again to Pilate.

 

(c) Accompanied with his nobles and soldiers which followed him from Galilee.

(*) Or, band, or train.

(♣) Commonly this was a robe of honor, or excellency; but it was given to Christ in mockage.

(♠) Or, in bright color.

 

 12  (3) And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together, for before they were enemies one to another.

 

(3) The hatred of godliness joineth the wicked together.

 

 13  ¶ (4) Then Pilate called together the high Priests, and the (d) rulers, and the people,

 

(4) Christ is quit the second time, even of him of whom he is condemned, that it might appear, how he being just, redeemed us which were unjust.
(d) Those whom the Jews called the Sanhedrin.

 

 14  (*) And said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverted the people, and behold, I have examined him before you, and have found no fault in this man, of those things whereof ye accuse him;

 

(*) Matthew 27:13; Mark 15:14; John 18:38 .

 

 15 No, nor yet Herod, for I sent you to him, and lo, nothing worthy of death is done (*) of him.

 

(*) Or, by him.

 

 16  (5) I will therefore chastise him, and let him loose.

 

(5) The wisdom of the flesh, of two evils chooseth the less, but God curseth such counsels.

 

 17 (For of (*) necessity he must have let one loose unto them at the feast.)

 

(*) For the Romans had given such liberties to the Jews, which was but a tradition, and not according to the word of God.

 

 18 Then all the multitude cried at once, saying, Away with him, and deliver unto us Barabbas;

 

 19 Which for a certain insurrection made in the city, and murder, was cast in prison.

 

 20 Then Pilate spake again to them, willing to let Jesus loose.

 

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

 

 22  (6) And he said unto them the third time, But what evil hath he done? I find (*) no cause of death in him; I will therefore chastise him, and let him loose.

 

(6) Christ is quit the third time, before he was condemned once, that it might appear, how that our sins were condemned in him.

(*) The judge giveth sentence with Christ, before he condemneth him, whereby plainly appeareth Jesus’ innocency.

 

 23 But they were instant with loud voices, and required that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the high Priests prevailed.

 

 24 So Pilate gave sentence, that it should be as they required.

 

 25 And he let loose unto them him that for insurrection and murder was cast into prison, whom they desired, and delivered Jesus to do with him what they would.

 

 26  ¶ (*) (7) And as they led him away, they caught one Simon of Cyrene, coming out of the field, and on him they laid the cross, to bear it after Jesus.

 

(*) Matthew 27:32; Mark 15:21 .

(7) An example of the outrageousness and disorder of soldiers.

 

 27  (8) And there followed him a great multitude of people, and of women, which women bewailed and lamented him.

 

(8) The triumph of the wicked hath a most horrible end.

 

 28 But Jesus turned back unto them, and said, (*) Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.

 

(*) Or, women of Jerusalem.

 

 29 For behold, the days will come, when men shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.

 

 30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, (*) Fall on us, and to the hills, Cover us.

 

(*) Isaiah 2:19; Hosea 10:8; Revelation 6:16 .

 

 31  (*) For if they do these things to a (e) (♣) green tree, what shall be done to the dry?

 

(*) 1 Peter 4:17 .

(e) As if he said, If they do thus to me that am fruitful, and always flourishing, and who live forever by reason of my Godhead, what will they do to you, that are unfruitful and void of all lively righteousness?

(♣) If the innocent be thus handled, what shall the wicked man be?

 

 32  (*) And there were two others, which were evil doers, led with him to be slain.

 

(*) Matthew 27:38; Mark 15:27; John 19:18 .

 

 33  (9) And when they were come to the place, which is called (*) Calvary, there they crucified him, and the evil doers, one at the right hand, and the other at the left.

 

(9) Christ became accursed for us upon the Cross, suffering the punishment which they deserved that would be Gods.

(*) Or, the place of skulls.

 

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

 

(10) Christ in praying for his enemies, sheweth that he is both the sacrifice and the Priest.

 

 35 And the people stood, and beheld. And the rulers mocked him with them, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be that Christ, the (f) (*) Chosen of God.

 

(f) Whom God loveth more than all others.

(*) Whom God hath before all others appointed to be the Messiah; otherwise the Scriptures calleth them the elect of God, whom he hath chosen before all beginning to life everlasting.

 

 36 The soldiers also mocked him, and came and offered him (*) vinegar,

 

(*) Mixed with myrrh and gall to hasten his death.

 

 37 And said, If thou be the King of the Jews, save thyself.

 

 38  (11) And a superscription was also written over him, in (*) Greek letters, and in Latin, and in Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

 

(11) Pilate at unawares is made a preacher of the kingdom of Christ.

(*) That the thing might be known to all nations, because these three languages were most common.

 

 39  ¶ (g) And (12) one of the evil doers, which were hanged, railed on him, saying, If thou be the Christ, save thyself and us.

 

(g) Therefore either we must take spoken by Synecdoche which Matthew saith, or that both of them mocked Christ. But one of them at the length overcome with great patience of God, brake forth into that confession worthy all memory.
(12) Christ in the midst of the humbling of himself upon the cross, sheweth indeed that he hath both power of life to save the believers and of death to revenge the rebellious.

 

 40 But the other answered, and rebuked him, saying, (*) Fearest thou not God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

 

(*) The condemnation which thou now sufferest, causeth it thee not to fear God.

 

 41 We are indeed righteously here, for we receive things worthy of that we have done; but this man hath done nothing (h) amiss.

 

(h) More than he ought.

 

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

 

 43 Then Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in (i) Paradise.

 

(i) God made the visible paradise to the East part of the world, but that which we behold with the eyes of our mind is the place of everlasting joy and salvation through the goodness and mercy of God, a most pleasant rest of the souls of the godly, and a most quiet and joyful dwelling.

 

 44  ¶ (13) And it was about the (*) sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the land, until the ninth hour.

 

(13) Christ being even at the point of death, sheweth himself to be God almighty, even to the blind.

(*) Which was midday.

 

 45  (14) And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the Temple rent through the midst.

 

(14) Christ entereth stoutly into the very darkness of death, for to overcome death even within his most secret places.

 

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

 

(*) Psalm 30:6 .

 

 47  ¶ (15) Now when the (*) (♣) Centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Of a surety this man was just.

 

(15) Christ causeth his very enemies to give honorable witness on his side, so oft as it pleaseth him.

(*) Or, Captain.

(♣) The Roman Captain who had charge over a hundred men.

 

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

 

 49  (16) And all his acquaintances stood afar off, and the women that followed him from Galilee, beholding these things.

 

(16) Christ gathereth together, and defendeth his little flock in the midst of the tormentors.

 

 50  ¶ (*) (17) And behold, there was a man named Joseph, which was a counselor, a good man and a just.

 

(*) Matthew 27:57; Mark 15:43; John 19:38 .

(17) Christ through his famous burial confirmeth the truth both of his death, and resurrection, by the plain and evident witness of Pilate.

 

 51 He did not consent to the counsel and deed of them, which was of Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who also himself (*) (♣) waited for the kingdom of God.

 

(*) Or, had embraced.

(♣) He looked for the redeemer, by whom all should be restored.

 

 52 He went unto Pilate, and asked the body of Jesus,

 

 53 And took it down, and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb hewn out of a rock, wherein was never man yet laid.

 

 54 And that day was the (*) Preparation, and the Sabbath (k) (♣) drew on.

 

(*) When men prepared all things ready for the feast.

(k) Word for word, dawning, as now beginning, for the light of the former day drew toward the going down, and that was the day of preparation for the feast which was to be kept the day following.

(♣) That is, began the same evening.

 

 55  (18) And the women also that followed after, which came with him from Galilee, beheld the sepulcher, and how his body was laid.

 

(18) Christ being set upon by the devil and all his instruments, and being even, in death's mouth, setteth weak women in his forward, minding straightways to triumph over those terrible enemies without any great endeavor.

 

 56 And they returned and prepared odors, and ointments, and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment.

 

 

Steve

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